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Typical Disclaimer

This story is a work of erotic fiction, featuring anthropomorphic (furry) characters. If that disturbs you, don't read it. Any resemblance between characters portrayed here and people or characters elsewhere is both unintentional and coincidental.

This is probably the most experimental of all my stories. Written from first person, present tense perspective, it (hopefully) features humour, friendship and a light but interesting plot. I have used events from my own history to help flesh out some of the narrator's past and character, but it is not in any way meant to suggest that he is a 'fursona,' or a character designed to represent myself; merely that I'm lazy when it comes to making things up.

Orignally intended to be an investigation of a long term relationship between "more than two" people, this story also manages to be something that I'm never quite happy about. Writing it has taught me that I'm probably less, um... openly inclined, as I had previously suspected. Nonetheless, I shall post it here, in the hopes that my audience will be understanding on the matter, and perhaps enjoy it more than I myself do.

For the curious, illustrations of characters and events herein can (sometimes) be found at http://www.foxwoodstudios.co.uk, as may other stories and unrelated furry artwork.

If you have comments, or suggestions, by all means email me. I don't bite unless provoked.

Edit July 2009: fixed some html issues. Rendered fine in some browsers, not in others. Should be ok now? Let me know if any layout seems strange.

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Lemonade

Sighing, I tap my web cam, line it up, and take the shot again. No, well, it really isn't any better, but I hadn't really expected it to be. I seem to be one of those people who just naturally look terrible in photos - and somehow even more so when the camera is blurred.

How can a wolf be so skinny? I have no idea. As far as I can tell, I have two natural weights; fat and thin. Either I'm over a hundred and ninety pounds, or under a hundred fifty. Its not that I don't try; I have my weights bench in the next room, and I run regularly, but it never helps do anything to equalise the matter! Given the choice of wearing my gained weight around my belly or not at all, I stick with the second option.

And then there's the ears... I swear I must sleep on them wrong every night. I don't think I've ever had a day when they look quite the same, and how I get the fur between them standing up and such odd angles I really have no clue.

At least the eyes are ok. I seem to have a knack of blending them with my clothes, to the point nobody knows what colour they are. If I wear green, my eyes match, if I wear blue, my eyes match, if I wear red... well, thankfully they look grey/green/blue/whatever-colour-the-nearest-person-is-wearing.

Anyway, back to the point in hand, and the reason I need a photo. No, I'm not sure what's got me browsing a personals website, either. I think I just find myself a little lonely sometimes. It's odd how things work out, really. I've got pretty much every corner of my life in hand, except a social life. Somehow I manage to know geeks, freaks, goths, skinheads, jocks, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans, atheists, straights, gays, bisexuals, and undecideds... and none of them really socialise. It's not just they don't want to be seen out with me, at least I know that, but I do somehow seem to know all the most reclusive people of their ilk. Not that I'm a party animal, but I do like to go out with people, and to talk. I just don't get the chance all that often.

That's probably why I end up doing this every so often. About every three to four months I'll hit a night of random gloom, and spend a few hours reminding myself that there really are people with as little life as me, and that it's not that bad. I always keep it in the back of my mind that maybe I could contact someone, but somehow it never seems to happen... Never quite the right time.

Until now, apparently. Maybe its because this advert isn't looking for a partner. Everyone else seems to be looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend online these days. No, it's not that I wouldn't like a girlfriend, I am after all a part of the long-time-single crowd - I just know how bad I tend to be at first impressions. I always figure my best shot is going to be through friends, someone who can break the ice for me. One more reason for my lamentably isolated social circle - I think half of them are waiting for me to do the same for them.

This advert happened to catch my eye because it doesn't just have one person in the photo and a single-seeks-single description. A smiling couple, both tigers. He's a few inches taller than she is, but not a lot. Knowing their race, I'd put her about five feet ten, maybe five eleven, meaning they'd both top me by at least two inches. Well, no matter, I'm used to being the scrawny one, I can handle being the short one too. They've got a couple of years on me, but only that much, though I guess that makes me the short, thin, young one now. Ah well.

Their description says they're new to the area - my area - and are looking for a friend to show them around a bit, find a few good places to eat, the best cinemas, sports clubs, and the like. For some reason, that feels like its taking the pressure off. Just friendship I can do.

I check the names again. Jack and Jill? Nah, must be fakes. Never mind, lots of people use something different online. It's like reserving the right to dump an identity quickly. Their choice makes me smile a little, for some reason.

It makes me feel kind of nervous, sending a message to them. I've never really done this before. Stupid, really, I use web-chat programs every day of my life. Still, I'm fairly clear when I write things, I think I got my point across - just asking whether they're on my side of town, or if not whether its too far for them. They don't say whether they have a car, and I've long since learned never to be the only person you know with your own transport. Much as I'd like to know a new face or two, I've got no attachment as yet, and I won't become the taxi driver.

I tell them a few places I know near where I live that they might like - couple of bars, one trendy one traditional so they can decide which suits them, the local park, a good coffee shop, the sports centre. I'm not so hot with restaurants, but I've been to a few nearer the city, and I recommend them too.

Ending the message with a smiley, and attaching my photo - and an apology for it - I send the email, and head for bed. I wonder if anything will come of this. Probably not.

"Ben!"

Crap, that's me. What now? Sticking my head up over the pseudo-wall that backs my desk, I look out over the office. Great, the boss is looking my way and gesturing, making sure he's caught my attention before ducking back into his office.

"Everything ok, chief?" I smile as I stick my head round the door. I know he likes it when people call him chief, always starts the conversation off right.

This time though, he sighs, and looks slightly troubled, a crease appearing on his vulpine brow.

"Sorry, Ben, I needed someone to pass this around. Knew you were particularly interested in it, so I thought I'd let you be the first to know," he hands me a piece of paper.

Memo to all staff: due to circumstances beyond our control, the upcoming work for the MoD has been canceled. All those expecting to be assigned to the MoD project team, please contact your supervisors.

"Nuts." Under the circumstances, I feel my reply to be quite polite. I had really been looking forward to the MoD job. Don't misunderstand - I'm a civil engineer, a building designer, not a weapons manufacturer. But still, there's a degree of prestige associated with working for a government body like the MoD, and it would have been nice to have on my record.

"Them's the breaks," the boss shrugs, and moves over to look out of his window.

"Nothing we can do about it?"

"Nope. Didn't even tell us why they'd canceled the contract. I think we probably got undercut by a last minute bid."

"Ah. What do you want me to work on next week then?"

"Stick with the Featherfield work. There's still a bit left to run on that, isn't there?"

"Not a lot, I've got the final designs in simulation now. If all goes well, I'll just need to sort out some presentable material for you to show them."

"Excellent!" he grins at me. "Let's see if we can get that tied up then."

"Right," I nod, and exit his office, passing the memo on to the nearest co-worker, telling him to pass it around.

Hey Ben, the email starts. A pretty familiar and informal start, that's always good. Thanks for your mail yesterday, glad to know our post got seen by somebody, a smiley.

I ran your address through that map site you suggested. Guess what? You're about a quarter a mile down the road. You can probably see our apartment from your window, we're near the top of the hill, backing onto the park.

The second pub you suggested sounds great! I'd been hoping to find somewhere that didn't just serve that mass produced rubbish they sell in eight-packs. Would you like to come for a drink with us on Thursday? We're still a little lost with getting around this town, is there any chance you could call by our apartment to play guide? About seven, if that suits, we can't stay out too late, it being a school night. This makes me smile, his profile lists him as a maths teacher. Good lord, am I really considering befriending a maths teacher? Oh well, anyone who will actually do things and go places will be an improvement!

Address follows.

Handy, they're about a two minute detour from my usual route, and Thursday would be tomorrow.

Jill says she's looking forward to it, as am I.

Cheers, Jack.

I reply to his mail, giving a verbal thumbs up, and adding my mobile phone number just in case.

Wow, nice apartment. I live in a fairly good suburb of the city, by intent. My choice was a house I could afford in scumsville, or a shared rented place here. I'd rather know my car will still be there in the morning, so here it is. This, however, is a really nice part of town. These houses are probably at least two hundred thousand a shot. Most of them are semi detached, and look about a hundred years old - but recently reconditioned so they're modern, and secure. I feel kind of embarrassed now. They must be way above my income level.

This house looks like it's been knocked through to go from two semi detached houses into two single-level apartments. I go in through the unlocked outer door, finding myself presented with one internal front door, and a flight of stairs. The address says first floor, so up I go.

The door looks new. Clean, white PVC, no windows. Well, why would there be on an internal door? I ring the bell, and wait. After a couple of moments, there's the sound of footsteps from inside and the door opens.

Now, there's two things I notice at this point. One is that this tiger isn't four or five inches taller than me like I thought, he's nine or ten, which gives me quite an angle to cover to look him in the eye. The other is that he's missing his shirt, and that he clearly spends a lot of time working out. Geez, twice my income, taller, handsomer, and in better shape. Hoo boy, this could be an interesting experience then.

"Ben?" he says before I manage to open my mouth. I nod.

"Jack," there seems little point phrasing it as a question.

"Good to see you," he offers his hand, and I get a real bone cruncher of a shake out of him. He gives me a grin as he realizes I'm doing my best to crush him back. It may not be much, but I've obviously scored points on guts because he stands to one side and invites me in, patting me on the shoulder as I enter. As he does so, I notice that the fur over the backs of his hands is white, all the way to the wrist where the classic orange and black stripes take over. I've noticed before that many members of his race seem to have white furred fingers, but the whole hand seems quite rare.

It's also about this point that I notice the way he smells. Now, smell is important to lupines, we're well known for having some of the keenest noses around, and it's surprising how much we notice that other people don't. Most people make a fair attempt to smell nice. Typical worst case is a dab of antiperspirant to avoid smelling bad, though there are some real stinkers out there. Jack though, he's quite the opposite. I don't get a hint of unpleasantness out of him, its all clean fur, and a body spray that I don't recognise, but I like it a lot. It's a friendly smell, and I decide that I must ask him about it some time.

"Sorry," he apologises. "You caught me changing. Got back a little late from work, 'fraid I didn't have time to shower."

Straight back from work and still smelling good? Impressive, I really must ask about that.

"I like your jacket," he goes on, nodding at my coat. It's not particularly good, or at least I never thought so, just a fairly neat, black leather. I have the bad habit of dressing for utility, not looks, but the compliment makes me smile anyway. I wonder what I can compliment him on, but can't come up with anything that isn't going to sound dubious.

"Oh, hey, Ben," a tigress leans out of the bedroom at the end of the corridor. She walks over and sticks her hand out too, and I'm relieved to find that she's a lot gentler than Jack is, though she's far from the limp shake I get out of most females. She smells nice, too, though there's a hint of soap under it and I assume she did have time to shower.

"Jill," Jack introduces her.

"Julie," she counters, smiling at me. "Ignore him, its some stupid joke that only he finds funny."

"Ok, Julie," I smile in return, glancing over my shoulder at Jack.

"Dammit, I could have had you there too," he grins at me. "Don't worry, I won't spend the rest of the night trying to catch you out, but that one's tradition."

Julie rolls her eyes and disappears back into the bedroom.

"Get you a beer?" Jack asks, leading me through to the living room. It's big in all dimensions, with clean, simple furniture that makes it look even bigger. A forty two inch plasma television dominates one corner, flanked by large speakers, but its the only part of the room that seems crowded. The polished floorboards are clean and regular, a very professional job.

"Uh, not if we're heading out for more," I say. "You have a really nice place here," I tell him, and he grins.

"Thanks. We were pleased to come across it, starting to feel like we were never going to find anywhere half decent."

"I think half what you've got would be half decent," I say, looking up at the frosted glass light shade. "This is really nice. Must have set you back a bit!"

"Ah, yeah," he laughs, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Tell the truth, didn't cost me anything. Julie's old man's got a good bit stashed away, this was kinda an advance wedding present. I wasn't sure at first, I like to think I can make do on my own money, but... well, in the end, why turn it down?"

I nod as I notice the bay window looks out over the park. I walk over and look out. "Yeah, I can't blame you." I briefly consider mentioning that I seem to be the richest person in my family, but when that amounts to being a single man in a shared house, I realise its not impressive. "Where were you living before?" I ask instead, but at this point Julie arrives, looking very pretty in a sporty looking t-shirt and boot cut jeans. She seems to have a hint of country-girl bubble about her, and it makes me grin.

"Get your shirt on, you scruff," she chides Jack gently, and he chuckles and wanders off towards the bedroom. "We're already late. Sorry, Ben," she turns to me and smiles. "It's rude, I know."

"No, that's ok," I smile back. "I was a few minutes early, actually."

"Really? I better check the clock when we get back then, was sure it was later... never mind. It's a nice view, isn't it?" she indicates the window, and I nod.

"I think you've got the best house in town here."

She laughed. "That'd be nice, but I doubt it. Is it here they have the summer fair?"

I nodded. "Yes, but you might wish otherwise. They'll be making a racket from eight in the morning until eleven at night when they do." She looks a bit dubious, and I realise what a stupid thing that was to say. "But you look like you've got good double glazing," I ramble on, trying to repair the damage. "Bet it'll cut out most of it."

"That's true," she nods, standing on tiptoes and reaching easily over my head to close the single open window. Silence falls.

"Wow," I say, tapping my ear a couple of times. There's not a hint of road noise with the window shut.

"Are we all ready?" Jack asks cheerily, coming in through the door, now in a clean white shirt and blue jeans.

"Sure," I nod, and they show me out of the apartment, locking the door before we descend the stairs.

"Lead on, Ben," Jack gives a gesture to the road as we leave the driveway. "This is your town, after all."

"Besides which," Julie giggles. "He can't tell north from south if you give him a compass."

"Well it's not hard around here," I point at the church at the very top of the hill. "There's your landmark. That way," I point the other way along the road. "There's those flats on the horizon. You can see both those and the church from pretty much anywhere in town, so you always know where you are."

"Ben," Jack declared, looking impressed and putting a hand on my shoulder again. "You're useful already. I can see you're going to be a good man to know." He pauses and looks up and down the road, then leans down to whisper into my ear. "By the way, which way is north?"

I smile and point towards the church, making sure to keep my hand in front of my body so that Julie wouldn't see.

"Gotcha, church north, flats south," he whispers, before straightening. "Pub-ward ho, trusty guide!" he said more loudly.

Noticing Julie standing a little behind him and giving him a look of 'I know exactly what you were whispering,' I can't help but grin.

"New arrivals, Ben?" the cougar bartender gives me an inquiring look as I arrive at the bar, closely followed by Jack and Julie. I introduce them, then ask what they'd like.

"Like I can choose from this many?" Jack asks, looking left over the four beer taps and two lagers, then right over four more beer taps, a cider, and a bubbly European fruit beer.

"All right," I grin. "Bitter or lager."

"Bitter."

"Julie?"

"Same," she nods down at me. I can't help but feel slightly hemmed in by felines, but it passes quickly as I turn back to the bartender.

"Three Flaming Flyswatter."

"Three what?" Julie bursts out laughing as the cougar nods and heads for the far left tap.

"You'll have to trust me," I tell her, shrugging my eyebrows. "But if you don't like it I wouldn't worry, they change weekly." She gives me a dubious look as I notice Jack looking at a framed poster on the wall.

"And a 'campaign for proper drinks' hangout, too," he sighs, sounding dreamy.

"Yeah," I nod. "The CAPROD lot tend to come in on Wednesdays."

"Shh," Julie waves at me in mock anxiety. "Don't tell him things like that, he'll end up with a beer-gut, and then I'll have to bully him into exercising it off."

"Like I need bullying," Jack retorts as I pay the barman, then hand the pint glasses out, leading the way to the table by the window that I like.

"Actually, I was going to ask you, Ben," he leans over the table towards me as we sit down. "Do you know any good gyms around here?"

"I think there's one in the sports centre on church avenue, actually. Not sure what it's like inside, but looks ok. Front's well kept, anyway. Sign's for gym, squash, and a sports hall," I take a swig of my drink as Julie does the same on my left. She raises her eyebrows at me over the rim of the glass as she knocks back about half of it in one swallow.

"Not a gym man?"

"I'd like to be, I'm just... well, crap, truth be told," I can feel that I'm blushing, and try to look like something out of the window has caught my eye.

"Now that's never true," he tells me. "Loads of people reckon there's nothing sporting they can do, just means they haven't found their game yet. Now you... not exactly a rugby player, are you?"

I laugh at this. At least he's honest about what he thinks. Good, that means I can take him on face value rather than looking for hidden meaning.

"No," he goes on, looking thoughtful as he shrugs his light denim jacket onto the back of his chair. "Tennis maybe? Cricket?"

"Oh gods," now I'm really blushing, and he obviously has no idea why, looking concerned that he's said something wrong. "Sorry," I shake my head to let him know it wasn't his fault. "I have bad memories of that particular game."

"Injury?" Julie asks.

"Random and complete loss of ability to play," I admit.

"Pardon?"

I sigh, and look down into my beer, watching the foam slowly dissipate. I might as well tell them. "I was ok for the first couple of years at school. In fact, I was pretty good. Batting I'd knock anything I hit clear to the boundary, bowling I could throw in some nasty ones that caught out a few good players. Then came the interform competition..."

Why am I telling them this? I barely know them, and it's one of the most embarrassing things I can remember. Still, can't stop now though. I blunder on.

"Practice with two weeks to go, flawless. Top bowler on my team, first in the lineup. One week to go, still holding my crown. One day, friendly match in the playground against another team, knocked 'em flat. On the day..." I pause for dramatic effect. "Left of the batsman, by two feet."

"Whoops!"

"Right of the batsman, three feet."

"Oh dear..."

"Right on his feet - on the third bounce." I can see Jack biting his lip.

"Over his head." Julie covers her mouth, but I can tell she's smiling.

"One past his ear, and one so far off it landed behind me."

Jack gives up at this point, covering his eyes and dissolving into laughter. Julie is practically packing her fist into her mouth to keep from giggling, and for whatever reason this strikes me as so ridiculous that I start laughing too. I see Jack giving me a deeply apologetic look over the top of his hand, and it starts me laughing harder.

"Lost the game, obviously," I finished, calming down after about half a minute. "Not picked up a bat or ball since. Figured it couldn't be anything other than a let down after that pinnacle of sporting skill."

"Aww," Julie's expression is sympathetic, though she's still smiling.

"You think that's bad," I raise an eyebrow over the rim of my pint glass. "You haven't heard about the shot putt..."

Jack snorts into his beer and emerges coughing, dabbing at his t-shirt where he's splashed it.

"That one wasn't really my fault," I point out. "For some reason nobody else wanted to do it, and they resolved who it would be by the genius method of picking on the smallest one."

"Oh good plan," Jack tries mopping the front of his shirt with a beermat. Julie pulls out a hankie and hands it to him.

"I thought so," I nod. "So there we are. Lovely sunny afternoon, the birds are singing," I lean back as if describing an idyllic scene. "Cricket still fresh in my mind... gorgeous. Just me, the short kid with the learning disorder, and eight massive fat guys."

Jack puts his glass down at this point, covering his mouth with the other hand, and clearly wishing he hadn't just taken another swig.

"Oh dear," Julie giggles. "What happened?"

"I came second last."

"You beat the little one, at least?"

"No," I sigh. "One of the fat kids fell over and hurt his ankle."

Apparently it was simply too much to take, because she puts both hands over her face and collapses back into her chair, laughing loud enough that the people standing at the bar look over at us. Jack rests his head on the table, fist thudding into the wooden surface repeatedly. I can't help it, I have to laugh as well. I don't know whether it's the relief of finally telling someone, or whether I've only just realised that it actually was really funny doesn't matter. Point is I'm wiping my eyes on my sleeve, and don't feel half so bad about it anymore.

"Oh, Ben... Ben, Ben, Benny, Ben, Ben," Jack looks sideways up at me, his head still on the table. "That is... that is..."

"Pretty poor," I agree, finishing my beer.

"Fantastic," he corrects me. He pushes himself upright. "And it deserves another beer. What do you feel like?"

"A Potent Humiliation."

He looks at me for a moment, then at the bar, then finally back at me before walking away.

"Three... Potent Humiliations," he says a minute or so later, sitting down and distributing the glasses. "Never heard of this one myself, but cheers," he raised his glass. "But really, Ben, don't feel bad about any of that. Stress can be a killer, especially if you think there's other people watching, and it wasn't fair to expect you to out throw the big guys."

"Yeah, maybe," I agree. "But you can see why I've given it a rest since."

"Completely?" he raises his eyebrows at me. "You don't look like a couch potato."

"Well, I run a bit," I admit, glancing down at my slim frame.

"How far?"

"About two miles. Just go up the road, round the park, and back."

"Which," he leans forward and points a finger at me. "Is a damn lot further than most people can run easily."

"You reckon?"

"I do. Look at it this way, you may have started out a bit naff, but you've picked yourself up pretty good. I reckon you just never really told anyone you'd done it, so they all still think of you as naff."

"I never really thought of that..."

"Well, there you go. Now, would you like to check out the sports centre with me some time?" he gives a lopsided smile.

I look at him for a moment, noticing again that he's in very good shape, the t-shirt moulding to his contoured chest. I feel myself go red again. I would like to, but frankly it's embarrassing. Here I am, short and skinny, and there he is looking like he's spent the last four years on the peck deck.

"Well I'm not really gonna be able to keep up with you..."

He chuckles, as does Julie. "Nor can I," she says. "But I go with him sometimes. It's good fun."

"Come on, I'll spot for you," he grins. I feel myself give way, and sigh resignedly.

"Ok," I nod. "But..."

"Ah, no buts!" he cuts across me, shaking his head, but smiling. "Try first, grumble later."

Well, this could be interesting... and painful. What the hell, worst case I spend the time watching him, at least its someone to talk to for a while. I agree, more readily this time, and Jack gives me a friendly grin.

The conversation seems to turn to films now. Not really my speciality, my memory for - and interest in - celebrities is minimal at best. Fortunately my tiger friends seem to agree, being much more interested in the quality and content of the film. I'm not quite sure how, but the chat keeps going until it cycles back to my round again. I check they actually want another (not everyone wants four beers in a night), then head for the bar. Almost. First I need a quick detour.

Like many of the nicer bars these days, the toilets are downstairs. Personally, I prefer it like this. Windows in toilets make me feel mildly paranoid. As I pass the sinks, I give my fur a quick check, dabbing some water between my ears where it seems to be threatening to stick up. Of course, this doesn't help, but I have to try. I give up and turn to a urinal.

I hear the door open behind me.

"Ups, hey, Ben," Jack appears next to me. "Didn't know you'd come down here."

"Hey, I gotta break the seal some time," I joke, trying not to look at him. I'm not overly nervous by nature, but there is something about standing next to someone nine inches taller than me while trying to pee that is really quite impossible. Naturally, Jack has no problem. Now I'm starting to look silly standing here with nothing happening, and that knowledge just makes the job harder. I wonder if I could pretend I'm done... no, he came in right at the wrong moment, he'd know. Oh how embarrassing... I'm going red.

"Thanks for agreeing to the gym thing," he says suddenly. "I was feeling a bit nervous about trying a new place on my own."

"Really?" That one surprised me, he'd struck me as the confident type, not to mention surely he was bound to fit right in at any fitness club in the country.

"Yeah. I know it sounds a bit silly but... I'm still kinda nervous about having moved here. Last place was a little flat with Julie, just for six months, near my parents' place. Now I'm a hundred miles north, and starting a new job, and... well, it's a lot to take in."

"That's ok, mate," I smile at the poster on the wall in front of me. "This is a pretty nice town, and you're in the best part of it."

"Yeah, I guess." Finishing, he turns to the sink, washing his hands thoroughly. "Seems to have some nice people too." I catch his mirrored gaze from the corner of my eye, and feel my smile broaden slightly. He holds his hands under the drier as I only now notice that my bladder has apparently decided to do as it was told and is now happily empty.

"Catch you upstairs," he says as I pull my zipper up, and exits.

"That, Ben," the older fox says, smiling at me. "Is fantastic."

"You think so?" I feel my ears lift slightly, something I can't seem to stop them doing whenever I'm in a good mood.

"I do," he nods. "The 3D tour is a great idea. What gave you that?"

"Something on the discovery channel," I admit. "They had a simulation of an Egyptian tomb. Made me think 'well I've got the models, I've got the textures, all it needs is a bit of animation and it'll be more convincing.'"

"You keep having thoughts like that and I'm gonna have to find room in the budget for a bonus," he frowns at me in mock annoyance. I can't help grinning. I'm glad now that I didn't mention what I was working on until it was finished.

The rest of Friday passes quickly, and before I know it I'm driving home, then in my kitchen wondering what to eat. Something light, I decide, grabbing for the bread, and discovering once again that there are two crusts left and nobody has bought any more. I jam some cheese between them, and microwave them. Handy trick for dry bread, that, and you end up with a really good warm sandwich as well.

I check the clock as I finish eating. An hour before I need to head out. Plenty. Check email, browse web forums, dig out shorts, t-shirt and towel from the drawer and stuff them into my backpack. Trainers... nuts, muddy, and all there is to clean them with is the washing up brush. Housemates aren't home yet... good. I scrub the soles clean, then lob the brush in the bin. It was getting tatty anyway. And out the door.

"Hey, Ben." I nearly fall through the door as Jack opens it just as I'm about to knock. "Whoa, sorry, heard you coming upstairs."

"No problem," I straighten, trying to regain some of my dignity as Julie leans out of the kitchen to smile at me. "How's the day been?" I ask.

"Good," Julie says as she vanishes into the kitchen again. "Nobody died, and one of the kids got the all clear."

"Nurse," Jack says as I look at him questioningly.

"Ah, good."

"Not really, I can't watch her work, I really can't," he says, turning and picking up his bag.

"He's just blood shy," Julie called.

"I'm not that bad," he sticks his tongue out at the empty kitchen doorway, knowing she can't see it. "Except the week she was on A and E," he admits quietly. "That wasn't fun," he shivers slightly, then perks up, looking like he's just remembered something. "Oh, yeah, do you play squash at all?"

"Squash?"

"Yeah, I got a couple of rackets in the cupboard, makes one each."

"Not for a while," I say dubiously as he turns to rummage in the walk in closet.

"Good, neither have I," he grins, handing me a blue and black racket that obviously cost quite a bit. It's shaft marks it as graphite, and its much lighter than I expected. "Have to pick up some new balls though," he adds, looking mournfully at a round lump of collapsed rubber.

"Well, it'll be easy to roll that one down the wall..." I suggest, and he laughs.

"How was your day, anyway?" I ask as we exit the house.

"Ok," he nods, locking the door behind him, and heading for the stairs. "Only had two lectures to give, bit of free time."

"They call them lectures now?" I raised an eyebrow.

"They do when you teach at the university," he grins.

"Geez, you must be good, teaching that level at your age."

"Hey, I got two years on you kid," he holds the front door for me as we head out onto the driveway. "But thanks."

"What kind of research do you do if you're teaching maths, then?" The road is quiet and we cross without having to wait.

"At the moment, I'm helping out with a project in the physics department. They got new laser and magnetic rigs in for experiments going with Bose-Einstein condensates."

"Geebus, you're a quantum physicist?"

He laughs. "Not really. I just have the head for formulas, so I'm comparing the results with the theory. What do you do, anyway?"

Because I'm not going to feel awkward about any job I do now I know his! "Uh, building design. Civil engineering stuff."

"Ah, right. Done anything I'd know of?"

"I tend to get the basic stuff," I give him an apologetic look. "Office plans, refurbishments, and things like that. It's only a small company, we don't get a lot of big work and, well, I'm only eighteen months out of my degree. Not exactly the most experienced man around."

"Julie's only six months out, but she does fine. I bet you're pretty good really."

"I do ok," I shrug. "Not been fired yet, anyway," I grin, and he chuckles.

The sports centre is only another couple of minutes down the road, and it's not long before we're checking in. Apparently Jack phoned ahead to book a squash court, because we've got half an hour until we're due on it. He offers to show me how to work some of the gym equipment in the meantime, and I agree.

"Comfy?" he asks, looking down at me, his face upside down in my view. Around him, the gym is quiet. Apparently Friday night is not popular for exercise around here.

"Fine," I nod from somewhere under the barbell.

"Right, now I've only put on sixty pounds, you can shift that easy I'm sure, but I'd rather build up than drop down."

"All right."

"Good. We're starting here because I figured you can't go wrong with free weights. Nothing to work, nothing to remember, except," he looks down at me, leaning his hands lightly on the barbell suspended over my chest. "Don't strain it. Don't hold your breath, don't try to move more than you can, don't be doing so much you go bright red. When you go red in the face it's because you're pushing up your blood pressure forcing it into all the capillaries in your skin, and," he taps my head with a finger. "Inside here. You start forcing blood at pressure into here," he taps again. "And things start to go pop. Then you slide off the bench and spend six months in hospital, if you're lucky and someone gets you out from under the bar before it crushes your lungs."

"Um, ok..." I can't help but sound a little nervous.

"But that's the scare talk," he smiles. "Remember it, then relax a bit. As long as you're sticking with that the only way you'll go wrong is dropping the bar. You can avoid that in two ways, the multigym," he gestures over to a complex looking machine at the side of the room. "Where the bar is split in two and worst case goes down either side of you, or when using the free weights, you get yourself a spotter. That's me. My job is to keep a contact with the bar as you lift. I don't take the weight off you, but I'm ready to if I have to."

"Stay ready," I say in a low voice, lining up my hands on the bar as he chuckles. It's an easy lift. Don't get me wrong, I not saying that to sound macho - know I'm lifting something and it classes as heavy, but I can do more. Jack seems to think so too, because he tells me to put the bar back on the rack and sit up, while he attaches more weights.

"Don't do this while someone's under the bar," he says. "If you misjudge it the whole lot can slide sideways and topple. You don't want to end up underneath three hundred pounds of iron. Right," he tightens the nuts at the ends of the bar. "I've put that at eighty. Looks about half your bodyweight, not a bad starter."

"More than half, actually," I admit, lying down again.

"Well, don't worry, you look pretty wiry."

That actually feels a lot heavier than a third more than last time. Apparently this shows in my face because he chuckles.

"Feels like I've doubled it?"

"Pretty much," I grunt.

"Then we're not far off a comfortable lift for you. It's probably about what you get with a press-up, a lot of your weight goes through your toes when you do that."

"Right."

"Try not to lock your elbows at the top. I know it feels easy, but you don't want the weight relying on your joints. Keep your muscles in use all the time."

"Ok."

"Breathe out on the lift, in on the drop. Yes, I know you were doing the opposite," he adds, and I feel myself flush.

"That's a blush, not an 'ow, too much', yeah?"

"I'm not quite that feeble."

"I never said you were," he says smoothly. "But as you've noticed it does get harder with repetitions."

This much is true. Eighty now feels about a hundred and twenty.

"All right, that's fifteen. Doing very well, actually. Don't go over twenty."

"No problem." I can feel a light sweat breaking out on my face.

"Sixteen," he counts. "Seventeen."

I'm gritting my teeth now, and there's a slight tremble in my left arm.

"Don't," I feel the bar go suddenly light as the tiger above me tenses his biceps and easily parks the weights on the rack. "Strain," he says, looking down at me as I grin sheepishly. "That goes for reps as well as raw weight."

"Sorry," I avoid his eyes.

"Don't worry about it, takes a while before you know your limits, but don't be afraid to admit them. We aim for eighteen next time, right?"

I nod, sitting up. "Ok."

"Good. Do you want me to show you the multi?" he jerks a thumb.

"Ok," I say again, nodding, and I follow him over.

"You've got bench press, butterfly, and shoulder press," he says. "The difference being where you set the backrest," he demonstrates, setting it to sixty degree incline, looking like a long black chair. "And whether you grab these," the handles to either side. "Or this," the split, y-shaped bar. "This," he yanks out a metal rod and swings the bar upwards before replacing it. "Sets for bench or shoulder press. Weight setting is easy," he leads me round the back. "You've just got a stack. The pin," he pulls out a inch-wide steel rod. "Goes wherever you want the weight setting," he jams it back in at eighty. "Take a seat?"

I do so, putting a hand on each of the rubberised grips.

"Same breathing pattern, keep your arse where it belongs, and your back against the rest. Do not," he emphasises. "Let your tail get in the gap between the backrest and the seat. If you slide down, you'll get it broken."

I nod, and give the bar a steady push upwards, breathing out. Behind me, I hear the weights slide up the rails.

"Good," Jack nods, watching me, but with no need to hold onto the bar this time. "It's hardest low down, but do keep bringing it all the way. You want the full range of motion."

"Right," I puff.

"Eleven," he counts. "Twelve. Thirteen... and unlucky for some, I'd say," he puts a hand on my shoulder. I pause, and wipe my forehead on my wrist.

"I did warn you I was crap at this," I say, and he chuckles.

"That's a tougher lift, you don't use those muscles so much," he says. "How about some lower body?" I nod. "Stand up then, we need to drop the backrest," metal pin, drop, thunk, pin back. "You can probably figure this one," he says, pointing at the end of the seat. I fit my legs into it, and have to fight hard to straighten them.

"You're still on the same weight," Jack points out with a smile as I let the metal come thudding back into its resting position. "But that was pretty good," he says moving behind the rack. "Guess the running does you good after all." I hear him move the pin, and try again as he comes back. "Fifty should be better."

It is indeed. I make twenty this time, starting to feel a little tense, but not straining.

"And the curl?"

This is a bit less comfortable, mostly because now I'm lying flat on my stomach against the bench with my legs wrapped around several square metal bars.

"Eighteen, I'd call it," he advises and I gratefully extract myself. "Well, that was pretty good," says, patting my shoulder, which now aches slightly. "Ten minutes left, do you mind if I get a few in and show you the rest another day?"

"Sure," I nod. "Please, don't let me hog everything!"

I watch as he moves the pin. All the way to the bottom of the stack.

"No offence, Ben, but I won't ask you to spot me," he says, moving the bar down to bench press level and settling under it.

"Good plan," I agree. "Ask me again when you're lifting less than my body weight."

Jack chuckles, and lifts about two hundred fifty pounds of steel in one easy motion. I'm sure I can hear the cable creak in protest.

"You're not expecting me to do that any time soon, are you?" I ask.

"Nah," he smiles. "Do what's comfortable. No point if you're just causing yourself pain, it's meant to be fun. If you gain a few pounds here or there, that's a handy side effect, but well toned muscles are worth more than bulk. That's why you did sixty on the leg extension."

"You said fifty," I narrow my eyes at him

"I did?" he blinks innocently. "Oh well, never mind."

"And you said don't strain," I roll my eyes.

"You didn't, did you though?"

"Well, no."

"So there you are then, stop fussing."

I watch as he does about twenty five lifts, his striped fur rippling as his muscles work underneath. Then twenty five shoulder presses. And leg extensions, though at least he drops the weight to a hundred twenty this time. And leg curls. I can't help noticing myself in the mirror on the other side of the multi-gym, looking ridiculously thin.

"You ok, Ben?" Jack interrupts my thoughts, and I look up at him.

"Yeah, sure. We better get to the court," I say, grabbing the rackets and heading for the door.

"Ben?"

"Yeah?" I pause with my hand on the door handle.

"Everyone starts somewhere."

I look back at him, to find he's wearing an expression of understanding, and a smile that has no hint of unkindness. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Yeah," I nod, chuckling. "Yeah, I guess."

He catches up to me, and we head out into the corridor together. Pausing by a vending machine, he digs out two pound coins and extracts two bottles of extremely cold energy drink.

"Always get the flat stuff," he says, handing me one. "And never drink nothing. Tap water in the changing rooms, if you have to."

The squash courts are glass backed, but not exactly modern otherwise. There's two people in the court we booked, but noticing us watching the otter sticks his head out of the door. "Sorry guys, wasn't sure you'd turn up, didn't want to waste an empty court."

"No problem," Jack has to stand back against the wall to let them get past, since the corridor is only about three feet wide. Even so, he fills about half of it.

The court floor is clean, and well kept, though there's the inevitable scuff marks - despite the sign outside that says 'absolutely no black soled shoes.' For a couple of minutes, we take a ball each and bat them lightly against the far wall, just getting used to the way they bounce.

"Right," I decide. "What's the rules? Serve with one foot in the box, above that line," I point at the marker about five feet up the front wall. "To behind that line," the one half way along the floor. "On the opponent's side, don't get in front of the other guy or it's your lost point?"

"Sounds about right," Jack shrugs.

"Well there's probably more to it than that," I admit. "But I'm damned if I can remember. Last time I played was back in my school days."

"Good, I might stand a chance," he grins. "You wanna serve?"

"All right," I nod, and choose my stance. On my toes, both feet in the box, not trying for anything special. Gentle serve. Off the front wall, bounces nicely behind the line, and Jack taps it lightly back, at exactly the angle I'd hit it to him. His shot goes longer than mine, and I have to back up, catching it just before it hits the back wall, sending it back down my side of the court, forcing him to run over from the right to get a backhander on it. I watch with a small degree of glee as his shot bounces off the wall about a foot over the top line.

"Unlucky," I jog forward to retrieve the ball, and we switch sides. Still my serve, then. This time it comes back at me with a lot more pace, and I let it come off the back wall, scooping it as it goes past, sending it on even faster.

"Nice," he pants, just getting to it in time, putting his height to good advantage and smashing it downwards, off the forward wall and into the ground about five metres ahead of me. I run for it, but no way can I get to it before the second bounce.

"Better," I point out, and he smiles. I throw the ball to him, and return to my side. His serve, and it's high and fast. I just manage to get a racket on it, somehow managing to pull it down and straight into the forward left corner where it thunks off both walls and drops to the floor.

"Ouch," he winces. "Hope you're not going to make a habit of that or I'm a goner!"

"No chance, that was a fluke. Sadly." I wipe my arm across my forehead. Warm.

The game continues fairly evenly. I soon discover that while Jack has the power behind his shots, he's not got quite my degree of control over their direction, nor my agility.

"Bloody hell!" he exclaims as I send one bouncing upwards off the front wall, arching overhead, and landing neatly in the corner at the back where it pings off away from him. "Twelve eleven, then."

"It's to thirteen, isn't it?"

"I assume so..." he looks faintly dubious, then shrugs. "We'll pretend. Come on, let's have it, slow poke."

"Oi, no heckling," I pause in lining up the serve.

"Who's heckling, chicken legs?" he grins. I miss the ball entirely. "Second service."

"Git."

"Whatever it takes."

"All right, chunk, here it comes," I chuckle.

"Chunk!" he splutters, catching my serve right in the solar plexus. He doubles over, wheezing and laughing.

"Oops. Sorry!"

"No problem," he blinks a few times before straightening. "That was a wake up call."

"Um, do you want me to take that serve again?" I ask.

"No no," he shakes his head. "That was a fair point, well within the rules. Good game," he shunts his racket to his left hand and holds out his right, giving me another bone cruncher of a handshake. I'm pleased to notice he's sweating as much as me.

"Two minute break?" I suggest, and he nods. We retreat to the corridor outside and take a few swigs of cold drink.

"All right, round two!" Jack declares. "And I'm gonna get you this time."

"Bring it on," I challenge. "You serve."

Wham! Right past my ear, and off the back wall. I watch it go bouncing past me on its way to the front.

"Mind the headshots!"

"Sorry, that wasn't intentional," he looks sheepish as he retrieves the ball.

We swap sides, and he sends a more normal serve over, bouncing about a foot behind the line. I return it at a sharp angle, sending it off his side wall before it hits the front, making him run for it. I back up a bit, and sure enough the ball comes sailing back at pace. I send it over to the other side, but longer this time, so he has to come back behind the line. Back to me again, quite short for once and I run forward for it, taking a huge swing as he paces backwards. I swing, pause, and tap the ball lightly against the wall where it slides to the floor.

"Bastard!" he laughs from the back of the court. "I thought that was gonna be a power shot."

I just waggle my eyebrows as I pick the ball off the floor and jog back to take my serving position.

The second game is just as close as the first, but this one goes in his favour. Apparently in revenge for the trick shot, he takes to bouncing the ball hard out of the forward corners, giving a good degree of randomness as to where it comes back.

"Ok, time out," I pant as he makes the score thirteen to eight. I'm sweating enough that my t-shirt has dark patches under both arms. I don't get this soggy after a two mile run! Time to drink more.

"Oh yeah," he leans back against the wall, tipping his bottle up. "I'd forgotten how hard work this game is."

I agree heartily. "And we've got forty minutes to go," I point out, and he groans.

We're both starting to settle to the game more now, picking our shots better. He's starting to catch on about sending the ball back the way it came, and instead hitting it to the opposite side of the court, which makes it harder. At the same time, I'm discovering that if I flick my wrist at the end of the stroke... there, right to the back of the court, parallel to the wall and about an inch off it. Jack stands back and laughs, giving me a one-handed clap and a smile.

Ten all, and it's starting to hurt now. I feel like I want a break, but I'm not about to stop before the end of the match. It's Jack's serve, so I take up position near the back corner. He serves it long as I'd expected, and I straighten out the ball's course, sending it back to the front along my side wall. Apparently he was ready for it this time because he's already half way over to my side, his racket scraping the wall as he gets to the shot in time. Now it's my turn to run across the court - and then some. It's not only wide, it's high, and I end up taking a wild leap, making a backhand swipe in mid air. It's about this point I work out where the wall was as I bounce off it and land flat on my back, catching my toes in the corner as I do so.

"Whoa, you ok there?" Jack pads over to me.

"Ouch," I explain, lying on my back and looking up at him as he bends over me. "Well, that'll teach me to look where I'm going."

"You made the shot though, I couldn't get to it."

"Really? Good. Do you mind if we call this one a draw? I think I may have just broken my ankle..."

"Ah..." he looks caught out for a moment, then puts his racket down, kneeling by my feet. "Which?"

"Left. Ouch!"

"Well the good news is your foot is still there and facing the right way," he says. "And it doesn't feel irregular, but I'm no doctor."

I sit up, feeling a little sick. What a stupid thing to do! Gingerly, I wiggle my foot, pleased pleased to see that it responds. "No, it's ok, I think," I nod, gritting my teeth. "Hurts though."

"Then we'd better call it a night. Come on," he stands and offers me his hand, pulling me to my feet - or rather, foot. I'm forced to lean on him and hop my way back to the changing room.

It's not comfortable getting my jeans on, less so given that it's over my shorts and I haven't showered, but I'm not quite up to that right now. I catch Jack looking at me with a worried expression.

"I'm ok," I tell him. "Sorry, that was a really clumsy trick..."

"No, don't worry about that," he shakes his head. "It was a nasty shot, I didn't think you'd go for it. Do you want Julie to take a look at that?" he nods at my ankle.

"Couldn't hurt."

"Right," he pulls his shirt on. "Then we'll get going, see if we can't find you an ice pack or something."

Julie's expression as she opens the door is quite interesting. First its cheerful, then doubtful, then moves quickly into worry as I hobble inside, supported by Jack. He explains to her, setting me down on the sofa.

"Whoops!" she exclaims.

"Yeah, something like that," I agree. I realise I'm sweaty, and starting to smell a bit. "Uh, you may not wanna do that," I say as Julie takes my left trainer in her hand and begins to untie the laces.

"Oh shush," she tells me. "I've seen far worse than a bit of sweat, believe me. And you're still cleaner than some of them."

"Eww."

"Exactly," she eases my shoe off, putting it on one side, and pushing my trouser leg upwards.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry," she pauses in rolling my sock down, her fingers tracing around my anklebone. "Feels good here. Hang tight," she tugs the sock off as I wince. "Steady now," she runs her fingers up my calf a little, over the back of my heel, and under. I twitch.

"Ticklish?"

"Ish," I admit.

She takes a firmer grip, thumbs checking the upper side of my foot, fingers tight against the sole.

"You've not broken anything," she declares. "Just sprained a bit."

I sigh in relief, as does Jack, leaning over the back of the sofa.

"You'd do well to stay off it for a day or two," Julie tells me.

"I can't, I have to go shopping tomorrow or I'll starve," I sigh.

"Then Jack can do it for you."

"What? No, I can't ask..."

"You didn't ask, I told you," she says firmly. "Let's find you some ice."

Within a minute, I've got my leg up on the sofa, my ankle packed by a bag of frozen peas, and another of oven chips.

Julie shrugs as I look at her apologetically. "How's it feel?"

"Cold," I say, and she laughs.

"Good, then it'll be doing the job. You stay like that for a while, all right?"

"I'll go shower," Jack declares.

"Good, you stinky cat," she looks at him, and I blush, realising that if anything I'm worse than he is. "You've got an excuse," she smiles kindly at me. "You can shower in a bit, then I'll put a brace on that before you go home, hmm? Now, I was thinking of watching a film tonight. I picked up these three in town today," she plucks three DVD cases off the top of the nearby rack and hands them to me. "Any take your fancy?"

I choose one, a science fiction comedy, and she grins. "Good choice," she takes it off me, and turns on that enormous plasma screen, dropping the DVD into the player underneath. As the copyright scrolls up, she heads out of the room. "Crisps?" she calls.

"Please, I'm hungry after that workout."

"Then peanuts as well," I hear her say. She reappears shortly, handing me crisps, peanuts, and a pint glass. "You look like you need it," she says. "I found the speciality shelf at the supermarket. I guess you inspired me to try something different."

"I feel like I'm using all your food here..." I look down at my chilled ankle.

She laughs and pats me on the head as she sits down in the armchair beside the sofa. "It's ok, there's plenty more, and I can cook that later tonight. Trailer... trailer... trailer..." she taps a button on the DVD player remote, skipping through the junk. "Finally!" Audio to five point one surround.

"You're better equipped than the cinema!" I exclaim.

"Not quite. Might get a projector in a few months, that'll be more like it."

"If I pay you ticket price, can I come round more often?"

She laughs again. "Bring beer and a smile and we'll call it quits."

How can I not agree?

"How was your game, anyway?" she asks as the credits begin.

"Good fun, actually."

"Who won?"

"Uh, we were tied on the third game when the wall jumped out from it's hiding place and hit me."

"Excellent," I can practically hear her grinning. "Did he get to show off on the weights?"

"Oh yes!" I nod emphatically.

"Then you've made his night, thank you."

"Sure, I enjoyed it. I'll be up for another trip some time. Well, when..." I gesture down my leg.

"I wouldn't worry, you'll be fine next week, I think."

"Good, if I take more than ten days without running, I'll forget I enjoy it and stop."

"That happens, doesn't it?" she chuckles. "Would you mind if I join you some time? I don't think I can do your distance, but I'd like to start, if you can cope with a newbie."

"Oh, no problem," I turn my head to smile at her. "I've been trying to find someone to run with since I started, but everyone else I know is too damn lazy!"

"Great! I'll have to find something to wear... that reminds me," she leans forward and lowers her voice. "Next weekend I'm going to go shopping for a birthday present for Jack. Is there any chance you could join me? I'm always afraid I'll buy him something too girly..."

"Call it a date, I need some new jeans," I agree."

"Thanks," I feel her hand touch my shoulder for a few seconds.

We quieten as the credits fade into the start of the film.

"You could have waited," Jack looks mildly aggrieved as he walks in about twenty minutes later to find Julie and me laughing hysterically. He's brought more beer, nonetheless.

"You've seen it before, sit down and shush," she tells him.

He sits cross legged on the floor in front of me, reaching over to grab a few peanuts. I notice he's using that nice smelling body spray again. Good, maybe it'll cover up for me a bit.

We pretty much lose track of the time until the end credits roll up. I discover that the peas are now melted, and there is a large wet patch on the sofa where they were.

"Only water," Julie smiles, taking the peas and inspecting my ankle again. It seems less painful now. "Why don't you go get a shower?" she pulls me up off the sofa as Jack takes the empty glasses through to the kitchen, giving me an arm to lean on as she guides me to the bathroom.

"Very professional," I tell her with a smile.

"That's why they pay me," she grins, seating me on the side of the bath. "I assume you'll manage from here?"

"Um, yeah," I nod, feeling myself blush and she laughs.

"Believe me, when you've had to be bathroom help to dirty old men, giving you a wash down would be a pleasure."

I just go redder, and she smiles, closing the door as she leaves.

It takes me a little longer to shower than usual, because I'm trying to keep the weight off my left foot. I'm relieved to find it hurts a lot less now than it did earlier, and my ankle isn't looking swollen. It's on getting out of the shower that I notice the real problem. My bag is still in the hallway, with my towel, and fresh clothes in it. There isn't even a hand towel in here, either.

Holding my t-shirt around my waist as best I can, I crack the door open.

"Um, guys?" I call out. "Guys?"

After a moment, Jack's head appears in the doorway to the living room. "You ok, Ben?"

"Fine," I nod. "Could you pass me my bag please? I'm naked and wet."

He snorts with laughter at this, but obligingly grabs my bag and puts it into the hand I have reached through the narrow gap in the door. For just a moment as I take hold of the bag's strap, I'm sure his eyes slide downward from mine, and that a tiny smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, but a second later he's turned away and I've pulled the bag in with me. Probably just my imagination.

I towel myself dry while sitting on the edge of the bath, being careful about doing my left leg. Stepping into my jeans is awkward, but I manage, and within a few minutes, I'm limping out and heading, barefoot, for the living room.

"Come on, hopalong," Julie giggles, standing and helping me down onto the sofa. "Mmm, you smell good!"

"I do?"

"You do, what is that?"

"I'm not sure, the label only calls it 'orange'. Was kinda disappointed it wasn't citrus, to be honest."

"Oh, no, I'm glad it's not." I get cast into shadow for a moment as she leans over me, putting her nose against the top of my head and breathing in. Score one for the shampoo and deodorant set!

"Ahem," Jack coughs. "The leg?" he asks, pointing to my feet.

"Spoilsport," she sticks her tongue out at him and I can't help laughing. "All right," she kneels by my feet. "Still tender?"

"Not as bad," I say.

"Good, now hold still, but shout up if I'm hurting."

She's pretty practised at this. It's only a couple of minutes before she's wound a bandage tightly around my ankle, and wrapped that in a neoprene support brace. The combination is pretty stiff, which is good, because my ankle doesn't like bending right now.

"Ok, now," she sits back on her heels. "Take the brace off when you go to bed, but leave the bandage because it's hard to fit on your own. Get that back on when you wake up, and keep your foot high whenever possible," she produces a foot stool from down the far side of the sofa and shoves it under me.

"Gotcha," I nod.

Something pings in the kitchen and she stands up. "Turkey, chips, and peas suit you?"

I'm not quite sure how to respond. Have I just been invited for dinner? I smile and nod, and she grins back, and heads for the kitchen. Jack moves over to what I thought was a rather modern looking sideboard, and folds it out, revealing it to be a collapsible dining table.

"Not our usual way of inviting guests round," the big tiger grins at me as he swings the support struts into place.

"Good, I don't think I could take many more invites like today's," I raise my eyebrows.

"Um, yeah. Look, I really am sorry about that..."

"Huh?" I'm a bit thrown off track now. "It wasn't your fault..."

"I pitched a rotten ball at you."

"And I was stupid enough to go for it. Nasty shots are part of the game, it's your job to make it hard for me!"

"I guess..."

"Besides, I think you've more than made up for it," I smile. "Your sofa is way more comfortable than mine."

He laughs. "You're welcome to come sit on it any time, you know."

"Careful," I warn him with a smile. "I may not move off it again."

"Don't worry, I'll chuck you out the window when it's getting too late," Julie sets two plates down on the table and retreats to the kitchen for the third.

"That was a joke?" I look at Jack with a raised eyebrow.

"Probably," he chuckles, helping me off the sofa and settling me into a chair by the table.

Julie turns out to be a very good cook, though she emphasises that she and Jack take turns at cooking, throwing a pea at him when he whispers, "It's takeaway night tomorrow," to me.

I soon find that I have little choice but to leave some of my meal on the plate. Cooking for tigers apparently involves about three times more food than I can easily eat, though to look at Jack go you'd think he was starving to death. He jabs a fork into the remains of my turkey, and adds it to his plate as Julie rolls her eyes and apologises for her thieving boyfriend.

"Ah," Jack finally sits back, plate clean, patting his stomach. He burps suddenly, then goes red and covers his mouth with his hand. That's a refreshing change from friends who make a feature of it! He gets up, taking the empty plates into the kitchen.

"Time for another film, or do you want to be getting back?" Julie asks, ushering me onto the sofa and collapsing the table back into its cupboard-like shape.

I glance at the clock on the wall. It's pushing nine, but then, I don't really have to be up early tomorrow, and I'm enjoying the company. I can hear Jack washing up in the kitchen as I smile and tell Julie I'd love to stay for another.

"Better let him choose," she jerks her head in Jack's rough direction. "Else he'll sulk again."

"I do not sulk!" he calls over the sound of the tap.

"Ok, he'll pout instead."

"That's more like it!"

I laugh as Julie closes the curtains. It's getting dark outside, and their window has a wonderful view of the sunset across the park, the sky stained red above the dark treetops.

Jack's choice of film is a dark medieval horror, and he enhances the mood by turning off all the lights in the house. Julie sits on the floor, leaning against his legs, giving me the sofa to stretch out on again. I feel a bit guilty about this, and say so, but she tells me I need it more than she does and shushes me as Jack zips through the credits to the start of the film.

It's pretty good - not exactly scary, but certainly grizzly, and with a gritty humour. I blink as the end credits roll up and Julie snaps the lights on, then yawn, stretching.

"Sakes, get the poor lad back to his bed," she digs Jack in the ribs.

"Sure," he nods. "Come on, Ben, I'll give you a lift home."

"You're ok to drive?" I ask, remembering the beers earlier.

"I only had the one, and it was four hours ago," he points out. "If I'm not fine by now, I never will be."

He helps me down the stairs and outside. I lean up against the wall as he opens the garage behind the house and reverses out of it in a car that is big, red, and shiny.

"Raceways seven sixty," he says, noticing my gaze as I hobble towards the passenger door. "Three litre engine, all the goodies."

"Geebus..." I ease my way into the passenger seat. It's well made for larger races, and I can straighten my legs without reaching the end of the footwell.

"Now you're gonna have to guide me," he says, reversing onto the road carefully.

"Not hard," I say. "Quarter mile, this way. Same road."

"Handy," he nods. The engine purrs as he puts his foot down, and pretty much immediately brakes as I point out my house. "Very handy," he amends, parking up. "Though I won't do that drive often, short trips are a bugger for engine wear and tear."

He helps me climb out, reaching in to bring my bag. I glance up at the front of the house. Lights on upstairs, housemates home then.

"Do you want to write me down a shopping list?" Jack asks as I limp up the driveway.

"You really don't have to," I tell him as I dig my key out of a pocket.

"Nah, well, I figure if I'm ever stuck with a knackered leg it'd be nice if someone did my shopping."

"So I have to wait until you break your leg before I can call it even?" I open the door and hop inside. I'm pretty sure my housemates must know I'm home, but of course, nobody sticks their head out to say 'hello' or anything. Couldn't break the taboo of speaking to each other.

"I'll let it slide if you let me win the next game," he chuckles, following me into the living room and setting my bag down on a chair.

"I'll wait," I give him a wicked grin. I notice he's looking around. My living room is both smaller and messier than his, and serves more people.

"Not much, but it's home," I shrug.

"Looks nice," he smiles. "Cozy."

"If by that you mean 'small'," I make my uneven way to the kitchen at the back of the house, grabbing an envelope and a pen as I go. "You're sure about this?" I ask, opening a cupboard and peering inside.

"Go for it."

It doesn't take too long. I'm no great cook, so my ingredients are limited, and I only prepare food for me, so a single person's worth is all that's needed. Probably less, really, I'm no great eater, either.

Jack runs his eyes down the list as I dig in my pocket, taking out my wallet.

"Nah," he shakes his head. "Sort it out tomorrow when I've got the receipt."

"Ok," I agree as he retreats through to the living room. I see him to the door. "Jack... thanks."

He looks at me for a moment, then smiles. "Sure, Ben, no problem. Catch you tomorrow, mate," he turns, waving over his shoulder, the lights of his car turning on as he goes. I wish he didn't have to walk past my car on the way. It's not bad, but it's nothing compared to the Raceways. I lock the door, and sigh. Of course, my bedroom would be the attic one. Nothing like two flights of stairs when you've got a busted ankle.

"You ok, Ben?" my boss asks as I walk into the office. It's Monday, and my leg feels a lot better, but I'm still limping a little. Apparently plenty to notice.

"Minor accident," I explain, perching on the edge of my desk to take the weight off. "Nothing to worry about."

"Hmm, then lucky you," he says, flipping through a pile of papers and looking a little preoccupied.

"What's up, chief?"

He sighs, frowns, then moves closer, lowering his voice. "I've got a letter from the MD," he says. "Apparently Freeman Designs are interested in taking us over."

"Is that good, or bad?" I ask.

"Right now, I don't know," the older fox admits, rubbing one ear. "This is the first I've heard of it. All I do know is the MD hasn't said no, yet, which means he's thinking about saying yes. Beyond that, I don't know anything, which worries me."

"Not a fan of Freeman D's?"

"Perfectly good company," he shrugs. "But I like a little independence. We're a small firm, Ben, there's no bureaucracy tying us down. Freeman Designs is massive, about three hundred people. Assuming they did find me a job, I'd spend all day rubber stamping forms, not helping out with the work." He sighs, then looks up. "But don't worry about it, for now. It may come to nothing, and if it does... well, we'll work something out."

"Sure, chief," I say as he ambles away, looking thoughtful. Well, that was an interesting start to the week...

I settle myself into the corner table, watching out of the window. Behind me, the bar is quiet, only a few conversations audible. I tap a quick message into my mobile phone, a random thought that goes through my head that a friend of mine might find funny. I look up in time to see Jack and Julie pass by outside, shortly appearing in the doorway.

"See?" Jack looks at her. "Told you I'd find it."

She laughs and sets her coat down on the chair. "Hi, Ben, how's the ankle?"

"Much better," I smile. Thursday and it's nearly back to normal. Pretty good, really. "Yours," I nod as she points to the extra drinks on the table with a questioning expression.

"Good man," Jack sits down and swallows about half his pint in one go. "I needed that..."

"Bad day?"

"They broke their magnetic trap."

"I'm assuming it's not meltdown time?"

He laughs. "Nah, we're talking nanograms of helium here. And about half a million pounds worth of electromagnet."

"Ouch! I won't ask Santa for one of those then."

"Not unless he got a pay raise," Julie smiles.

"That's a pay raise I wouldn't mind," I say, raising my glass to the idea, and Jack taps it with his.

"How was yours?" he asks.

"Ugh," I roll my eyes. "Apart from the fact nobody seems to have anything for me to do, and my boss says someone's put in an offer to buy the company..."

"Ah... my round, then."

"Definitely," I nod ruefully as Julie gives me a sympathetic look. "Yours?" I ask.

"Bedbaths," she says, shuddering. "Worst part of the job."

"Not much fun for the person being bathed, either, I wouldn't think."

"You'd be surprised," she says darkly, looking over the top of her glass as Jack retreats towards the bar. "Are you still on for shopping on Saturday?" she whispers, leaning closer. I nod. "Good, what's your address?"

"Hundred seventeen, your road."

"Right. Can I come round about half ten? I hate early starts."

"Sure, I agree completely. My mum used to drag me out for nine every single time she wanted to go shopping, always said it was so as not to waste the day. Never seemed to realise she could do most of her afternoon things in the morning before going out and have a more relaxed day instead."

She giggles. "That happens. Mine usually gets up to put things in the washing machine in the middle of Christmas dinner."

"Ooo, you win," I wince.

"Obscure Sycophant," Jack announces, depositing three pints on the table.

"I am not!" I say, and he sticks his tongue out at me. I think that's the first time anyone has stuck their tongue out at me for about ten years. It's rather cute. Cute? Silly, I meant.

"No, you're far too well known to be obscure," he says sitting down. "The barman said it was your favourite."

"Well, true," I agree. The conversation takes a temporary lull, so I decide to bring out the secret weapon. Julie looks at me as I stand up and move to a shelf at the side of the room, laughing as I sit down.

"Leaning tower, anyone?" I ask, sliding the tower of wooden blocks neatly onto the table.

"Your turn," Jack announces, instantly pulling out the bottom brick and placing it on top of the pile.

"Ah, I'm doomed, then," I comment.

"Probably," Julie agrees. She waits until I carefully move a middle block before pouncing and taking out the other side brick at the bottom. The tower doesn't even twitch. Yet.

After twelve more moves, it's back to Jack, and the tower is considerably more tentative. Most of the blocks on the on my side have gone, and it's developing a dangerous lean towards me. He eases a block out from the left and deposits it carefully on the top, at my side, enhancing the lean.

"Bastard," I growl at him, and he grins.

I select a block. Tap. Tap. Wobble. I pause a moment, letting it settle. Tap. Tap. Splash. The entire tower goes, showering wooden blocks over the table top, and landing one right in my pint. Julie creases up laughing as I fish it out and dry it on my sleeve.

"Eww," she declares as I finish the beer anyway.

"Mmm, mellow, hoppy, with a slight hint of oak," I decide, and she starts laughing again.

"I'll buy," she says as I put the glass down.

"Do you think you'll be ok for the gym tomorrow?" Jack asks as she stands up.

"I can probably do a few weights," I say. "Nothing wrong with my arms or back, but I wouldn't care to run around much."

"Sure," he grins. "Remember, eighteen bench presses."

"Cripes, you're my personal trainer now?"

"As long as you stay my personal beer advisor, yes."

"Jack," I tell him. "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"I think it began last week, mate, but thanks for the sentiment. Your move." He points to the resurrected tower of blocks. I take one from the second layer down, and he looks mildly confused.

A few turns on, he's less confused. Weakening the tower there makes the entire top wobble when he puts anything on it, because there isn't enough weight for stability. He gives me a resigned glance as his chosen brick sticks half way out.

"Take it, or put it back," I chuckle.

He sighs and tugs, the tower collapsing again.

I manage not to fall through Jack's front door this time, and in short order we're on our way.

"Anything on your takeover thing?" Jack asks as we enter the changing room.

"Nah," I shake my head. "Though there was an email went round saying that it was officially under consideration."

"Meaning its officially not rejected, and people might like to make contingency plans."

"Yeah," I sigh. "But what? I'm eighteen months out of university. Nearly every job in my field asks for two to three years!"

"There's always something, mate," Jack says encouragingly, stuffing his bag into a locker and slamming the door on it before it bounces back out. I suddenly see the advantage of having shoes six sizes smaller as my locker closes with room to spare.

I remember to get a couple of drinks from the cooler on the way. He sticks with the orange, while I try the blackcurrant. Ah, yes, I see now. Orange next time then.

There's two other people in the gym this time. I'm interested to note they both look slightly tubby, and are both puffing away on the treadmills. I give a smile as one of them catches my eye in the mirrored wall and he nods at me. I notice his expression change slightly as he notices Jack, and chuckle inwardly. I was starting to forget that feeling. Maybe he's just something you have to get used to before you realise that neither you nor him are abnormal, you both just are.

"Eighteen," Jack counts. "Nineteen, good," he grabs a hold of the bar. "But stop there, eh?"

I nod, sweating already.

"Twenty next time, ok?"

"Right," I agree.

He takes me through a few more exercises this time, so that we cover the traditional shoulder press, leg curl and extension, and move onto arm curl, butterfly, and lateral pull downs. By the time I've tried everything, I'm starting to ache slightly. I notice one of the runners looking as envious as I feel as Jack hits thirty repetitions of two hundred fifty on the bench press.

"Well, if the machine ever breaks, at least you can clone me and have one on each hand," I joke as he sits up, flexing his shoulders, and he laughs.

He's done after about twenty more minutes. I think he probably would have used the treadmill, but I have a feeling he's trying not to bore me. He needn't worry, he's slipped into talking about his work, and it's actually quite interesting... if you're a bit of a science geek.

"Mind if I borrow your shampoo?" he asks as we shower. "I gotta try that one on Julie."

"Sure," I chuckle, holding it out. Inadvertently catching the a stream of water right in the eye, he blinks and momentarily grabs my hand instead.

"Ups, sorry," he gets it on the second try.

"Do you feel like lunch tomorrow?" he asks, towelling off. "Julie's going into town, and I'm stuck on my own."

I feel a bit guilty about it, but I apologise and say that I'm busy. I don't mention that I'm busy going into town, with Julie.

"Oh, ok," he looks a little disappointed.

"But I could do Sunday," I suggest, and he smiles and nods.

"Sunday it is. One o' clock?"

"Done."

The bright sunlight hits me in the face as I open the door, and as often happens, it makes me sneeze. Several times.

"Good morning to you too," Julie laughs as I squint at her. She's looking particularly summery in pale jeans and a sporty blue and white t-shirt that shows off about six inches of well toned midriff.

"Hi," I hold the door for her and retreat to the living room, digging my shoes out from somewhere behind the sofa. "You sneaked out all right, then?"

"Yeah. He suspects nothing."

"Better make sure you get something for you too, then." My coat was around here somewhere... ah, the floor. Great, what a good impression that gives. I glance out the window and decide not to bother, that way I can pretend it isn't mine. I sneeze again as we leave the house.

"Do you always do that?" Julie asks as I lock the door.

"Mostly," I blink a few times, putting my sunglasses on.

"Oh very smooth," she grins at me. "Bet those get you some attention."

"Not really..." I don't think they've ever got me any attention, actually. "Bus ok? The parking in town's crazy at the weekend."

"Sure," she agrees, and we walk to the bus stop, all of fifty yards away. "You're well placed for access, aren't you?" she notices as we stop under one of the trees that line the road.

"First rule of a shared house," I shrug. "If we don't have a bus route nearby, I'd spend all my time driving people around."

"Fair call. Do you like sharing?" she looks curious.

"It's ok," I say. "For the most part, I don't notice there's anyone else around, except when the bin fills up and nobody will empty it. I decided years ago that if I lived alone and out of walking range of anyone I knew, I'd end up very lonely."

"Aww," she gives me a sympathetic smile. "No girlfriend to keep you company?"

"I wish."

"Well, I'm sure she'll come along some day."

"Yeah, maybe. In the mean time, I know I like living around here, and I know I can't afford to buy a house nearby, so rented shares it will have to be."

The bus turns up at this point. We buy a day-ticket each, since it always works out cheaper than two singles, and settle into an unexpectedly empty seat at the front of the top deck. Someone behind us is playing their personal stereo loud enough that it's not personal anymore, but I've long since learned to ignore things like that. I figure they'll be deaf in ten years and stop.

"I haven't come up to the top deck before," Julie says, looking out of the window as the bus pulls away. "It's always half empty when I'm going to work."

"Surprised you don't drive in," I comment.

"You expect nursing staff to get parking spaces?" she raises her eyebrows at me, and I take her point. "Doctors only, everyone else is on public transport. What's this hole for?" she peers into the top of the vertical, glass windowed tube at the front corner of the bus.

"So the driver can see what's going on up here," I point to the curved mirror on the ceiling.

"I don't think he appreciates people staring at him," she says, biting her lip and giggling as she leans back into her seat, and I laugh.

It isn't a long ride into the city, and I spend most of it pointing out some of the local landmarks. The cathedral on the left - with a small museum next to it that nobody seems to know about. The park gardens on the right, the river running through them. A road that leads off to a large shopping centre on the edge of town, and the hypermarket. I point out that one of the cars below us is steaming at the traffic lights.

"Why do they just sit there?" Julie wonders. "Don't they know it's gonna overheat?"

"Possibly not, there's a big tendency to just hope it'll get you home."

"And a bigger chance you'll damage the engine running it hot for too long. Idiots."

I chuckle and agree.

"Best get off here," I suggest as the bus pulls onto a crowded street. "It's quicker walking at this time of day."

Julie nods and follows me, bending low to clear the roof. I wonder if buses were designed by someone with a dislike of tall people.

"Where do you want to start?" I ask. She looks around at the tall department stores, appearing momentarily lost. "Or perhaps better question, what are you planning to buy?" I amend.

"I was considering getting him a couple of computer games," she says. "I'm just never sure which ones to buy."

"Over this way then," I gesture and we start walking. "What sort of games does he like?"

"Anything with big guns or fast cars, really."

I laugh. "Do you know what he's already got?"

"Not really, that's the problem. I know he hasn't bought anything new in a few months."

"Then maybe we look for something fresh, then. Are we talking regular PC, or console."

"PC, but he's thinking about a console."

We turn the corner into the pedestrian zone, immediately becoming besieged by news paper stands, flower stalls, charity magazine sellers, and people shouting "Gas lighters, five for a pound!" Julie raises an eyebrow at this, and I chuckle.

"You can't get away from the gas lighters," I tell her. "Sooner or later, you'll crack like I did and buy some."

"But I don't smoke!"

"No, me neither," I sigh. "If you watch, he doesn't either. I have no idea where he gets them, or why, or what for."

She still looks puzzled, but there's nothing more I can add. It seems to be one of the city's unsolved mysteries.

The games and hardware store is just ahead on the right. I take off my sunglasses as we enter, because it's always dark inside. We pause in front of the PC games shelves, and Julie gives me a little look of complete bewilderment as she eyes the hundreds of titles, most of which I've never heard of.

I notice the display behind me.

QT4 Launch Bundle: QT4 Console, Two Controllers, 512 MB Memory Card, 4 pick 'n' mix games. -299.

"How much were you thinking of spending?" I ask as the tigress peruses the shelves.

"I was gonna get three or four games, some books, and some DVDs. About two hundred, maybe?"

"Then why don't I add ninety nine to that, and get the console you said he wanted?"

She looks at me, apparently taken aback. "No, I can't ask you to spend that much, you've only known us a week!"

"Nine days," I correct, smiling. "And sure you can, as long as I get to come round a play once in a while."

"Are you sure?"

"Course. I may not look it, but I do actually have a job and an income you know," I feign offence and she laughs.

"Then deal," she grins down at me. "But I'll get an extra controller so we've got three between us, I'm not gonna get left out while you boys blow each other up."

Oh, a gamer girl, eh? I'm starting to like Julie more by the minute.

We settle to choosing the game titles to go with our QT4, ending up with one racing game, one fighting, one cooperative shooter, and one scary looking adventure game. There's also an offer on additional controllers, so I suggest getting the full four, just in case one breaks. Having watched Jack with a squash racket, I have a feeling these poor plastic beasts are in for a pounding.

We take the pile to the counter, where we're greeted by a smiling shop worker. He bags everything up neatly, and we head back out onto the main street.

"Oh, well, forget the DVDs then," Julie says, hefting the large bag with the console. I feel a tad guilty about having the little bag with the controllers now. "Did you say you wanted jeans?"

I nod, and head towards one of the department stores. She pauses outside, looking up at the sign, then puts her hand on the back of my head and turns me to face a different shop. "Not here, there," she says, and leads the way.

"What's wrong with..."

"You like old-man jeans?"

"Um..."

"Never mind," she sighs. "Just trust me."

"Ok..."

We enter the store, and make our way to the men's floor. Why is it always the hardest one to reach? Basement, ground, and first are always ladies' clothing. Guys get sent up to second, sometimes even third. Another of those city-mysteries, I guess.

"Now," she looks at me as we stop by the jeans rack, giving me a full inspection. "I think," she pulls a pair down and holds them up to my waist. "Ugh, no, maybe not. How about... yes, more like it." Boot cut, artificially faded. Not my usual choice, and she seems to know it. "Well, try them anyway, eh? Just for me?" she gives me a wide eyed look and I instantly cave in to the pressure.

"This too," she grabs a t-shirt as we head towards the changing room, exchanging it for my shopping bag as she ushers me inside, waiting by the entrance for me.

I soon discover that she's got my jeans size dead right without even asking. They're also comfortable, which is something I often find trendy clothes aren't, hence I tend to end up in something a bit more utilitarian. The t-shirt however, is size small, and once I'm in in there's only about an inch of spare room in here with me. Julie however seems very pleased with her choices as I step out to give her a look.

"That is so much better!" she enthuses. I go to stand in front of the mirror and have to admit that I agree. Opposite to expectation, it seems to have taken away some of the skinny awkwardness I usually carry, and replaced it with slimline... cool, really. My thoughts must be showing on my face, because Julie appears behind me, grinning over my shoulder. She puts her hands around my waist, and tells me I look good.

"Can I bring you shopping again?" I ask, blushing, and she laughs and nods.

It's a little more than I would usually pay for clothes, but in the end I think it's money well spent. Funny really, I thought nothing of throwing a hundred at Jack's birthday, but spending even fifty on myself always feels a bit... excessive. Maybe I just need retraining in priorities. For now, I'll follow Julie's lead, because it might turn out to be an interesting ride.

We decide to find a coffee shop for a quick snack before we move on to doing her clothes shopping. I can't help noticing that with the way the light hits her as she sits down by the window, she's actually very attractive. I think I must have been looking for slightly too long, because she gives me an inquisitive glance and asks, "What's up?"

"I just noticed your eyes match your earrings," I say, with a sudden stroke of genius. On in each ear, near the bottom where they join her head, simple design, with sapphire's at the centre.

She grins. "Thank you, but there's a secret to that," she leans over the table and looks me in the eye at close range.

"Tinted contacts?" I ask, and she pauses. "You had brown eyes when you wore rubies yesterday," I explain.

"Damn, you've rumbled me already," she gives an exaggerated swing of her fist. "Took Jack five months to spot it."

"Sorry."

"No, don't apologise," she sips her coffee, winces, and blows on it. "I just figured since I look so bad in glasses, I might as well make the contacts work for me."

"Well they do that, but I don't think you'd look bad in anything," I say, my mouth deciding to run on its own without consulting my head.

She goes lightly pink. "We'll see," she says reaching into her handbag on the seat beside her. She glances around to check nobody's watching us, then pulls out a spectacle case, and slips on a pair of small, somewhat rectangular glasses with wire frames. She settles them about half way up her nose, looks at me over the top of them, and suddenly she looks remarkably like the librarian that used to work at my school. The one I had a crush on for five terms.

This realisation, coupled with the fact that she's still looking at me sends blood to two places. One is my cheeks, which I am pretty sure are instantly pink. The other is somewhere south of my belt.

Uh oh.

I'm sitting in a public place, with my body reacting in a way that really is best kept in the privacy of one's own home.

Because of my friend's girl.

Who is also my friend.

This is going to be a problem.

"See," she mumbles, apparently taking my silence for agreement that she looks bad in glasses.

"No, you look great in them," I reassure her quickly.

"I look like a librarian," she says, echoing my thoughts.

"Some of us like that." Shut up mouth! "I think you look really cute." No, look, see, I said shut up, not keep running blindly trying to compliment her.

She flushes and looks away, but smiles. "Thanks," she says, putting her glasses back in their case.

I manage to pull my gaze away, grateful that she hasn't noticed I'm blushing worse than she is. I steer the topic onto what she's shopping for next, hoping to distract myself from my physical situation

"Well, I was thinking a couple of blouses, and maybe some new underwear."

That didn't help much.

"Oh, and shoes," she adds. "And if we can, maybe a bottle of good bubbly from somewhere, something to open with Jack on his birthday."

"There's a good wine store up on East Parade," I say.

"Good," she nods. "Best do that last though, I don't need a heavy bottle as well as everything else."

"If you will be so generous to your partner," I raise my eyebrows.

"No more than you. Well, ok, fifty percent more, but I've been with him for five years, you've known him nine days."

I shrug. "I wasn't gonna use the money for much."

"Even so," she looks at me. "When's your birthday?"

"November twelfth."

She giggles. "Day after mine," she grins. "Oh, I can see we're going to have to do something special for that!"

"There's a couple of good restaurants in town, maybe we could go to one of those?"

"I was thinking go-cart racing," she says, catching me completely off guard. "I noticed there's a track about five miles out."

"I don't think I've ever been carting..." I say, a little dubiously.

"Do you enjoy driving?" she asks. "You must, your car says you do."

"Well, yes," I admit.

"Then trust me on it," she grins. "Shall we go?" I realise I've finished my coffee, and to my relief, my body is behaving itself again and standing up is no longer impractical.

It's not long before we're prowling around another department store. Why do they always put the underwear section next to the escalators? I assume it's to make men walk through it on their way to the top floor, just to embarrass them. Of course, this time I'm actually here on purpose. I notice several haggard looking old men following their wives around the 'sensible' section, looking depressed. Julie seems to prefer the pink and black lace section. She notices my gaze, and grins.

"Birthday present, of sorts," she giggles. I feel myself go red and she laughs. "Would you like to see me try them on?"

"Um..." Well, yes I would thank you, Julie, but see that would be a very bad idea because I'm trying hard not to find you sexy. "I'm gonna go um... look in the... food section... downstairs..." I back away, bumping into a large cardboard display stand, and flee down the escalator. Phew, that was close.

I decide I better had actually be in the food section for when she's finished. So many chocolatey things... It's a little sad, really, I love chocolate, but too much makes my fur greasy. I wonder if Julie likes chocolate... No, no I don't. Moving swiftly on!

"There you are!" I turn around a few minutes later, nearly bumping into the tigress behind me. "Still hungry?" she asks, looking over my head at the chilled sandwiches.

"Not really," I say, shaking my head. "All done?"

"Yes thanks," she grins. "Where to for shoes?"

"Wow," she says as we arrive at my favourite shoe shop a few minutes later. It's a big place, and I understand the wow completely. To my surprise, we bypass the high heels entirely, heading for flat soled, fairly sturdy shoes somewhere in the size tens.

"You can't be a nurse with high heels," she says, apparently reading my expression. "If you have to hurry somewhere, sooner or later you'll break an ankle. Besides, I don't need to look any taller," she looks mildly embarrassed, avoiding my eyes. "It's a pity they can't make negative heels to make people shorter."

"I think you're just fine the way you are," I tell her quietly.

"A lot of guys find me kinda unapproachable..."

"I don't, and I'm smaller than many."

She looks down at me for a moment, then smiles, but says nothing.

I'm surprised by how quickly she picks out shoes - usually its a lengthy process with anyone, but she seems to have a good idea what she's looking for.

"Just the wine store then?" I check as she hands over her credit card to the cashier.

"Think so," she agrees. "I can't carry much more, anyway."

I'm glad she's noticed this, because neither can I. The wine store is a quick affair, and we come away with a fairly expensive bottle of champagne. We seem to be in luck, too, because the bus turns up within a minute of us getting to the stop.

"Do you mind if I leave his present at your house?" Julie asks as the bus turns onto our road. "It's kind of big to hope he won't notice it."

"Sure," I nod, and we both get off at my stop.

"Best leave it in my room," I say as we enter the house. "Be safer there."

"Ok," she follows me up the stairs to my attic room. I suddenly realise it must look very small and unimpressive compared to her apartment.

"Aww, he's cute," she takes a soft toy off a shelf at the side of the room and hugs it.

"Had it for years, not sure what to do with it, but I can't bear to throw it out," I admit, kicking some things aside to make room for the QT4 box.

"I know the feeling," she sighs. "I have dozens. Had to hang on to my old toy box in the end, just for somewhere to keep them."

I chuckle as she puts the toy back on the shelf. "His birthday's Wednesday. Would you mind if I call by after work to wrap it, and maybe we could give it to him together?"

"Sure," I smile. "I get home at five."

"I'll be here at half past, then. And I'd best be getting back or he'll start to suspect," she says, checking her watch.

I follow her down the stairs to let her out.

"Really, thank you for this," she says, turning on the doorstep. Despite having a six inch advantage by being inside, she's still as tall as me. "It's wonderful of you, I'm really glad you responded to our ad." To my surprise she leans forward to give me a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Sure..." I mumble, slightly stunned, feeling myself blush.

"Later, Benny!" she grins, and retreats down the driveway.

I close the door, my cheek feeling warm. I notice someone watching me from the top of the stairs.

"Hey, George, how's it goin'?"

"Who's that?" the cheetah asks.

"Just a friend," I shrug, and leave it at that, enjoying the sense of mystery as I retreat into the living room and out of his line of sight.

The pub garden is warm and sunny. The tables are well spaced and clean, and there's just the right amount of grass to give the impression of being in a bigger space than we actually are. A hover fly investigates us curiously, before deciding we aren't nectar-bearing and disappearing directly upwards. I wonder whether they actually stop or just go up until they explode.

I skim down the items on the menu, though I'm quite familiar enough with them that I don't really need to bother. The tigers opposite me seem quite taken by the list, and I realise it's the first time I've suggested we eat here. It's not the widest choice, but I know the quality to be very high for a simple pub. I catch Jack sticking his head through the door to look at the 'today' board, and smile.

"If you asked me," I say. "I'd suggest the venison sausage."

"I was just thinking that," he grins, the sunlight sparkling on his teeth for a moment.

"But order the large portion," I advise. "Else you'll be going back for another."

"Don't encourage him!" Julie prods him in the ribs. "He'll start getting flabby."

He leans against her and nuzzles her muzzle cutely. "With you as my motivation, never," he smiles sincerely and she goes charmingly red.

"I'll settle for the goat's cheese salad," she decides, trying to ignore the way Jack is looking at her with a puppy dog expression and not really succeeding.

I wander up to the bar, ordering two of the sausage - the regular portion for me - and the salad, finding the correct change for their meals on the table when I return.

The afternoon passes swiftly, and pleasantly, the warm sunshine relaxing and the company enjoyable, and I walk home feeling well fed and unusually content.

There's a knock against my open door, and I jump.

"Ben?"

"Julie! Gods, sorry I'd completely forgotten you were coming!" I look round at her, embarrassed.

"That's ok, your housemate let me in," she smiles. "I think he's confused though, looked at me like he thought I was either a kiss-o-gram, or going to tie you up and rob you."

"Given that I don't have much worth taking, either sounds fun to me," I say before my brain kicks in and stops me saying anything more.

"Well I am going to rob you of the QT4," she smiles, apparently not offended by my inadvertently flirtatious comment. "What are you working on?" she asks, nodding at my computer screen and perching on the edge of my bed.

"Mmm? Oh, uh, just a story."

"You're a writer?" her ears perk up.

"A wannabe," I correct.

"You'll have to let me read some time," she smiles.

"I could email you a few chapters if you like..."

"Go for it," she nods and holds out some wrapping paper. "Do you have sticky tape?"

I do, and we spend the next ten minutes wrapping the console box, and its accompanying games. Satisfied, we carry the packages between us and head out.

"Happy birthday!"

Jack looks quite taken aback to find us both on the doorstep, holding out a number of boxes. He lets us in, his mouth opening a few times without saying anything. Julie settles the matter by kissing him firmly.

"Uh, hi, Ben," he says as he finally extricates himself.

"Hey, Jack, how's it going?"

"Better," he grins. "I didn't know she put you up to this, too!"

"Didn't need putting up to anything, mate. Once I knew, I was gonna turn up one way or the other."

"You're a pal! So what'd you get me?" his feline face is practically glowing as he jiggles the largest box.

"Open it and see, you lunk," Julie swats him around the back of the head, and he carries the packages through to the living room.

"QT4!" Jack exclaims happily, before going off into a series of whoops. His enthusiasm is quite infectious, and both Julie and myself are soon laughing as we watch him tear into the games, announcing each title as if it were exactly what he wanted. I'm not sure whether or not this is truly the case, but it certainly makes me feel that we bought the right thing in general.

It takes about a minute for him to have the console plugged in, connected to that giant plasma screen, and booting up for the first time. Another two minutes pass as he learns the basic menu system, controller set up, memory card recognition, and the like, and within five Jack and I are pounding each other repeatedly with utterly random key presses and no idea what we're doing. It seems to work out however, as the characters on screen jump and fling themselves - and occasionally each other - around as if we actually had a clue. I wonder if there isn't a degree of AI that figures out when you're lost and guesses what you'd like to do.

Julie leans over the back of the sofa and laughs as my character grabs Jack's by the head, and throws him across our virtual arena to smash face first into the camera. One nil to me then.

By the end of the second round, Jack is worryingly close to figuring out some of the more advanced moves, and his character is acting far less random. I wince as he works out the ranged attack and knocks my heavily armoured character flat on his ass. One all.

A beer appears on the table at the side of Jack's armchair, as does a kiss on the nose from Julie. This seems to put him off a bit because he lets in a flurry of kicks before re-establishing his blocking move. Then I get a beer too, and to my surprise a similar kiss as I glance up to say thanks. Jack capitalises on my blushing and stuttering without mercy, landing a low-middle-high combo and finishing with what looks suspiciously like a kick to the crotch as my character tries to get up.

"'Ave it," he grins at me as the winner's name appears.

"I think I've had plenty," I smile. "But I'll happily give some back if you like."

"Bring it."

I do bring it, or at least, I make a good attempt at bringing it. We choose different characters this time, he going for a slim, fast female character, while I take the heaviest one in the game. It's an interesting match, as he peppers me from all sides with fast kicks that don't really hurt. I on the other hand, swing a lot, and usually miss, but when it does connect he waves a quarter of his health bar good bye.

The bearlike punches eventually win out, my character roaring at the top of his lungs as Jack's sinks to her knees. That I have only two pixels left green in my health bar isn't the point.

"Decider then," Jack says, and we exchange a small, expressionless nod.

He loses, and it becomes best of five, which goes three-two to me.

Best of seven, then.

Best of Nine.

By the time Julie turns the light on, we are both sweating, and swearing, and almost crying with laughter, and we've lost track entirely of the number of rounds or who's winning. She leans over the back of the armchair and pinches Jack's ear until he stops and listens to her.

"Go on, I'll give you your takeaway night if you like," she says, dropping a number of menus over his shoulder. "Take your pick."

He shuffles through them for a moment, looks thoughtful, then holds up a pizza menu. "Three for two offer."

"Six pizzas then," Julie looks slightly resigned as Jack nods vigorously. She chooses two, then passes the menu back, which comes my way with two pizzas still left unaccounted for. I go for a spicy vegetarian - for some reason I've never liked meat on pizzas - and a quatro formaggio, aka the heart-attack special, as Jack laughingly calls it. Having noted all this down, Julie takes the menu out into the kitchen and we can hear her calling the order through over the phone.

Jack looks at me, and we sneak in a quick round while she's gone.

"About half an hour," she reappears, sitting down on the other side of the sofa. It finally occurs to me to ask if she would like a go with the game. She looks dubious, saying she's never quite seen the point of fighting games, but has a try anyway.

Ten minutes later, she's thrashed Jack twice, much to his annoyance.

"Beginner's luck," I hear him growl as I get up to use the bathroom.

As I sit down on my return, Julie stretches her legs across me, reclining to a more comfortable position, and pinning me in place. Now, it's not that I don't appreciate being pinned in place by a friendly tigress, but her shins are pressing against me in places that have already proved to be sensitive to her presence, and I face the potential that she's going to provoke a response I can't prevent, and which none of us are going to find appropriate. Fortunately my jeans are thick, and she's involved enough with the game that if there is any hint of the problems she's giving me, she doesn't pick up on them. I do wish she wouldn't wriggle her legs when she wins though - either that or lose a bit!

I get one of my wishes, at least. Jack seems to be adapting to her style, and begins to fight back better, pulling back two matches in a row. Then he passes his controller to me and heads for the bathroom.

The following battle against Julie turns out to be a challenging one. She's not overly skillful and doesn't have the combo moves committed to memory, but she does seem to have speed on her side, and her button bashing capability is not to be underestimated. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think she's noticed that if she moves her legs a little, I tend to let in a punch or two under my guard. For a moment, I'm sure I catch her looking at me out of the corner of my eye, just as she does this, but by the time I've moved my gaze to check she's looking back at the screen.

Perhaps fortunately, the pizza arrives at the same time Jack returns, and they both go into the corridor for a moment to take the delivery and hand over money. I take a moment to settle myself.

"Here you go, Benny," Julie sets two boxes down on my lap.

"Great! What do I owe you?"

"Tonight, nothing, not after you've made Jack laugh all evening."

"But..."

"Shh!" she commands, setting her own boxes down for a moment and pulling a DVD out of the rack. She slots it into the machine and sits back on the sofa as Jack comes in with his pizzas, and three plates which he passes out.

The film turns out to be a contemporary comedy, and to my surprise, a good one. Most comedy films recently seem to keep relying on the cringe factor - take a character and do horrible, humiliating things to them to the sound of canned laughter, and tell the buyers that it's funny. I can't stand that. But no, this film actually has jokes, and a plot, of sorts, worked in around a good dose of slapstick, and doesn't have me cringing at any point. Well, except for the cockroach part, but that's just a general disgust of insects in general rather than a criticism of the film.

"Oh, crud," I announce, looking at my watch as the end credits start. It's nearly midnight, and I have to be at work tomorrow.

"Whoops!" Jack agrees. "Go on, Ben, get going, we can clean up without you," he adds as I start to pick up one of the empty boxes.

"That's..."

"Go on," he repeats. "You've got work, I don't have to lecture till ten."

"All right," I give in. "Regular night tomorrow?"

"Wouldn't miss it!" he beams at me as he walks me to the door. "Look, Benny... thanks, it's been good having you round, I had a great night," he says, and then hugs me tightly.

Now this is something I'm really not expecting, and the moment of surprise gets followed by the realisation that he's wearing that nice scent again, which in turn is followed by the discovery that I'm not quite sure how to react. I pat him lightly on the back and tell him he's very welcome, which seems to suffice because he lets go and opens the door.

"See you tomorrow, Benny," he grins, and I wave as I head down the stairs. I wonder when I became 'Benny,' but don't worry over it. Actually, it's got quite a nice, familiar feel to it. I think I like it.

I'm going to have to find a way to stop my body liking Julie though, it's going to get me into trouble. I sigh as I start down the road outside. Probably just too lonely is all. Likely get the same reaction to any girl that I actually manage to spend time with. Yes, that's it.

Probably lucky I don't react the same to Jack, since I'm obviously badly in need of company, and he's always smiley and friendly, and good smelling, and handsome too. Better not let him hug me again... handsome? My mental track rewinds a step and prods me about my choice of internal wording.

Strange, I don't think I've ever acknowledged another guy as handsome before. Not something I've done consciously, just the way it is. Girls can be ok, or pretty, or sometimes even stunning. Guys are... well guys. They just are. Like Jack versus me at the gym - we just are the way we are.

So why did Jack become the handsome guy all of a sudden?

Definitely too lonely, I shake my head trying to get it onto another track. Yes, of course, work tomorrow. I wonder if anyone has anything for me to be doing yet? I hope so - if not, I might be looking for another job. That's not a thought I want to hold onto for long, and I push it to one side quickly, settling instead for singing under my breath.

Level thirty four. A new record, and approaching the physical limit of the game given the current layout. Mouth dry, I take a sip of beer, and contemplate my next move. This must not be rushed. It's all about tactics, about blocking him in so that he has no choice but to attempt the fatal move.

I tap gently at a block that has stubbornly resisted movement until now, finding it to have just a hint of movement. Above me, the tower teeters dangerously. I pause, holding my breath as Jack grins smugly across the table at me. Sitting back, I regard the situation carefully. It's the only move that makes sense. Have to go for it. I take another sip, because I know the waiting is winding Jack up. Julie is covering her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Tap. Tap. Tap. The block hinges to one side, the tower teetering but not collapsing. Gently... there. Now, the replacement. I pause and take a deep breath while the wobble stabilises. Left, right, or centre? Centre. Less risky, and the next move is going to be challenging enough anyway. Hardly breathing, I drop it the last few millimetres onto the top of the stack. A tremor runs through the tower, but it holds firm.

"D'oh," Jack peers at the tower through one eye as I relapse back into my seat, panting.

There's only one moveable block left now, the rest are vital to the structure. It's near the top, and even touching it with his fingertips makes the entire stack tremble. He eyes me balefully, carefully gripping the wooden brick.

The tower collapses sideways, leaving him holding the block exactly where it was as all it's siblings scatter themselves over the table.

Sighing, Jack mimes placing it on top of an invisible tower as Julie and me crease up with laughter.

"Twenty two, very good," the tiger grins down at me, racking the barbell. "We might have to push the weight up a bit next time."

I sit up, rolling my shoulders and trying to clear the slight ache from my chest muscles. We decide to take it in alternate turns this time, giving me a few minutes break as Jack performs his usual equivalent of lifting a small car. There's a degree of fascination in watching how his tight t-shirt frames his chest as he moves.

We're on squash court two this time, and it's empty when we arrive. I flick the light switch and the florescent bulbs flicker into life. I notice a fresh looking scuff mark high up one wall, and make a note not to create one of my own this time.

Jack seems to share the sentiment, because his first serve is gentle, landing passively on my side. We keep to the slow pace for the first match, ending thirteen-nine to me.

"Warmed up?" the big feline grins at me, and I lean outside for a quick drink, then return to my place, nodding.

I serve high and long, bouncing off the rear wall. This is not a tactic that proves effective against Jack, because he simply swipes at the ball as it goes past, tripling it's speed and sending it careening off the front wall, past me, bouncing around the rear corner and landing somewhere back at the front.

"Nice shot!"

"Thanks," he grins.

His serve, and it's a steady one again. I decide that I'm going to push him into playing harder, and swing with all my strength. Of course, I miss spectacularly and simply spin on the spot, facing the ball as it thuds into the back of the court. I stare at it a bit, willing it to come bouncing back, but it just rolls towards me and stops by my left foot.

"One nil then," I say without emotion, and Jack laughs.

The game continues in this manner, landing me with a thirteen-seven loss.

We pause for drinks, then go on to a third game.

"Well, that went... better than last time," I pant, leaning over as my winning shot flops gently off the front wall while Jack stands at the back of the court.

"I think the walls have learned to keep out of your way," he chuckles.

By the sixth game, we're both sweating heavily and panting for breath, and our shots are getting less accurate. I send one wildly off the side wall, stepping sideways in reaction. Jack must have moved left as I went right, because we bump into each other. My foot lands behind his, his other foot behind my other foot, and we go down in a tangle.

The ball bounces in from the front corner and lands on my chest, rolling sideways off me as the pair of us burst out laughing.

"I'm knackered," I announce, lying flat on my back, half on top of Jack, my legs tangled with his, staring at the lights overhead.

"Yup," he agrees.

"Call it a draw?"

"Please."

"Good."

A slight pause seems to set in, both of us lying on the floor, hot, tired, and laughing fit to burst, and neither of us really ready to stand up.

"Nearly time to go anyway," he says, looking at his watch. "Come on."

We disentangle ourselves and he stands up, looking down at me as I continue to stare at the ceiling.

"Are you coming?" he asks.

"Do I have a choice?" I laugh weakly.

"Nope," he chuckles. Standing behind my head, he leans down and digs a hand under each of my shoulders, lifting me to my feet with remarkable ease.

The changing room is empty again. He heads straight into the shower as I take a moment to sit down, slowly peeling my soggy socks off my feet.

"All right there, Benny?" he asks, sticking his head around the partition wall at the end of the showers about half a minute later as I'm sitting naked on top of my folded towel on the bench, leaning forward onto my knees.

"Sorry, tired," I raise my eyebrows.

"Me too," he admits, which makes me feel somewhat better.

He's shampooing between his ears as I pad into the shower, his back turned to me. With his arms raised, he really shows off the shape of his upper body, his muscular back running smoothly down to well defined buttocks. His tail is swaying rhythmically, perhaps to some snatch of music running through his head. Left, right, left, curling almost into a complete circle, the tip near his bottom. And repeat, left, right, left, curl.

It's only when he turns round that I suddenly realise what I'm doing. It's a gents changing room, etiquette is that you keep your eyes off other people as much as possible, the only excuse being if you're moving your gaze between one place and another. I have no idea how long I've been watching. Oh gods, did I look too long? He's smiling, maybe not. I feel myself go pink and force my gaze onto the tiles underfoot.

I start up the shower a space down the wall, jumping back as it gives me the inevitable cold shock, then sighing as it runs hot. Putting both hands against the wall, I lean forwards, allowing the warm water to run down my back, dripping off the underside of my tail.

"Soap?" Jack holds out a bottle. "Sure you're ok?" he adds as I take slightly too long to take it off him.

Actually, I feel slightly sick after all the running about, but it'll wear off.

"Fine," I nod, giving my best smile. He doesn't quite look convinced, but he heads off to dry himself. I stand under the shower for another minute or so before I start properly washing.

By the time I'm heading back to my clothes, feeling weary and a little shaky, Jack is coming back through the door, fully dressed, and with a bottle and pack of sweets in his hand.

"Here," he throws the sweets to me. "Eat them."

I'm about to say I'm not hungry, but he's giving me one of those no-arguments looks, so I open them and throw a few into my mouth, chewing minimally before swallowing.

"Let me guess, you skipped eating this evening?" he asks, looking at me as I sit down, my towel around my waist.

I think about it for a moment, and yes, he's quite right. I completely forgot to eat anything since lunchtime. No wonder I feel terrible! I admit as much.

"Rookie mistake," he chuckles, sitting down next to me and reaching into the sweets. "You'll not do that again, will you?"

I shake my head and pile more sugar into my mouth.

"See, you've not the build to skip a meal before a workout," he explains. There's no insult in his tone, he's just trying to make sure I'm all right next time. "Not like some of the slobs that come in to lose weight. You've not got much by way of energy reserve."

I peer down at my slim body, and have to agree.

He laughs. "Don't get me wrong, you look good as you are, but either take it a bit easier, or make sure you eat enough next time, ok?"

"Right," I nod, beginning to feel slightly better, though whether from the sweets or the compliment I'm not sure.

"Come on, get dressed," Jack pats me on the knee as I reach the bottom of the packet. His palm is about as wide as my leg. "I'll give Julie a call, get her to cook for three." He disappears outside, pulling his mobile phone out of his pocket before I can comment.

Julie greets us with a smile, and a kiss on the cheek each, which sends my ears up a few degrees in temperature. There's a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen and I follow it and Julie as she heads back that way.

"Trying a new recipe book," she smiles as I peer in through the glass oven door. "Lamb shank with honey sauce."

"Is it ready?" I ask keenly.

She laughs. "Not for about an hour. And stop wagging your tail like that, you look like a puppy!"

I hadn't even realised I was doing, and I stop, embarrassed as I straighten up.

"Come on," Jack leans in through the door and looks at us. "We've got time for a race round Ocean View!"

"His favourite track," Julie explains as he disappears. "I hope you're up for a challenge, he's been playing that game for days."

Jack is indeed very good, and hurtles off ahead of both me and Julie. On the up side, there are plenty of computer cars which all of us beat easily, so neither of us feel too bad as Jack zooms off ahead, whooping wildly until he goes flying off the side of the bridge ahead. Julie pats him on the back as he comes in in third place

"Whoops, time to put the potatoes on!" Julie exclaims suddenly after the fourth race, and disappears into the kitchen.

Jack takes a moment to explain the car customisation screen. I amuse myself with a giant size rear spoiler, a lemon yellow paint job, and pink wheel trims, as he looks appalled by my abuse of his favourite car. Julie snorts with laughter as she returns from the kitchen to see my masterpiece slowly revolving on the screen.

The rest of the evening passes happily. Julie's cooking is as good as it smells, and there isn't even a chance of leftovers to go in the fridge. By ten, I'm ambling home, feeling remarkably content and cheery.

Monday morning turns out to be a different matter entirely.

Memo to all employees, the email reads. The company director has decided to accept the offer by Freeman Designs. The process will occur over the next three months, further details will be released within the following fortnight.

Now I understand why the office seems quiet this morning. What does this mean, then? Are we going to stay here as a part of Freeman Designs, but in the same office? Will we have to move, and if so, where to? Are we even going to be working here at all? I glare at the frustratingly short email, for a moment I consider marching into my boss' office and asking, but I catch a glimpse of him through his open door. He looks tired, and slightly sad, and I decide I just don't have the heart.

I spend the rest of the day under a depression that leaves me staring blankly out of the window a lot. I jump when my mobile phone suddenly rings at about half three, surprised to see Julie's number come up. I stand up and quickly carry it out through the door.

"Hey, Julie, what's up?"

"Hi, Benny, are you ok to talk?"

"Yeah, quiet day."

"Good, I'm just on a quick break. I forgot to ask you on Friday, are you going to be back to running now you're ankle's better?"

"I was going to go out this evening, actually. Up round the park."

"Great! Look, would you mind calling for me on the way? I don't think I can do your distance, but I might get round the park and back."

"Sure," I smile even though I know she can't see it. "What time?"

"Would about half six be all right?"

"Yeah, no problem, I'll look forward to it."

"Brill. Thanks, Benny! I better go."

"Ok, see you later then." I hear her hang up, and tuck my phone away before returning to the office. Well, at least that's one nice thing that might happen today.

The evening is warm, and sunny, and the jog up the road pleasant. Julie meets me at the door, looking surprisingly good in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a short running top that shows off the majority of her toned stomach, and highlights the curves of her breasts. Very nice curves, I notice unwillingly.

I let her set the pace, falling into step beside her as we start out. She doesn't do bad, for someone who doesn't work out regularly, and we get to the half mile mark before she's slowing down. I call a pause by the ornamental garden at the corner of the park, and she plops down gratefully on a large rock, panting heavily.

"Phew, that's quite a way!" she exclaims, looking down the slope over the park. The sun is shining on the antique bandstand, and a gentle breeze is setting the trees swaying gently.

"It's uphill all the way to here," I point out. "It used to nearly kill me when I started out. It's easier on the way back."

"Right," she nods. She sits for about a minute before standing again, and we set off on the downward leg. Where the outbound run is open, across the grass of the park, the return follows the path through the shadow of a row of trees, and the cool shade is well received.

"Summer fair on Saturday!" I say, noticing a paper sign stuck on the gatepost as we leave the park.

"Ooo, I'll have to remember that," she pants.

"You'll do well not to, living next to it," I grin as we finish the hundred yards to her apartment.

"Whoo!" she leans on the corner of the wall, fanning herself with her hand and breathing heavily.

"All right, there?" I ask, and she nods.

"Hot!"

"Shower, medium warm," I tell her and she agrees.

"We'll see you Thursday?" she pauses in the doorway.

"Like anything will hold me back," I grin, and wave as I head back down the road.

Well, that was more fun than usual, I decide. And Julie really does look good in that running top. Even the tracksuit suits her... uh, no, better not think about that. Sure, she's cute, she's friendly, and she's pretty, but she's also unavailable, and I'm well aware it's only because she's the first girl I've really spent time with in ages.

"I'm going off this game," Jack grumbles, fishing a wooden block out of his pint for the second time as Julie rocks with laughter.

"Well, you won," I point out.

"I reckon you aimed that one at me," he gives me a suspicious glance as I give my best innocent face.

"What, our little Benny?" Julie leans over to me and puts her arm around my shoulders. Too close, she's definitely too close!

"I'm not that little," I protest.

"Sorry, Benny, majority vote wins," Jack smiles. "You're officially little," he reaches out and taps my nose with his finger as Julie holds me immobile. I'm not used to having my nose touched and it sends a tiny tingle through me. I feel myself blush and I find I can't meet his gaze.

"All right, all right," Jack relents, apparently assuming that I'm upset or embarrassed or both. "You're not that little, mate. Not on the absolute scale, as it were. Just relatively, eh?"

I give him a nod and a little smile, and Julie lets go and begins rebuilding the stack of blocks.

"Ouch!" I let go of the pull-down bar and wince as my shoulder cramps uncooperatively, the weights crashing down behind me. "Ow, ow, ow!" That really hurts!

"Which side?" Jack asks quickly, seemingly guessing the problem.

"Right," I grunt, and before I know it he's grabbed my arm and stretched it out full length, pulling it down and to the side, in exactly the opposite direction to the way I instinctively want to move it. At the same time, he's jamming his thumb down into the crook of my neck. For a moment, the tension is quite excruciating and I yelp, but a second later it's easing off.

"Steady now," Jack says calmingly. "I know, I know, just bear with it, Benny, it'll go." I grit my teeth and follow the instruction, relaxing as the pain recedes.

"Good," he lets go of my wrist and moves instead to rub my shoulder with both hands. "Ok, so, maybe that was too much extra weight then?"

"Guess so," I agree as strong fingers knead my shoulder soothingly.

He realises he's applying enough pressure to lean me to one side, and puts one hand either side of my neck to stabilise me.

"Ok, well, we'll do ten pound increments then, not twenty."

"Sorry," I mumble. I feel like I've disappointed him.

"Nothing to be sorry for, Benny," he corrects me kindly. "I'm supposed to be watching out for you, that was my mistake not yours." His left hand slides down my chest a little and pats me gently. "Sorry."

I'm not quite sure what to say, but I find my fingers lightly brushing his for a moment, before I've really noticed what they're doing.

"Come on then, break time," he says, but not quickly enough to be an instruction to end the contact, and his hand hasn't moved. "Take five while I see what damage I can do myself."

I get up and exchange places with him, finding a perch on the bench press. Once again, he maxes out the weight, and I wonder how much he actually weighs to be able to pull down and lift two hundred fifty comfortably. Not that an inch of him is flab, it's pure muscle and I know it.

Our squash match is a notch up on the previous week. We both seem to be developing a better degree of control, though I still seem to hold the agility edge and him the power. He winces as I take a flying leap again, but this time kick back from the wall and land neatly on my feet as the ball smacks the front wall an inch above the lower line and ricochets into the floor.

"Very good," he chuckles, applauding briefly, and I take a small bow.

I return the applause a few serves later as he fires the ball at the wall with such force that there's a loud popping noise, and it bursts, dropping limply to the floor.

"Oh shush, titch," he sticks his tongue out at me. Tapping his racket against his hand, he checks that it's still intact, then digs out another ball from his shorts' pocket. "Second service!"

"You did remember to eat this time, didn't you?" he asks as I pull my t-shirt off in the changing room, dropping it wetly onto the floor.

"I came prepared," I admit, digging out a packet of chocolate chips from my bag and opening it.

"It's no substitute for real food, you know," he tuts, shaking his head as he pushes his shorts off. I catch my eyes trying to follow the movement and direct them firmly into watching another handful of chocolate. "Complex carbs, and a bit of protein. Small portion of pasta and cheese, or a ham sandwich would do."

"Ugh, can't stand ham..."

"Really?"

"Pig meat in general, really," I say. "It just bothers me, they're smart animals. Don't feel quite far enough down the evolutionary chain to be right with eating them."

"Hmm," he digs his phone out of his bag, and dials it, standing by his locker in only his t-shirt and one sock. I hurry over to the shower with my towel round my waist. He's really too big to prevent my eyes straying his way at some point, by law of averages he's about a quarter of random directions, so the polite thing to do is leave quickly.

"Hey sugar stripes," I hear him say. Sugar stripes? I fight back a snort of laughter. "Have you started cooking? Great, can you put a hold on the pork chops? We'll do that tomorrow or something." Wait, is he...? "That's great," he continues. "All right, see you later," he blows a kiss down the phone and I have to bite my lip not to laugh. Six and a half feet, somewhere over three hundred pounds, and remarkably soft hearted. It's rather sweet, actually.

"Chicken breast," he announces, appearing around the partition to the showers.

"You didn't have to," I say, feeling guilty. "I didn't know I was coming round!"

"Really? I kinda assumed, you know?" He throws his towel at the hook on the wall but it misses and bends down to get it, tail waving behind him. I jab myself in the eye with a soapy finger, so desperate do I suddenly feel not to find my gaze pointing at that well toned, striped bottom that I practically smash my hands into my face. "Sorry, I'll check next time, did you have other plans?" Straightening, he hangs his towel as I try to blink the soap out of my eye.

"No," I shake my head, feeling my eye watering. "I'd love to come over you. To you," I amend hastily, feeling myself go bright red as I realise the verbal slip. "And Julie. For tea." My one open eye notices him looking at me and chuckling. I sigh and hang my head. "Can I start that again?" I ask.

"Certainly," he says with dignity, standing to one side as he fires up the shower beside mine, avoiding the initial cold blast.

"Thank you. No, I have nothing planned, and I would love to have tea with you," I say. Finally got it right! Hooray!

"Good," he grins. "Because the Xylaxian army has landed, and I think we're the only three soldiers left between them and victory."

I nod. "Understood, commander. When does the mission launch?"

"Whenever we finish eating, really," he shrugs his broad shoulders.

"Ah, a priority mission if ever I saw one."

"With Julie's cooking, you can understand why I order things the way I do."

"Well, yes. She's gonna have me getting fat though," I finally manage to clear the soap from my eye and blink down at myself.

He laughs, and prods me in the gut. "Not bloody likely!"

"Ow!" I rub my side where he jabbed me.

"See? No flab there to take impact. I'm kinda jealous, truth be told."

"Eh?"

"Well, look," he pinches a couple of inches of skin and fur from his stomach, indicating that I do the same. "See? You've actually got about half the subcutaneous fat that I do. I guess I'm just built with it."

"It doesn't show," I tell him.

"No?"

"Not in the least," I shake my head, feeling water drops fly off my ears. "You look good," I say, my mouth going into that mysterious autopilot mode that it only adopts at the most embarrassing times possible.

"Thanks," he grins, looking pleased. "But you beat me on the cuteness factor, you know," he raises one arm, lathering himself.

"I do?"

"Sure. See, heavy build can work, it can make you look intimidating, masculine, attractive to some people. But you've got the slim and cute factor. A lot of people like that, too."

"How come I've never met them?" I ask. I wish my ears would cool down, I'm sure they must be redder than usual.

"Maybe you have and just didn't realise it," Jack raises his eyebrows. "Or maybe they thought you weren't interested in them."

"Am I that expressionless?"

"Nah," he chuckles, soaping the other arm. "Not once people get to know you. But you did seem a bit shy, at first."

"And nervous," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not a big guy, and you seemed like you were towering over me for a while."

"Oh... I'm sorry," he apologises. "I didn't realise. Look, Benny... I know we've got our differences, but you don't ever have to worry about me. I'd never hurt you, you know."

I feel like I've just touched a nerve, because his face has fallen somewhat.

"I know," I smile. "After all, I trust you to hold a hundred pounds of iron over my head and not drop it."

He chuckles. "True enough. Thanks, Benny, I appreciate that." He steps out of the shower and puts his hand on my shoulder as he passes, patting me gently. I suddenly realise that all I've done is stand there with the water drumming against me, and hastily finish washing myself as I hear Jack whistling cheerfully as he towels off.

The situation looks grim.

To the north, an impassable cliff, at the base of which lies our crashed craft. West and east, the lava pits seethe menacingly. The only way is south, but that way are the enemy's armies. Legions of insectoid robots patrol around the base of the carrier, their red eyes casting circles of light onto the scorched ground. Above them, the sky is dark with the black clouds that the alien ships release as they descend, blanketing the world with night. The only hope is to hijack the carrier, take it up to their mother ship, and destroy it from inside.

We pause in our approach, looking down upon the mechanical army from the top of a small ridge.

"Ave it," Jack mutters, switching to the one-shot mini-nuke he picked up earlier, firing it into the midst of them and decimating mechanical army.

"Oh very stealthy," Julie looks at him as he grins from the depths of the armchair. "I thought the brief was to sneak through?"

"I figured it was irony," he looks over at her and shrugs as I laugh.

"Well we've not got a choice now," I point out. "Here they come, red leader!"

"What's the situation on the left flank there?" Jack asks, switching to faux-military mode.

"You could just look at my part of the screen," Julie suggests.

"That's not the point," he grumbles, as I take my heavy gunner character and mow down the first line of enemy troops before they can get close. "You're supposed to tell me."

"All right," she launches a grenade into the middle of an oncoming group and they fly into a satisfyingly large number of pieces. "There's about a hundred bugs in front of me and they're all looking my way. Satisfied?"

"Strangely, yes," Jack nods. He switches to twin guns, and reaps the next line of incoming as I reload. "Centre?"

"Ready to go," I push forwards again, five hundred shiny bullets freshly loaded, and I send them zinging into the mechanical ranks.

It doesn't take long before we've reduced the entire robot army to some smouldering scraps.

"See?" Jack grins at Julie. "Told you we didn't have to sneak."

"I feel like I've cheated," she narrows her eyes at him and I laugh.

We amble the squad forward, arriving at a convenient save point.

"Are we good for another blast?" Jack looks keen, but we've been going for three hours already, and Julie keeps plying me with beer so that I'm getting wonky with my aim. Julie seems to agree because she suggests a film.

"Aww, ok then," the big tiger agrees, with only a mild trace of disappointment. He saves the game, and shuts the console down.

"Fair day tomorrow," I remember suddenly.

"Oh yes! When should we go?" Julie asks.

"Depends what you're after. Morning they usually do a few displays, youth bands, cake stalls, craft fairs and the like. By evening they've set up the fairground stalls and rides, usually goes on until about midnight."

"Hmm. Can we do both?" she looks at Jack who shrugs.

"I'm happy with that," I say and she grins.

I head towards the bathroom as Jack tries to decide on a film. I get back to find the opening credits to what looks suspiciously like a period drama. For reasons unknown, I decide to swing my legs up over Julie's as I sit down, perhaps some part of me suggesting that a touch of revenge is to be had. She giggles, and promptly wraps one arm around my legs and tickles my sock-clad feet with her free hand.

Her grip is strong, and she soon has me gasping for breath and pounding the sofa trying to escape, but the effort proves futile. I hear Jack laughing, which does nothing to help the situation. Fortunately she relents, and closes her hand firmly over my left foot, just holding it tightly as I catch my breath.

On screen, the film slowly unravels into a very compelling and scary ghost story that soon has our attention thoroughly captured. Julie settles to stroking my shins lightly, my jeans having rolled up somewhat in our struggle. This proves to be quite relaxing, which seems to leave me in the right frame of mind to jump in all the right places through the film, something she clearly finds amusing because she giggles every time it happens. I glance at Jack a couple of times, wondering if maybe I'm stepping over a line, but his expression gives no hint of annoyance at my position, and on the second time he smiles at me. I'm glad he's not worried, because it's really quite an innocent thing.

It seems that the fair organisers have gone for a medieval theme this year. The entrance to the park has an arching cardboard gate stuck to it, a foil-plated portcullis glittering in the hot sunshine. A big notice on the gate states that all profits go to charity.

It's a gorgeous day, about three in the afternoon, and we've conveniently missed the children's bands. Instead, a number of acrobats are performing variations on a human pyramid routine while a fire-eater makes the crowd duck and squeal. At the back end of the field, the fairground rides are unpacking, and light wood and canvas booths are being set up.

Jack drops a tenner into the 'suggested donation' bucket at the entrance, and the collector gives us a cheery smile from under the hood of his monks' robes. We watch the acrobats for a while, and the first five minutes of the dog show, but this doesn't seem to hold our attention and we start wandering around the tables and displays. There's some interesting stalls dedicated to local history, with large maps, and artists' recreations of how the town looked a hundred, two hundred, five hundred, a thousand, and five thousand years ago. It's really quite fascinating, and I find myself buying a booklet with prints of the pictures and detailed descriptions from a smiling old lady.

I realise I've lost Jack and Julie, but soon locate them by a stand selling bowls of chilli. He's part way through a portion of their hottest, and looking like it's nothing special, but I catch a hint of moisture at the corner of his eye and he puts his finger to his lips to shush me before offering a spoonful to Julie. She tastes it, swallows, blinks, then grabs one of the many cups of water laid out for this exact purpose.

"Holy crap, that's a good one!" she announces, surfacing and coughing. She buys the recipe for a pound, and another for something a little more mellow.

A book stall, a few new titles, most second hand. Jack is pleased to find the missing one to a set he was trying to collect, and gives the stall owner twice the asking price.

On to the charity cake stand, where I think we come away with one of everything, packed carefully into a cardboard box with string handles. Julie catches Jack buying some to eat immediately, and tugs him along by his ear while he shoves them hastily into his mouth. A moment later, he's disappearing off towards the central arena where a selection of vintage cars are driving in. Julie looks at me, we both shrug and decide to let him go.

Next along is an arts and crafts stall, and it's quite a big one. There's paintings of the town, the city, and generic landscapes that I don't recognise. Little pottery ornaments, animals, and cottages mostly. Small glass... things, that seem quite decorative but have no particular use, and a selection of hand made jewellery. I point at some emerald - most likely green glass - necklaces and earrings and tell Julie they would match her eyes.

"How do you know my eye colour?" she asks, surprised. "I've always had contacts in."

"I guessed," I admit. "It's the only colour I haven't seen you with."

"Good guess," she says. "They are pretty, aren't they?" she holds one of the necklaces up. For an amateur job, it's very impressive, though I suspect it's stainless still and chrome, not silver. Nonetheless, at a fiver, I buy it for her, and she goes pink.

We pass over a stall selling nothing but antique clocks, and find ourselves next to the ice cream van. I take pity on Jack and decide to get him a double scoop chocolate and strawberry ice cream.

"Oh, thanks, Benny!" he exclaims when I tap him on the shoulder. "Here, squeeze in," he stands back so I can fit in in front of him, next to the rope and with an unobstructed view. I sense he and Julie linking hands behind me as the vintage vehicles parade around the arena, each one being introduced and described by the announcer. They all seem to have belonged to someone instrumental in the town's history at some point, and date all the way back to a horse and cart used by the first milkman to do the rounds. This one seems to get extra applause from the audience.

The cart and cars retreat to be replaced by a troupe of five to eleven year old majorettes, bright batons glittering in the sunshine. When they in turn get replaced by an unseasonable display of morris dancing, we decide to move on, followed by jingling and clonking noises.

Having finished the stalls, we decide to head for the quiet shade of the pub garden for a while. We can still hear the speaker system from the fair, but it's faded into background noise and tolerable. Taking note of the heat, I ask the barman for three pints of coke, each with a shot of archers, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and three straws. He looks at me like he wants to laugh, but does as asked. It takes him a few moments to decide what to charge me. Apparently coke floats aren't on the price list.

"What on earth is that?" Julie looks at the lumpy drink that arrives on the table.

"Trust me," I wink at her. Dubiously, she and Jack take tastes. I watch with amusement as their expressions go from trepidation, to puzzlement, to curiosity, to pleasure.

"Mmm," the tigress sighs. "That's a new one, but I like it."

"So, past the supermarket on the way home, then?" Jack grins, and she nods.

We stay in the garden until the pub starts serving food for the evening, and an hour beyond while we eat. Calling at the supermarket on the way back as Jack suggests, we pick up cola, ice cream, and various spirits that he wants to test out in float-mode later. By the time we arrive back at the park, the sun is almost setting, and the lights are coming on, illuminating the field in moving colours as the rides swing into motion beneath the red summer sky.

They've carried on the medieval theme here, and all the rides have names like Lancelot, and Arthur, and a stonework paint job.

I take my digital camera out of my pocket and shunt Jack and Julie onto one of the rides. It's a short queue, and in a couple of minutes they're climbing into their brightly lit cage as twenty other people distribute around the disk to do the same. With a whirr, the motor fires up, slowly rotating the cages around, swinging them outwards slightly. I take a couple of precursory shots, with Jack and Julie waving as they swing past.

Then the mechanical arm kicks in, raising the spinning wheel to thirty degrees, forty five, and finally stops at about sixty, just far enough off vertical to look fantastic in the shot as I manage to catch my friends on the down swing. I laugh as I realise Jack is clinging to the handles inside the cage, while Julie seems to be whooping and waving her arms.

They stagger off after a few minutes, grinning like idiots. I show them the previews of the pictures and they both laugh.

"Your turn," Jack announces, taking my camera and handing it to Julie as he and I rejoin the queue.

We're on again in no time, and the ride swings into motion. I'm glad I took the inside seat, because I'm pressed against Jack with the rotation, and having him on the inside of me would hurt. Seeing that Julie has figured out how to work my camera, he puts his arm around my shoulders and we lean together for a couple of turns until she waves that she's got the shot. Just in time, too, because the arm is lifting us. The lights of the park flash past at an increasing angle. I'm sure the operator is playing with us, because he's varying the angle more than before, and by the time the ride comes to a halt, I'm slightly dizzy, bumping into Julie at the bottom of the exit ramp. She laughs, and slips her arm around me as we head for the next ride.

Jack refuses to sit in the teacups, but I'm less proud, and spend several minutes whirling around opposite Julie as she grins. I kept my camera with me, this time, and get some fantastic motion shots of Jack as we hurtle past.

"Candy floss!" Jack laughs as we stagger off the teacups, holding out two sticks of pink fluff. I wonder where he got them without moving, then notice a cheetah moving about with a rack of them, and one stuck into his helmet in place of a feathery plume.

We pass a coconut shy, and Jack decides to try his aim. His first ball is a hit... but it doesn't move the coconut. Frowning slightly, he tries again, this time toppling an entire stand, coconut and all. The surly otter manning the stall grudgingly admits a winner and levers the coconut out of its home.

"Dodgems!" Julie whoops right down my ear, and suddenly we're in the queue. Minutes later, I'm being buffeted from all sides, feeling rather like the a single pea with a can to myself, while Jack's knees are nearly up to his chin.

"Tag!" Julie zooms past, slapping me on the shoulder as she goes. Oh, it's on now! I give chase, repeatedly bumped off course, and inadvertently tagging Jack in the process. He gives me a dirty look, and starts chasing me. Julie bumps him, and he tags her instead.

By the time we manage to escape the bumper cars, we're all three slightly bruised from the battering around, but grinning like lunatics. We join the queue for the ghost train.

The howling siren goes off with an awful wail as our cart lurches forwards into the darkness. I hear Julie squeak, and a moment later something light and tickly is dragging over my face. Just as I bat it away, a glowing plastic skeleton swoops down from the ceiling accompanied by a wailing klaxon that sounds like it already did raise the dead. There's several bumps, clatters, howls, floating ghosts and stringy things trailing from above before we arrive back out in the open, laughing.

"Big wheel?" I suggest, and my friends nod and follow to the back of the field. It's a quieter ride, and one that offers a wonderful view of the town by night. Seeing it spread out from fifty feet up, it's like a net of orange jewels, and I take several photos.

"Are we done?" Julie asks, and I nod.

"With the rides, I'm afraid."

"Then we're doing the first one again," she announces, and grabs me by the hand, pulling me through the crowd until we're back in the queue. We wave to Jack until the speed of the ride becomes too great, the lights spinning around us.

"Better?" Jack asks, smiling as we wobble off the exit ramp, leaning on each other.

"Yes," Julie says with dignity, then puts her arm around his shoulder as we head off back through the stalls.

Popcorn seems like a plan. We get a giant pack between us, and park ourselves on a bench for a few minutes, watching the swirling lights of the fair against the night sky.

"I am so coming here again next year!" Julie announces.

"You don't have much choice," I say. "That's your house over there."

"D'oh! When do they close up?"

"Oh, they'll go quiet by midnight or so... but they'll chuck us out by half ten."

"What time is it now?" she asks, and I check my watch, surprised to find its pushing ten already.

"Last run round the stalls?" Jack suggests, and Julie and me agree.

We spend five minutes at the water gun stall, with Jack emerging the eventual winner on two hundred and twenty points. His prize is one of those extremely bouncy rubber balls, which unfortunately is somewhat pointless on grass. He pockets it for later.

Noticing the local vicar sitting on a stool atop a pool of water, I know I have to have a go. Not that I have anything against the local vicar, I just find it funny that he's in his full suit complete with dog collar. I have to buy five sets of balls, but eventually I hit that little target dead on and down he goes. He leans out and thanks me for the donation and I laugh and tell him he's welcome.

"Aww, isn't he cute!" Julie exclaims, looking at a stuffed dragon on the left edge of the hoopla stall. I take up the challenge and buy some hoops. The first sails over the top, the second bounces off the stand. The third knocks it off the stand and the cougar has to replace it. Three more hoops then. Julie protests, but I'm determined now.

Another bouncer and down the dragon goes to be replaced again. And it's over! One hoop to spare, I throw it at random and it homes in right on a tall jar of sweets, dropping over the top of that too. I burst out laughing, taking the dragon and the sweets.

I turn to Julie. "For thou, fair maiden, I have brought this trophy of the battle!" I say, playing along with the theme of the fair and holding out the little soft toy. Jack laughs.

"He was a worthy opponent," I continue. "And the fight fierce, but in the end, I was victorious."

"Pray, good knight," she giggles, taking the little dragon and cuddling it. "What might I grant you in reward?"

"Fair maiden, what finer prize could be asked than a kiss from your good self?" I glance at Jack to check he's ok, but he's grinning and nodding his agreement with my choice.

"Then a kiss you shall have, good knight!"

Now, at this point I am expecting a peck on the cheek, maybe the nose, and a quick hug. What I'm not expecting is for Julie to put one hand between my ears, lean her head to the side, and press her lips against mine, locking our muzzles together. A momentary panic sets in, but slowly gets replaced by a pleasant tingly feeling as she lightly flicks my tongue with hers. I know Jack is standing nearby, but I can't help it as I respond, pressing my tongue into her mouth as we fight for territory. She's so wonderfully warm, and the soft smell of her perfume fills my nose as she leans down to me. I gasp for breath, my heart pounding as she finally breaks the kiss, straightening and grinning.

My eyes flicker to Jack. I have no idea what to say now. His face is cast into shadow by the lights.

"Does this lowly squire get a kiss too, good lady?" he asks. Apparently he does, because a moment later he's locked into Julie's embrace, arms tight about her back.

"I'd, um... better be getting back home, now," I say as they separate.

"Oh, ok, Benny," Jack says. "We'll catch you later then, all right?"

"Yeah," I nod, turning to wave as Julie calls a goodbye to me.

Dear gods, what was that about then? My lips are tingling, my ears are burning, and bits of me are asking why they weren't paid any attention but I'm ignoring them. I've just shared a deep and passionate kiss with my friend's girl, right in front of him! I'm not sure if leaving was the right thing to do, but I wouldn't have blamed Jack if he's on the verge of punching my lights out, and that's just not something I think I can take and survive. Still, he didn't, and he did have time to say something to me, or to kick me in the head... what does that mean? Maybe it just means he's well controlled.

I run my hand over my ear as I walk down the dark road, nearly hitting myself in the head with the jar of sweets that I'd completely forgotten about.

What a night...

Mmm, this is nice.

I'm warm, and comfortable, and someone is touching me, stroking me, cuddling me gently. There's a feeling of strength, and companionship, and gentleness and I relax into it, allowing the warm feeling to wash over me.

A sensation of soft fur, orange fur, stripy fur, warm and close by. Mmm, it feels good to snuggle against it. I feel like I'm being held close, gently, and tenderly, but those touches are continuing, making me press myself into them.

A soft, friendly smell is in the air. It's familiar, and it makes me think of good things and happy times.

I snuggle closer into the warm feelings, becoming wrapped in a gentle embrace as those tender touches reach a critical point.

With a sharp intake of breath I open my eyes, blinking a few times until I can focus on the dark ceiling above me. It's hot, and there's a wet feeling in the fur on my tummy, a fading tingle between my legs giving away the source. Aww hell, this is gonna need cleaning up.

Sighing, I reach my hand out and flick on the bedside light, closing my eyes against its glare until they adjust. I glance down at myself, and decide I can risk standing. I locate a towel after a few moments and wipe myself clean. My pyjama bottoms are unrecoverable though, as is the shirt, and I drop them both into a heap on the floor and nudge them under the bed with my foot. Must put them through the wash tomorrow.

What time is it? Three in the morning. Great. I sit on the edge of the bed to collect my thoughts. That had been some dream. It's very rare for me to get them like that, rarer still for me not to awaken before things get messy.

Then of course, there were the specifics of the content. There had been no sense of face, or identity, just that warm cuddling and the fur. Stripy, orange fur.

Oh dear.

I decide to sit up for a while to clear my head, and turn on my PC, the monitor shining on my nude body as I settle into the seat. I read a few forums, a couple of news sites. Just get my mind of that dream. And off Julie.

I assume it had been provoked by Julie. What had she been thinking with that kiss? Not that it wasn't enjoyable, my lips are still tingling and thinking about it sets my stomach to feeling all watery, which by any measure is a good kiss... but surely its not something that should have been dropped on me? Maybe she was just feeling a little giddy after the fair and the pub before that. People can do funny things when alcohol and adrenaline coincide. That was probably it.

I guess I owe Jack one for not punching me, too, though I suppose it wasn't exactly my fault. Julie's given me little pecks on the cheek before, nobody ever objects to something that innocent, and given the context and my choice of words I'd thought it fairly clear that's what I was expecting... Jack must have figured as much, because he certainly hadn't looked angry or upset. If anything, I'd have sworn he looked pleased, but that just doesn't make sense and I assume it was a trick of the shadows. Carefully neutral, I decide.

I do like Jack a lot, and I really hope I haven't upset him. The last thing I need is to discover he doesn't want to talk to me anymore. My stomach gives a little twist at the thought and I feel slightly sick. I mustn't lose him, not now, I've never felt quite so at ease as when I'm around him and Julie. For a moment, I almost pick up my phone and call them, but then common sense kicks in, saying that it's three in the morning, and that if they are upset with me this will very much compound the error.

Email. That's it, write them an email, explain things, or at least try. Oh, gods, what am I going to say? My hands are shaking.

I'm about to hit the 'write' button when I notice something in my inbox. Holy crud, it's from Jack, and the time stamp shows he sent it about one o' clock. I put one hand to my head as I wonder whether or not I should open it. What if it's a "so long and good bye"? I've got to know though, if I don't open it I'm going to throw up. Hell, I might throw up if I do, but at least there's a chance. Swallowing hard, I click the title and the contents flash up in a window.

Dear Benny. I'm still Benny! Not Ben, or Bastard, just Benny. My heart hammers inside my chest as I keep reading.

Just a quick note before we head to bed. Julie thinks you looked worried as you left tonight, and I wanted to check you're ok. You really don't have anything to be worried about, mate. I'm sorry if anything we did made you feel awkward, or nervous, it really wasn't meant to. You're a kind, sweet guy, and I'm glad Julie likes you too. I had a great night, and I'm not at all upset about anything, and I've no problem if it happens again so please don't worry about anything.

I really hope we haven't upset you, and we're looking forward to seeing you again on Thursday. Please call us if you need to talk about anything, or stop by any time for a chat.

I'm gonna stop rambling now, I just needed to send this out to you else I wouldn't be able to sleep right. I thought about phoning you, but figured you might be asleep so I sent this instead.

Good night, Benny, or good morning, whenever you read this, and take care!

Jack and Julie

x

I feel my stomach unclench so forcibly that I sag backwards in my chair.

He wasn't upset! They weren't upset! I haven't done anything wrong, and they're still my friends! I hug myself as I read the email again. I almost shout with happiness, but manage to contain myself. Reply, reply, reply...

Dear J & J,

Thanks. I'm sorry if I looked worried, I just wasn't expecting more than a peck on the cheek is all, and I think Julie hit me with a dose of shock factor that I'm still recovering from. Damn nice shock though! :)

I'll see you on Thursday!

Benny

Hit send... and off it goes.

Wow. I feel good. I've just gone from the lowest I've felt in years to the highest, and it's fantastic! I also have a very full bladder. Pulling on my jeans, I pad down the stairs to deal with it, and make myself a cup of decaffeinated green tea.

I snuggle back down into my wonderfully soft and warm bed, grinning at the ceiling because it's white. A strange thought about the dream I had occurs to me as I drift off to sleep. The smell that had accompanied the feelings wasn't any of the perfumes Julie wears, it was one of Jack's colognes, the one I noticed the first time I met him. I guess dreams are always out of whack with reality though, and don't worry about it. After all, Jack's a nice guy. I like him.

Dear employees,

With the upcoming merger with Freeman Designs there are several points of information that need now be considered.

This company does not need to move location. Freeman do not have an office in this area, and they are willing to use ours.

Due to office capacity and manpower requirements, we are compelled to downsize our existing workforce by five. Relocation packages are available, as is an enhanced volunteer outplacement deal. Please contact your manager for more information.

Downsizing arrangements are to be completed within the month, subject to the contractual compulsory notice required.

Kind regards,

Martha Jones, company secretary

I feel sick.

Five people is one quarter of our office, and there is absolutely no doubt that I'm in the lower twenty five percent when it comes to experience, time with the company, and earned revenue.

I can see a couple of the other younger guys looking pretty ropey too, and we nods and tight lipped smiles.

I read the email again, just in case, but no there isn't a line at the bottom saying 'April fool!'

Oh gods, I don't want to end up back at the job centre... it took so long to land myself here, using every minute of my days filling out application forms.

I realise I'm dangerously close to tears and quickly head for the toilets, hiding in one of the cubicles until I feel I can face the rest of the office. As I exit, I watch the other guy who's about my age enter. He looks like he just arrived, he's still got his coat on, but his expression lets me know he's read the same email. He heads into one of the cubicles behind me as I leave, and I can hear him take a deep, shaking breath.

"Hey, Ben," my boss smiles without cheer as he notices me coming back into the office. "How you doing?"

"Been better," I admit.

"Yeah, haven't we all," he shakes his head. "What a mess."

"Yeah."

He looks as if he wants to say something, but I think he's realised there's nothing to say. We both know what's going to happen. I nod my understanding, and go to sit down at my desk. There's still work to finish, for now anyway.

"Benny?"

I look up. Someone say my name? Ugh, the world keeps swaying disgustingly. I turn my gaze back to the road.

"Benny! Are you all right?"

"Oh, 'llo, Jack," I finally notice the tiger as he comes to kneel beside me. I realise I'm sitting on the kerb with my feet in the gutter and wonder why. "What you doin' here?" I ask him.

"Um, I live here," he says uncertainly. "That's my house."

"Is it?" I look over my shoulder. "Huh, what do you know," I look back at my feet.

"Well I know you're drunk," he says.

"Right you are, big buddy!" I exclaim, slapping him on the shoulder. "And how right you are!" The world tilts and he grabs me, straightening it again.

"Come on, Benny," he says. "Let's go inside, shall we?"

I look at him, wishing he'd stop wobbling about. "Ok."

There's a bit of a blur, and I'm on my feet, more or less. He puts a hand on my back, which is good because the ground seems to keep trying to make me walk in the wrong direction.

"Up we go," he says as we reach the stairs. One of them proves to be a tricky little bugger, but he's ready for it and keeps me on my feet. He's such a good friend.

Things kind of slide around and change a bit, and I'm slumped on Jack's sofa, being manoeuvred out of my jacket.

"Geez, Benny, you look like crap!" he says, sitting down in the armchair.

"Nah," I tell him. "I'm good mate, I'm good, you know me. Always good. Always."

"Uhuh... what were you celebrating?"

"New opportunities and change!" I declare as the sofa slips under me a little.

"Promotion?" he grins, his eyebrows going up.

"New job entirely! New horizons! New adventures!" I giggle a bit. I made a funny joke and he doesn't even know it.

"Oh. Ok... what as?"

"No idea," I admit. "I ain't got that worked out yet."

"Ah..."

The sofa slips a bit further, and I seem to be looking at the ceiling, though my feet are still on the floor.

"Geez, Benny," Jack's voice is sympathetic. "Come on, I think you need to lie down."

"Me? Lie down? Nah," as if to demonstrate I decide to stand up, only the world is doing its moving thing again and the floor is where the wall should be. The carpet feels soft, I think I might stay here for a while.

"Definitely lie down," Jack insists. I assume he's picked me up because I'm vertical. How is it he always keeps his feet when that happens.

"There now," he settles me on the edge of a bed. "That's better, isn't it?"

I'm looking at the ceiling again. I feel him pulling my shoes off.

"Don't I get slippers and a pipe instead?" I lever myself back upright.

"Sorry, don't smoke," he tells me, putting my shoes to one side. "You smell like you just started though, where have you been?"

"Out on the pull!" I declare. "You know, bit of chit chat with the ladies, take someone home with me, 'ave a bit of it."

"Uhuh... Meet anyone good?"

"No," I shake my head and the world decides to mirror the movement in reverse so that I go dizzy. "I spent the whole time at the bar working up Dutch courage." I sniff. I suddenly want to cry.

"Oh, Benny," he's kneeling in front of me, looking sympathetic again.

"Why am I so crap at it?" I ask. I'm not sure if I'm sad, or angry, but it certainly hurts somewhere inside. "Why doesn't anyone talk to me?"

"Most of them..."

"I mean," I continue over him. "Am I that bad looking? Do I smell bad? Do I have a big sign over my head that shouts 'loser'?"

"No, not at all," Jack tells me, putting his hands on my knees. "You're handsome, and kind, and intelligent, and..."

"And completely unattractive and nobody wants to share a bed with me," I finish.

"Now that's definitely not true," he says firmly. "You're very attractive and I'd happily share a bed with you."

I have to think a while about this one before I figure it out.

"Really?" I ask, feeling my ears go up.

"Yes," he nods, and smiles gently.

"Nah... you wouldn't." He's joking, I'm sure.

"Yes I would," he says again.

"You'd... I mean..." I'm blushing, I can tell. "Do... things..."

"If you wanted me to, yes," he nods.

That's it. Alcohol says brain off, mouth on. "Go on then," I put my hands on my belt.

"No," he pulls my hands away.

"But you said..."

"I know what I said, and I meant it, but right now I can't tell what you want, Benny. I have no idea how you feel, and I don't think you do either. You're angry, and frustrated, and you'll do anything that makes you feel better."

"Then why not help?" A hot tear makes its way down my cheek. "Why not make me feel better?"

"Because if I get this wrong, it's going to screw with your head for the rest of your life, and I'm not about to do that to you."

"Jack..." I'm looking at the floor between us. I can't look at him.

"Yes, Benny?"

"I'm scared."

"I know you are." I feel him brush away the tears on my cheeks. "But it's going to be ok, I promise. I'll help you."

"I don't want to go back on the dole..." I whisper. Please tell the room to stop going round...

"No, nobody ever does. It's only temporary, Benny. It might not even happen, maybe we can find you another job before your notice runs out."

"I lied about being eighteen months out of university."

"Hmm?"

He doesn't understand, of course. "Was twelve months out before I started this job," I sniff. "Half of it doing cleaning at the supermarket. Oh gods, I don't wanna go back there!" I'm really crying now, I can't help it. "Do you know how hard it is to get a good job? To get a job where you don't look at your fifty year old boss with his arm down a blocked crapper and think that that's gonna be you in thirty years?" I'm holding onto his fingers now. I've got to hold onto something or I'm going to break.

"Do you know how hard I worked at uni? Do you know what it takes to get a first class honours, and how much it hurts when you send out application after application and all you get is silence? They don't even care enough to say no, Jack! That's how much I'm worth!"

"Shh, Benny, it's ok." Jack puts his free hand on my cheek, making me look at him. "We're going to sort you out, all right?"

"All I wanted was six months more! Six months, and I'd make that one year mark that's on everything! Now I'm just shafted. The trainee jobs will mark me as overqualified, the better jobs will say I don't have the experience, and I'm gonna spend the rest of my fucking life cleaning floors! All that's gonna be on my gravestone is 'Here lies Ben Lightfoot - he cleaned shit'."

The room rotates a little, and it feels like my stomach does the same. I'm going to be sick. Jack seems to think the same because suddenly I've been bundled into an unexpectedly en suite bathroom and I'm on my knees over the toilet.

"All right, Benny, it's all right," I can hear Jack talking to me softly. My hands are cold and sweating, sliding over the thankfully clean seat as I lose control of insides.

"Gonna be ok, Benny."

Spit. Breathe. Breathe. Oh gods I hate being sick.

"All right now."

Nope, here I go again.

"Go on, mate, it's all right. Get it gone."

Apparently my body agrees with the instruction, and it's another long heave before I finally look up, shivering. He wipes my face with a tissue as I take shaky breaths.

"There we go," his hand pats my back gently. "There we go. All done?"

I nod, and he helps me stand, flushing the toilet, turning me and sitting me on it as the water settles.

"Here, drink this," he hands me a glass of water. Who keeps glasses in the bathroom anyway?

I shake my head.

"Drink it."

"I'll be sick again," I say, hanging my head, feeling utterly miserable.

"Take the risk, or you're gonna end up on a drip in the hospital with dehydration. Assuming Julie doesn't kill the both of us."

It's a good point, and I take the glass and down it. Son of a bitch has given me warm water. Turn round, heave, oh gods I feel terrible.

"Sorry, Benny," Jack puts his hand on my back. "You need the beer out of your system, like now."

He's probably right, I might thank him tomorrow, but right now I hate him.

I finally manage to lean back a bit, just kneeling on the floor. I'm weak and shaking, and there's spots dancing in front of my eyes. He puts his hands under my arms and hauls me off the floor and back into the bedroom, sitting me on the bed again.

"Stay there a mo." Where am I going to go feeling like this?

"All right, mate," he hands me a refilled glass. I glare at him.

"It's cold," he says gently. "Just a little, all right?"

It is cold this time, and I feel slightly better after drinking about half of it.

"That's it, big guy," he smiles. I decide that I like it when he smiles. I like the big guy part, too. "Come on now, Benny, time for sleep. I promise we'll sort things out in the morning."

"Ok..." I'm too tired and wobbly to argue now. I half lie down, and half keel over.

"Jeans off," he says, tugging on the denim. "Sleep in 'em and you'll feel like crap."

I fumble with the buckle, but can't get it undone. I feel him move my hands aside, and he does it himself, pulling the duvet up over me. He sits on the edge of the bed and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Benny. We'll get you sorted, I promise. Give a shout if you need anything."

It's gone dark. I'm not sure if he's turned the light out, or I've closed my eyes. It doesn't matter, because my brain gratefully goes with the flow and powers down. Sleep... yes, sleep, that's what I need...

I'm aware of my breathing. That's pretty much all, right now. I have a feeling that's all I want to be aware of, but I feel like I need to know more.

The shade of the back of my eyelids tells me that there's some light around me, but not a lot.

My head hurts. I remember there being water nearby. I need to find it.

I crack an eye open. Ugh. Well, it's enough to see by. Where am I? In bed, yes well, I'd figured that already, how about more information?

There's the water. I sit up enough to reach out for it, and realise there's a glass of orange juice next to it. It's cool as I pick it up. Refreshing. I fumble the glass as I put it down, and it clatters against the chest of drawers.

A ray of sunlight is making it's way through the closed curtains, striking the duvet over my knees.

My ears perk up as there comes a soft knock at the door.

"Benny?" Jack peers around it. "Hey, good morning," he says softly, entering. "How are you feeling?"

Memory.

I am cursed with a memory that just doesn't quit when under the influence. It may have been a little sluggish to get going, but now... now I remember everything.

As Jack perches himself on the edge of the bed, looking at me with concern, I simply can't prevent the tears from running down my face.

"Benny... it's ok," his voice is gentle, but it doesn't help. I remember yesterday far too vividly. I'm stressed, scared, and embarrassed, and there's just nothing I can do. I close my eyes, my head hanging forwards.

I feel his weight shift, and his arms are around me, holding me gently, resting my head against his massive chest.

"Shh, Benny, it's all right," he purrs. I've never heard him purr before. It's a soothing sound, a gentle rumble, and it's this more than anything that gets through to me.

"Jack... I'm really sorry..."

"Nothing to be sorry for, Benny, nothing," he tells me gently.

I sniff, and pull back, rubbing my eyes as he lets go of me. There's some unpleasant stains on my t-shirt. I remember throwing up again somewhere in the middle of the night, which probably explains them. I smell like a combination of stale beer, cigarette smoke, and things I don't want to mention, and I only now realise that I'm sitting in Jack's own bed.

That's it, I'm off again, it's just too much. I could cope if he'd left me on the floor in the living room overnight, but not this. Could I possibly be less deserving of such kindness? I want him to be angry with me, to tell me I stink, to tell me I've made a mess of his bedroom, that I kept him up all night, anything.

But all he does his hug me tightly, purring, as I tell him over and over that I'm sorry, and he keeps telling me that it's ok, that everything will be all right.

"There now," he murmurs into my ear as I finally run out of tears. "There now. Dear me, what a day, eh Benny?"

I make a tiny noise that might pass for a poor attempt at a laugh. "Yeah. What a day."

"How do you feel?"

"Embarrassed..."

"Don't be," he says kindly. "Not on my account."

"I've made such a mess of things..."

"No, no you haven't. You've made a mess of nothing. Well, maybe your shirt, but we can clean that up."

"I'm late for work," I realise suddenly. "Not that it matters much now..."

"I found your business card in your wallet and rang you in sick," he tells me softly. "Guy on the phone said 'Yeah, him and six others'. Didn't sound too surprised. Said not to worry."

"What about you?"

I feel him shrug, his chest flexing as I lean against it. "No lectures to give today. Officially, I'm working from home."

"Oh. Jack..." I can hear the tremor in my own voice, but there's not a lot I can do about it.

"Yeah?"

"I'm really sorry about what I said last night. About... doing things..."

He chuckles. "No, that one was my fault. I'm sorry. That was a pretty stupid thing to say under the circumstances."

"Did you mean it?" I ask softly. I shouldn't ask, but I have to. I want to know.

"Did you want me to mean it?" he asks. "No, wait," he sighs. "That's unfair. I started it, after all. Yes, I meant it. Does that bother you? I would understand if..."

"No," I shake my head against his shoulder. "It doesn't bother me. I'm flattered."

"Then I'm glad I said it, if only because it makes you smile."

I can feel myself blush, and I'm glad he can't see my face.

"I'm confused, though," I say quietly, and for some reason he laughs.

"I doubt you're the first, but go on, Benny. What's confusing you?"

"You're not gay..." He really does laugh at this.

"No, I'm not."

"And you've got Julie."

"Yep, I've got Julie, and I love her dearly."

"But you like..." I hesitate, feeling like I might offend him, but I need to say it. "Guys?"

"Not exactly," he says. He pushes me back so that he can look me in the eye as he speaks. "See, the term you're thinking of is bisexual, and you're struggling with it because from what you know, I've never looked at another guy that way." I nod silently. "I understand why you're thinking that, but I'm not a fan of labels, and that one really doesn't fit me, as you've noticed." He pauses before continuing.

"I don't actually consider myself to like girls, or to like guys. To say that every 'straight' man likes all girls would be a lie. There's probably a good number he doesn't, especially if he takes the time to get to know many. Maybe he'll find that the ones he's actually interested in spending time with are in fact the great minority.

"What I like to think of myself as doing is taking that time to get to know people before I decide whether or not I can be interested in them. I don't start off by thinking 'right, he's a guy, that makes our relationship fit into the friendship category,' or 'she's a girl, start as friend and work up from there if possible.'

"No, I start by finding out about the person, their likes and dislikes, how they think, how they feel, who they are, and when I think I have a handle on that, then I make a judgement as to my relationship with them. Tiger or wolf, girl or guy, that's less important to me than the person inside, the person who I could enjoy talking with, or playing games with, or watching films with. Does that make better sense to you?"

"I think so," I nod slowly. "You're... really quite remarkable," I tell him suddenly, and he smiles.

"I like to believe so, yes," he grins.

"So now that you know me..." I start, and feel my ears going bright red. "What do you think our relationship could be like?"

"Well I guess that depends on you," he says gently. "If you like it as friendship, someone to drink with, play games with, watch films with, then that's how it will be. I value you as a friend, and I'd much rather keep you as only that than push you away by asking for more."

"Ok... what if... what if I wanted to know about the 'more'?" I can barely believe I'm asking this, but somehow it feels all right to do so.

"Then I would be very happy to show you, if you would like me to. If you're unsure, but curious, I'm happy to lead the way a little, but you can turn back at any time, if you want to."

"Would it change anything?"

"For me?" he shrugs. "No. I'm not really the one at risk of doing my nut in," he taps the side of his head with a finger. "It's only you that can answer that question completely. If you got half way through building a new house and had to abandon it because the foundation was poor, could you go back to living in the old one and be happy, knowing you tried, and that you learned from it, and won't make the mistake again?" He puts a hand on my cheek. "Have a think. Let me know what you decide."

I lower my eyes for a few seconds. I don't know what to answer. I like Jack, I think I'm a little curious, but I've never done anything, not with another guy. I guess I'm afraid.

"Jack?" I look up.

"Yeah?"

"I really stink, don't I?"

He laughs. "Yes, you do," he says. "Why don't you shower, and we can talk more afterwards."

The hot water feels wonderful as I let it run through my fur, battering off my ears and dripping into the bottom of the cubicle. I don't want to move, just stand for a while, just let the water take away the smells and stains of one of my worst nights to date. Oh, gods, I'm embarrassed. Turning up on Jack like this has got to be one of the rudest and most intrusive things a friend can do, and yet... There's a little tingle of excitement inside me. Jack likes me. More than as a friend.

There's a tingle of fear in here, too. I'm actually, seriously thinking about letting myself get involved with another guy. What the hell does that mean, then? I recall a few faces of other men I know. No, not attractive. No. No. Eww, definitely not. That seems pretty unanimous then.

What about some of the girls I know, what few there are. She's pretty. I like her. The receptionist at work is cute, too. My instincts are really quite insistent that I like girls in general. Of course, there's always the one that looks pretty but just acts like a real... never mind.

I picture Jack's face... smiling, friendly, caring. I remember the way he held me so gently, those strong arms shielding me, the way he kept telling me that things will work out, that I would be ok.

There's that excitement again.

What should I do? I'm not in any doubt that Jack would carry through what he says, not anymore. I've essentially got an offer of free sex, or what passes for it. It's been a long time since I did anything like this. Am I just lonely?

I'm confused.

I run my hands over my furry head, splattering water over the walls of the shower cubicle.

Thinking about this from my own point of view isn't getting me anywhere. I'll try something else, a tactic that has helped me sort things out in the past. I take a mental image of me - not me as I am, but the me I'd like to be. Ok, now assume I can't add four inches of height. That's better.

What does this me think, then?

He's a cheery guy, and a smart one. I'm pretty sure he knows more than I do. He also likes to stay open to new experiences, after all, how can you judge something you don't know about? This me knows how to ski, how to shoot a rifle, and how to para glide. He joined the sports clubs where I didn't. He went to the opera when I went to the pub again. It's one of the rules of his life that he always tries out new opportunities, and he's richer inside, and far more interesting because of it.

This me admits he might not enjoy the new things life brings, but that's ok, at least he knows, and he learns from his mistakes. This me would see how far he can let things go, and be prepared to back out if he feels uncomfortable.

This is the me that I want to be.

"Better start being him, then," I say aloud. My heart is beating loud enough to hear. I close my eyes, bracing myself against the wall for a moment, gathering my thoughts.

I grab the bottle of body wash from the little shelf in the cubicle. I don't recognise the smell, but it's nice, and most importantly, it gets me as clean as I can be. The headache I started the day with dissipates. Time to dry off.

There's am unopened pack of toothbrushes on the bathroom shelf. Thank goodness, I really need one. Mmm, minty fresh.

Now I really have to use the toilet behind me. A few minutes later, a few pounds lighter, and the feel better plan is complete.

I pad out of the bathroom with the towel around my waist. My dirty clothes have gone. There's a t-shirt and a pair of shorts on the bed. They don't fit, not by a long way, but at least the drawstring keeps the shorts from falling down around my knees as I walk.

"Hey, Benny," Jack looks up as I enter the living room. "I put your clothes in the washer, should be all clean in a couple of..." he stops talking at this point, because I've jammed my muzzle against his. "Mmm?" he mumbles, but I'm not paying attention. This me is trying out a new experience because the opportunity is here.

In a few moments, he relaxes, and I feel his hand slid round the back of my head, stroking my fur gently. I don't hold him in the kiss for long, just enough that he's opened his mouth, the tip of his tongue barely brushing mine. He blinks and smiles as I pull away.

"You made your decision, then?"

"Yes," I nod confidently. Then I feel myself go bright red and start to tremble.

"Hey," he says softly, reaching out and pulling me down onto the sofa beside him. "You ok, big guy?"

"Sorry," I murmur, leaning against him. "I'm new to this. Kinda nervous."

"That's ok," he squeezes my shoulders. "You don't need to be nervous. We've got plenty of time."

"Good," I say. "Jack, listen... is there any chance of some breakfast?"

He laughs. "That there is," he says, standing. He holds out his hand to me. I hesitate, then take it. It's a new experience. He leads me through into the kitchen, smiling down at me. It makes me feel good, sort of, wanted. "What do you feel like, Benny?"

"Nothing heavy... maybe cereal, if you've got it?"

He does. He sprinkles it with raisins, and chops a banana over it, then splashes it with cold milk. I don't think I've ever had a better breakfast in my entire life. I keep giggling as he looks at me across the table, and I can't seem to stop blushing. It's amazing my brain has any blood left.

"Race?" I ask, finishing the cereal and moving on to the orange juice.

"Sure," he nods, and powers up the games console.

For whatever reason, I'm in the mood to sit on the floor. Jack looks at me for a moment, then shrugs and comes down to my level, so that we're both cross legged in front of the screen.

First up, the Devil's Valley course, a two minute loop of harsh, rocky terrain and tight hairpin turns. It's not an easy course, and the giant spoiler on the back of my now bright pink car is not helping me at all. We're running within tenths of a second of each other, way ahead of the poor computer cars. Taking the inside at a sharp bend, I nudge his car out.

"Oi!" he bumps me back.

"Move it or lose it!" I grin, sparks flying between the sides of the cars.

"Oh, I'll move it all right." A crunch, and we're both skidding off the track, landing amidst the pine trees way back at the bottom of the slope.

"Yep, you did," I nod sagely as the computer starts us back on the track roughly where we left it. The rest of the cars are closer now.

"Stop nudging me, dammit," he chuckles as his car bounces off a boulder at the side of the road, but manages to keep going.

"Stop getting in my way," I stick my tongue out at him.

"You wanna see me in the way? Ok." He manages to swerve in front, then jams on the brakes. And off the road we go again. The map in the corner of the screen shows the computer cars whizzing past our last position.

"Well, I guess we lost," I sigh.

"You wanna finish the lap anyway?"

Apparently I don't. Apparently what I want to do is push him in the chest, then lean over him as he blinks up from the floor at me in surprise. I don't realise I've done it until his bemused grin is beaming up at me, but by then it's too late to take back.

"Something on your mind, big guy?" he smiles.

"Maybe," I tell him casually. I lean down as if I'm going to press my muzzle against his, but slide off to the side, my nose near his ear. I take a few breaths before speaking, trying to get a hold of myself. "Jack, I... I think I need you to lead on this one," I whisper.

"Are you sure you want me to?" he asks, his arms gently sliding around my back, holding me in place as I lie on top of him.

I bite my lip. Moment of truth. "Yes. I just... I need you to..."

"It's ok, Benny," he strokes between my ears softly. It feels really good. "Don't you worry, I'll take care of things. You just relax."

I do as he says, and before I really know it he's drawn me down, our muzzles touching, his lips brushing against mine, but no more than that. One of his hands slides down my back, pressing against my bottom, and I hunch my hips forwards against his stomach. And then he's rolled us, so that he's looking down at me as I yelp in pain!

"What? Benny, what's wrong?" he takes his weight off me in panic.

"There's..." I twist one arm behind me, producing one of the game controllers from under my back. "This," I look at it. "There."

He looks at me as I meet his gaze, and suddenly we both burst out laughing. Leaning forward, he touches his nose up under my chin, nudging my head back and nuzzling my neck gently.

"Maybe we should take this some place else," he chuckles into my fur. I feel a twinge of nervousness, but it's overwhelmed with a surge of excitement, and I nod. Moments later, he's picked me up bodily, one arm around my back, one under my knees as he carries me from the room. I can't stop giggling again, my face pressed into his shoulder.

Edging us into the bedroom, he sets me down carefully onto the bed. I notice that he also changed the sheets while I was showering, and it smells clean and fresh. He leans down over me, pressing his lips between my eyes in a reassuring little kiss as I sit on the edge of the mattress.

I discover my hands are pressing against his chest. I decide to go with it, and tug at his shirt. He obliges me, leaning forward and kneeling so I can slide it off him easily, my hands quickly returning to his body, caressing that wonderfully soft fur, running down to his flanks so that my fingers entwine with his stripes. He seems surprised as I go straight for his belt buckle, but doesn't resist, resting his hands on my shoulders as shove his jeans down to his knees. It's about now that I become unstuck. I've reduced him to his boxer shorts apparently on pure instinct, but there's still that little nagging at the back of my head asking if this is a good idea.

Jack seems to know what's going through my head, because he shuffles forwards, slips both arms under mine, and hugs me tightly. It's warm, and it's calming, and I feel my heart rate slowing a little, hammering less insistently against my ribs.

"All ok there, Benny?" he nuzzles my ear and I nod.

"I think so, I just... got a bit ahead of myself or something."

"That's ok, I understand. I want you to listen to me carefully for a moment," he says, pulling back a little so that we are nose to nose, his gaze fixed on my eyes. "I want you to understand that no matter where this goes, you have final say. You can stop me, at any time, and I will do as you tell me. Do you understand that, Benny?"

Smiling, I touch my nose against his. "I understand," I murmur. Our lips are millimetres apart and I'm trembling head to foot. I don't want to tell him to stop, I want to tell him to continue, but I can't, the words have gotten stuck somewhere along the line.

He smiles and dips his head, nudging his muzzle against my chest, pushing at me until I slide back onto the bed. He follows me up, losing his jeans completely, nudging at me until I'm on my back, head on the pillow, with him straddling my hips.

"Do you have any requests, or would you like me to think of something?" he asks me gently, one hand on my chest.

I haven't the foggiest how to answer, and I'm not sure I could get my mouth working properly if I had. I just want him to do something! To touch me somewhere. The realisation of this sends blood right back to my cheeks where it had only just begun retreating from. Now I'm really stuck. I can't say anything, utterly tongue tied.

I think he notices my predicament because he touches his fingers softly to my lips, smiling. Moments later, he's tugging gently at my t-shirt, carefully sliding it up my fur, his hands underneath it, following what few contours my chest actually has.

"Sit up a little?" he asks, and I automatically do so, having my shirt pulled off over my head. I lie back again as he strokes his hands over my torso, a soft and soothing massage that's proving to be very relaxing. His fingers run down my flanks, tracing each bump of my ribs

"Roll over for me?" he raises onto his knees. I don't even ask why, I just do it, so that I'm face down underneath him, vulnerable, nervous, and waiting excitedly for whatever comes next.

He purrs as his hands stroke over my back, the gentle vibration transmitting through his wrists. I've got my hands bunched up in the pillow beside my head, and he takes them gently, stroking his thumbs over my palms for a few moments before straightening my arms by my sides, running his fingers from my shoulders to my wrists and back. I unf into the pillow as he presses down on the small of my back with both palms, and then he's down to the backs of my thighs, bypassing my shorts entirely.

I'm shivering as he runs his fingers up and down, tracing lines from behind my knees to the base of my buttocks. Down my calves, his hands big enough to completely encircle my ankles with fingers and thumb as he bends my knees, then straightens them, relaxing all the muscles in my legs.

By the time he's reached my feet, I'm so relaxed I barely wriggle, despite being ticklish there. He keeps his touch firm and even, his movements slow.

I sigh into the pillow as his hands start tracing up my legs again, his fingers tucked around and under, sandwiched between me and the sheets. He's holding my hips now, his hands moving inwards a little, one buttock under each. I can't help but tense a little, a momentary tremor running through me, but all he does is unfasten the button over my tail and slide his hands further up my back.

"Roll over again?" he asks, his muzzle by my ear. It's not easy, my body has followed his plan completely and become relaxed and pliable, but I make it eventually and I'm wrapped up in a gentle kiss. He's warm above me, his tongue dancing against mine, his hands on my shoulders, and I can't help my hips rising slightly under him. He smiles as he pulls back, tracing the fingers of one hand down from the hollow of my throat to the cord at the front of my shorts.

I don't even let him ask before I nod, and he smiles, tugging gently on the drawstring until the knot loosens. He looks at me again and all I can do is gaze back at him, captured by his eyes as I feel my shorts being tugged downwards. His gaze never strays from my face, watching me intently as he moves down my body, swinging off to the side until he can pull my shorts over my feet.

And here I am, naked. In Jack's bed. With Jack.

He puts a hand on my stomach. His eyes still haven't left mine, and don't as his fingers stroke gradually lower. I bite my lip, my breath catching as he brushes my furred sheath.

I'm not erect, not even close, I'm far too nervous right now, and he understands immediately. Smiling kindly, he lies down next to me, tugging the duvet up to cover us both and slipping his arm over my chest.

"Well now," he smiles against my ear. "Where are we going to go from here, I wonder?"

I look at him, and shake my head, meaning that I don't know but for a moment it looks as if he thinks I'm telling him to stop. No, don't stop! I raise my hand to his, twining our fingers together, and he smiles. I can't help tugging his hand down a little, and he takes the hint, letting it rest on my stomach, rising and falling with my breathing - which means about twenty times per minute.

"Benny," he nuzzles my cheek. "It's ok. Try to relax a little. Deep breaths."

I try to follow the instruction, but it's not easy. I'm wound up to the point I feel like I may spontaneously combust.

"Easy, big guy. Doing just fine." His hand stays right where it is, no hint of movement across my body, and this in itself is calming. He's waiting for me, going at my pace. I force myself to take a long, slow, deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before releasing it through pursed lips.

"All good?" he asks gently, and I nod.

"Good lad." Slowly, very slowly, his hand strokes down my tummy. One finger contacts the edge of my sheath and I gasp quietly, turning my head to look at him. His nose touches against mine as his hand moves to rest between my legs, covering me entirely down there.

He licks the end of my muzzle from chin to nose, and I burst out laughing. Oh, wow, it feels good to laugh, the tension suddenly melting away to be replaced by a warm feeling of contentment and arousal. An increasing feeling of arousal, in fact as my body votes two thumbs up to the contact and responds appropriately. Jack smiles at me as the tip of my shaft presses against his palm. He doesn't move, still, just lets his hand rest where it is, feeling my erection grow under his fingers. Only as I reach fullness does he do anything, wrapping his fingers around me and squeezing gently.

Oh gods that feels good. His hand his large enough that only an inch of my shaft remains outside his grasp, and he's warm, and soft, and I can't help hunching my hips up against him.

"There you go, Benny," he smiles, nuzzling my nose with his. "Nothing to be nervous of, was it?"

I shake my head, and realise I'm grinning like an idiot, but I don't care. It feels far too good to be touched as his hand gently slides along my arousal and back, just a gentle and somewhat familiar motion. Well of course it's familiar, I'm a guy. His thumb rubs over my tip.

"Mmm, a little drippy here, big guy?"

"Not usually..."

"Then I'll take it as a compliment," he grins.

It is a compliment. Usually I have to be teased and held back for a while before I'm likely to be a little damp there, but he's got me so turned on already that I'm leaking slightly. He rubs his moist thumb around and I hear myself make a little noise of pleasure. I really can't keep still now, I'm squirming under his touch, my breathing picking up again.

"How's it feel, Benny?" he asks as I close my eyes.

"Good," I pant. "Really... really good."

"Yeah? Would you like me to show you something better?"

"Better?"

"Yeah," he grins as I look at him, and I nod.

You wouldn't think six feet six of muscular feline would fit under a duvet easily, but he manages it, his head ducking down out of sight. I feel him curl up beside me, his cheek coming to rest on my stomach. A shiver runs through me as I feel his warm breath on my arousal, my hips shifting under him. One of his hands cups between my legs, holding my testicles carefully, not squeezing or pulling, but giving me a very secure and comfortable feeling. I'm secure and comfortable with my nuts in a tiger's hand? Apparently so... who knew?

A moment on at the thought has vanished as his tongue washes over my tip. Soft, gentle, rapid licks, well designed to tease me, and they do their job thoroughly as I'm left looking up at Jack's ceiling, my stomach tensing as he does such wonderful things under the duvet.

I'm not really sure how long he keeps it up for, I'm not watching the clock, but it feels like several minutes. Indeed, I'm almost getting used to the feeling and starting to relax when he goes one up on me, sliding my entire shaft into his muzzle in one stroke.

Oh, that's got my attention! I've got both hands full of bed sheet, slowly relaxing as he just lies there under the duvet, using his mouth like he used his hand - motionlessly.

I'm starting to wonder if he's going to move. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if he needs to. He's got me feeling like I'm on edge already, every slight twist of my hips makes me ask if this is the one that's going to send me over, but it isn't.

As he does finally move his tongue into action, I bite my lip, a soft moan escaping me. How embarrassing, I'm not a moaner by nature. He's forced that one out of me.

I'm losing track of time again. He's had me worked up for what feels like far too long, but he's just not doing enough to take me all the way. He must sense my thoughts because suddenly he increases his pace, swirling his tongue around me, rocking his head gently so that my arousal slides a couple of inches in and out of his muzzle with each motion.

I'm there. He's flipped me over the edge of control so quickly I don't even have time to warn him. It's all I can do to stifle a shout, my hands clenching tightly as my muscles inside do the same. A moment later, it's beyond my ability to restrain, and my climax rushes through me, thudding between my legs as I arch my back, hearing myself whimper quietly.

It's a long come down. Little aftershocks keep shivering through me as Jack holds his place, my softening length in his mouth for several minutes. Finally, he uncurls himself, his head reappearing on the pillow beside mine as I blush what must be near scarlet. He just grins and pulls me to him, working one arm under my head, the other over my chest, and hugging me.

He's wonderfully warm, and he's wearing that scent that I love, and it's so relaxing being held like this that I feel myself slipping into sleep. I don't like to think of myself as a climax-and-roll-over person, but I can't help it this time. I think Jack knows it's happening, because his arms tighten about me and he brushes his lips against the top of my head, purring.

"It's ok, Benny," he murmurs. "Just relax. You go ahead and take a little rest. Just relax."

As I open my eyes, I discover that I'm alone. The other side of the bed contains only a Jack shaped indent. It's still warm, and it's picked up some of his smell as I roll into it. Mmm, cozy. I can hear the soft buzz of the power shower in the second bathroom outside. That is a seriously clean cat. I like that.

I hear someone open the front door, though I can't see who because it's out of line with the bedroom doorway.

"Hey baby, I'm back!" Julie calls.

Julie!

How ferociously stupid can one man be? I have, over the last couple of hours, completely and utterly forgotten her existence. It's only now that I twig the t-shirt and shorts I'd borrowed where hers, because they certainly weren't big enough to be Jack's. And now I'm naked, in her bed, having just slept with her boyfriend.

I'm a dead wolf.

"Hey, Benny," she says absently as she walks into the room, shrugging off her coat. I watch with the duvet bunched up around my neck as she hangs it up in the walk in closet before sitting on the edge of the bed to remove her shoes.

"Oh..." she stops and looks up. "Hey, Benny! What are you up to?" she doesn't sound angry, just curious. Then she seems to work it out, standing up and walking out of the room, a deep line having appeared between her eyebrows.

I'm dead. I can't even move to get dressed.

"Jack Ronald Fairheart!" I hear her hammer on the bathroom door.

I'm dead!

"You said you were going to wait for me!"

The sound of the shower stops, and I hear the door open. "Sorry, sugarstripes," he sounds sheepish. "Just kinda happened."

"Well it better kinda happen again then." If it's possible to hear a kiss, then I am doing.

I'm dead?

"Sorry, Benny sweetie," Julie comes back into the room and sits on the bed again.

I'm not dead?

"Are you ok, Benny?" she asks, looking at me. I'm still lying down, the covers clenched around my neck. I don't think I've blinked since she came into the house. I do so several times, my eyes watering.

"Hey," she strokes my ear gently. "It's ok, Benny. What's wrong?"

I finally find my voice. "I... I k-kind of... um..." Sort of. I'm so embarrassed I'm stuttering and hesitant.

"Slept with Jack."

I nod.

She laughs. "Well, yes, I had noticed that," she smiles.

"But... you're not-not angry?" I sit up, the covers bunching around my waist.

"Goodness, no," she gives me the kindest smile I've ever seen, then looks at me as if something just occurred to her. "Didn't Jack explain?" she asks.

"Ex-explain?"

"Aww, Benny," she puts a hand to my cheek. "No wonder you're so nervous. I'm sorry. Look, Jack and me, we've... well, we've been talking about you, recently. About how you're such a nice guy, and how maybe it would be nice to get to know you better. We agreed that, if you were interested, we'd invite you round for a little more than a meal and a film some time. I guess he did last night?"

"Um, not exactly... I sort of brought myself," I can't meet her eyes as I say it. "I didn't know it, though, I swear I didn't mean to bother... It just happened..."

Julie puts a finger to my lips and I realise I've started rambling.

"That's ok, Benny, you're welcome any time. What happened?"

"I got drunk," I admit. "Got some bad news, and didn't... handle it well. Jack he... he was..." Oh, great, I'm crying again. I usually never cry, and now I'm reduced to tears twice in a day! "Kinder than I deserve," I sniff.

"Hey..." she puts her arms around me, hugging me and pressing her nose into my cheek. "Hey, it's ok. I know how kind Jack is, why do you think I like him? But I doubt it was more than you deserve," she nuzzles my fur gently. "Is it anything I can help with?"

I don't answer. I know she can't, but I don't want to tell her so. She seems to understand, and waits until I calm down before saying anything more. "So how was it?" she asks, pulling back and smiling. "With Jack," she prompts.

"Good," I hear myself say. "I'm confused," I add, without really meaning to.

She smiles kindly. "That's ok, Benny. What about?"

I look into her eyes for a moment, then move my gaze away.

"Am I gay?"

Julie laughs, then stops herself, smiling gently at me. "No," she says. "No, I don't think so. Do you?"

"I... with..." I can't figure out what I want to say, I just know what I feel.

Without saying anything, she grabs the hem of her top, and tugs it off over her head. I was unaware she wasn't wearing a bra. Her breasts are wonderful, just the right shape and size, her nipples medium small, poking out through white fur. I feel my mouth drop open slightly, but can't seem to shut it.

"Gay?" she asks, smiling.

"Hell no," I decide. "Gods, you're beautiful," I tell her, grinning almost ear to ear as she flushes. "I hope Jack knows how lucky he is."

"He better," she winks. "But he doesn't have to be the only lucky one..." she lets this statement hang in the air, giving me a lopsided and utterly bewitching smile.

I slide under her spell without any trace of regret, leaning forward as she does he same until our lips touch. She's incredibly warm and fragrant as she turns her head, locking our muzzles together, her tongue flicking against mine as it had that night at the fairground. I feel my breath shorten, my hands seeming to move on their own until they're resting against her breasts.

"This from miss going-to-wait," Jack chuckles from the doorway. We separate to look at him, both giggling and blushing. "Oh, don't let me stop you," he says, padding into the room, a towel around his waist.

"Ok," Julie sticks her tongue out at him, and kisses me again. Without losing the contact, she slides her bottom off the bed, standing on the floor. Opening one eye, I see Jack over her shoulder, unfastening her jeans. He grins at me and winks as they slide down her legs to pool at her feet. At the same time, Julie tugs the duvet away from me, leaving me completely naked. And there go her pants, joining her jeans on the floor.

I don't think I've ever been so hard in my life, and she hasn't even touched me!

Free of restriction, I turn to face her properly as I see Jack kneel behind her. She leans forward over me, still standing, her breasts hovering in front of my nose. How can I ignore such an invitation? I press my nose into the fur between, nuzzling and breathing out heavily. She giggles, and gasps. Looking down under her body, I can see Jack's chin. He seems to be doing some interesting things between her legs, which may explain why they're trembling slightly. Geez, these two don't waste time. Given the suddenness of the shift in mood, I wonder what Julie has been thinking and feeling since she first entered the room.

I lap softly at her left nipple, and she purrs, one hand lifting to stroke the back of my head. I feel someone touch my knee, and realise it's Jack. My hands are on Julie's flanks, but I let one fall to touch his, our fingers meshing together.

Now this... this is a new experience, I decide as I nuzzle my way over to Julie's right nipple, latching my lips around it and flicking the tip with my tongue. Definitely one I want to become a regular.

Julie bends her knees, lowering herself down slowly, breaking my contact with Jack but kissing me as she reaches my level. Jack can't keep his head level with her hips anymore, but her tail is up over his shoulder, his hand down between her legs. She's panting into our kiss, and I figure he knows his way around all her most excitable places pretty well.

Julie keeps going until she's kneeling in front of me, her hands on my knees. Behind her, Jack shoves his hand into the top drawer of the chest beside the bed.

Julie's hot breath is washing over my erection as she looks up at me, grinning, and still not making any contact between us. I stroke her ears, fighting the instinct to pull her head forwards in order to bury myself in her muzzle. There's a drop of moisture at the tip of my length. It's kind of embarrassing how worked up she has me, and she still hasn't touched me there!

"D'oh," Jack winces, holding up a single small packet. "Forgot to go to the chemists."

"Then use it wisely, my son," Julie giggles, looking over her shoulder. "Switch places!"

And suddenly we have. Jack sits at the top of the bed, back to the wall, with Julie on all fours in front of him, and me behind her, looking down at her beautiful bottom. I see her pull Jack's towel open, but her head and shoulders are in the way of his lower body.

"Um, Julie..." I say. "I don't have any either."

She smiles as she looks over her shoulder at me. "You aren't likely to make me pregnant, now are you?"

"Well, no..." I'm a wolf, she's a tigress. Not really going to happen is it?

"Then you don't need one," she pushes her hips back towards me as Jack gives me a wink and a thumbs up from the far end of the bed. His expression changes to a rather dopey smile as Julie dips her head.

I look down as Julie's tail flags high over her bottom. The white fur of her chest and stomach runs all the way down between her legs to her tail, spreading down her thighs, broken by her soft pink entrance and the tight pucker of her tailhole. I run my fingers over her folds and she shivers, hunching her hips back against me as I lightly probe inside, making sure she's as ready as I think she is.

She's so slick that my fingers meet almost no resistance, her hot body squeezing around my digits as I carefully explore her insides. Her hips twitch as I slide my fingers back to press against the front of her entrance, carefully feeling for that little bump that's going to make her wriggle. There we go. She trembles head to foot, and Jack takes a sharp breath. I figure this must indirectly do things for him, too. I let my fingers dance over her here for a while, until she's pressing her hips back against my hand with every motion, and Jack's got one hand on her ear, one on the head of the bed, squeezing it hard.

I can't wait any longer. I have to have her, this beautiful, tempting tigress, and I don't care if her boyfriend is watching because he's smiling at me and it's all right.

She spreads her knees on the bed as I line myself up behind her, bringing her hips down just a little to be at the right height. I watch as her pink folds spread around my tip, wetting me, feeling the heat of her body press back against me. As I slowly, ever so slowly slide into her, her warmth and tightness squeezing around me, I realise that... I'm really not going to last very long. The excitement of the situation, and the fact that I'm actually making love to this lovely feline after having a crush on her for several weeks is just too much.

"Julie..." I pause, my hips pressed hard against her bottom, my face feeling like its on fire. "I... I don't think I can wait..."

Jack grins at me. "Little excitable there, big guy?"

I nod, feeling my ears redden. How embarrassing!

"That's ok, happens to us all," he smiles kindly, then gasps as Julie giggles around her mouthful.

"You're not kidding," she lifts her head for a moment to wink at me over her shoulder. "You should have seen him on our first night together."

Jack gives me a sheepish grin as she puts her muzzle back in his lap.

"It's your own fault for being so damn sexy" he says, stroking her ears. "I think Benny did well to get this far," he gives me a grin. "Go on, big guy, give her what you got."

Julie reaches one hand back to squeeze my fingers as they rest on her bottom. I take that as permission from her too, which is good, because permission or not I'm about half a minute from climax and there really isn't much I can do about it. I rock my hips gently, trying for a slow and steady pace, something to draw things out, but it doesn't help a lot.

"Julie..."

Her insides squeeze around me particularly hard, and I know she's doing it on purpose. She's also pushed me beyond my ability to control.

I jam my hips against her soft bottom, pushing myself as deeply inside her welcoming body as I can, feeling her tail wrap around my waist as I squeeze my eyes shut, trembling as my climax floods through me. It feels like I haven't reached release for weeks, even though it's only been a couple of hours.

"Oh... holy..." as my pleasure ebbs, I slump forward over her back, my arms on either side of her, my chin landing between her shoulders. I feel Jack stroking my ears gently and smile. I put my arms around Julie, who seems to be having no problems holding my weight, and hold onto her breasts gently. She purrs, and Jack tenses a little.

"I think you better back off there, sugarstripes," he murmurs. For a moment, it seems like she's ignoring him, but then she's lifted her head, and me as she leans up to kiss him.

"Mmm, but why would I do that?" she asks. "You hoping for some attention from someone else, maybe?"

I go red as I realise she means me. I look at Jack as he gives an innocent little grin that's far too cute.

"Ok," I say, smiling, and without thinking.

Julie holds still as I carefully slide off, and out of, her, slightly sensitive and somewhat slippery. She moves aside, putting one arm around my waist as we both kneel in front of Jack, and I see him naked for the first time. Well, not the first time, but this is the first time I've seen him aroused. He's bigger than me here, too, by perhaps two inches, and I feel a degree of regret that I can't be as enjoyable for Julie as he is. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, and she smiles.

"You feel wonderful," she tells me, pulling my head round and kissing me, apparently knowing exactly what I was thinking.

Jack chuckles as she lets me go. "I'll second that," he says.

"Oh? Just how far did you too go?" Julie asks, moving to kneel behind me, her legs on either side of mine, her arms around my middle.

"Um, not that far," I say.

"I'm predicting based on what I know," he grins. "It's a mathematician thing."

I can't stop looking between Jack's legs, and he's noticed, which only makes the problem worse. He holds his hand out and I put mine in it. To my surprise, he kisses my fingers gently, then tugs me forwards until I'm kneeling close enough for him to hug me, my chin resting on his head. I can't help giggling as he moves back just enough to vigorously nuzzle my chest. He puts his hands on my flanks and I settle back onto my heels, glancing downwards as his arousal shows pink against the white bedsheets between us.

I want to touch him. I shouldn't, but I do. The me I want to be would take the chance, so I will too. He shivers as my fingers graze his tip. I can put both hands around him, one above the other, and still not hold him completely. He's breathing steadily, but from his closed eyes and expression, I'm pretty sure he's having to concentrate to do so.

I let my hands move over him, one falling to cup his furry testicles, and again he's bigger than me. I feel Julie's chin on my shoulder and she kisses my cheek, her hands against my flanks.

"I think he's a natural," she says to Jack, and he laughs.

"You have no idea," he says, gasping as I cup my palm over his tip.

"Mmm, I wonder what else you're good at," Julie nuzzles my neck.

I decide I'll show her. I shuffle my hips back and she gives me room, so that I can lean forwards, my muzzle dipping towards Jack's tummy. He still smells good, even here, even like this, but... I hesitate as my lips part. Am I really prepared to... No, I just can't do this, I'm just not ready for it, it's too much.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, feeling tears springing into my eyes. "I'm sorry, I can't," I look up at him. "Not yet."

"Hey," he murmurs gently, putting his hands on my cheeks and drawing me forwards again. "That's ok, big guy, that's ok," he presses his muzzle between my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Benny," Julie nuzzles the back of my neck. "I didn't mean to push you." Her arms go tight about me and she pulls me back into her lap, her head over my shoulder.

Jack brushes his fingers over my cheeks, drying off the few tears that escaped. "Remember I told you it was all in your control," he tells me gently. "Don't feel bad because you found your limit."

"But I want to do good things for you," I whisper.

"And I'm sure you will, later," he smiles, leaning forwards to press his hands against my chest. "It's ok. Think of it like weight training - some things you have to work up to. Don't worry, we'll go at your pace."

I sniff. "Ok."

"Good lad." Rising to his knees, he kisses my nose. I tilt my head back so that his lips brush mine even as Julie's arms hug me. I'm trembling again. This I can do. I sigh as he lets his muzzle press against mine, tongue flicking lightly at my lips as I push back, hands exploring his broad chest, feeling him purr richly.

"Hey," Julie nudges her muzzle into my neck. "Does this mean I can finish what I was doing?"

"I was thinking we should do something for you," Jack grins, finally pulling back from me.

"You see why I love him?" Julie whispers into my ear, and I giggle.

Jack holds his hands out to me. I take them, and am pulled out of Julie's lap. He whispers his plan to me, and I nod. With one movement, we both pounce her, landing her on her back, head near the foot of the bed. Jack grabs her ankle and rotates her, giggling madly, until she's sitting on the edge of the mattress, with both of us in front of her, one leg over each of our shoulders.

"What are you two up to?" Julie laughs at the sight, then oohs as I lean forwards and kiss between her legs. As I move back, Jack moves in with a swiping lick, which I mirror as he pulls away. It doesn't take much of this unusual treatment until Julie is panting, lying flat on her back, her legs beginning to tremble.

"Will someone please decide who's going to finish me and do it soon?" she giggles, her hands bunching up in the bedsheets.

"I think we decided," Jack presses his muzzle between her legs.

"That it would be both of us," I slide my finger up under his chin, and in between her soft folds and his lips. He pulls back enough for me to slip two of my digits inside the tigress then bends his head to lick firmly at the top of her entrance.

It seems to be quite enough, because Julie tenses up, her hands pulling on the sheets as her body squeezes hard around my fingers. A moment later she's moaning softly, trembling as she climaxes because of our combined efforts.

"I love you guys," she murmurs as she settles down.

Jack backs off as I slide my fingers out of her. A moment later, he's taken them into his mouth, grinning around my knuckles. As we sit on the edge of the bed, either side of our beautiful tigress, I realise I'm thoroughly erect again. Noticing this too, Jack leans down and whispers something to Julie. She smiles, nods, and sits up, grabbing me by my shoulders and pulling me back onto the bed. Before I can really react, she's settling herself down over me, my arousal bumping her stomach as Jack heads for his top drawer once again.

"Um...?" I look at the tube of lubricant with concern.

"It's not for you," Julie whispers, leaning her head down so that her lips brush my ear.

"Oh!" I feel myself blush as she reaches between us, lining me up so that... She sighs as she settles against my chest, my erection being held tightly inside her again as Jack moves around behind her. I feel her shift on top of me as his hands move under her tail.

She shivers a little on my chest. She's taller than me, and I can't see her face properly, so I have to ask. "Are you ok?" I whisper quietly, and she nods.

"We've done this before," she murmurs. "Just not... well, with two," she giggles, then gasps as Jack positions himself under her tail.

"Easy, sugarstripes," he says soothingly, his hands caressing her flanks. "It's all right. Only me."

She nods, her head falling to rest next to mine. I feel her tense above me, and put my arms around her, hugging her tightly. I can feel a change in pressures inside her, and know what's going on. She moans softly, and I feel Jack's fur touch up against me where my body merges with Julie's.

"Holy," she says something that makes me blush. "You guys feel good!"

"Really?" I ask.

"Never had anyone back there, sweetie?" Julie nuzzles me, and I shake my head. "You should, some time," she confides, then moans as Jack bumps his hips against her bottom. His movement makes her tense up inside, which does wonders for me, too. Her breasts roll against my chest as she rocks her hips in counter to his motion, causing her to pull off me a little as well, and then she's pushing down against me again. Thank goodness I'm not on the edge of climax again!

Though it looks like Julie is. She's panting, and moaning softly with every motion Jack makes, her body shivering. Moments later, she's gripping the pillow either side of my head as she growls out her pleasure through gritted teeth, squeezing hard around both of us.

Jack chuckles as she settles down again. "I can see we need to do this more often," he says.

Both me and Julie agree, look at each other, then burst out laughing.

He waits a few moments before resuming his gentle rhythm, his testicles bumping against my shaft every time he pushes all the way up under Julie's tail. It's very hard to lie still under all this, but I don't have a lot of choice. With Julie's weight on my chest, and Jack kneeling over my thighs, I have nowhere to go, but it doesn't stop me trying to hunch my hips up underneath them.

Jack's leaning forwards over Julie's back now, her tail up over his shoulder. I feel his hand groping for mine, and squeeze his fingers. Then I feel him tense, his breathing catching as his hips press both Julie and me down into the mattress.

"I think you needed that," Julie giggles over her shoulder as he leans down against her.

"You have no idea," he pants. "Sorry, that caught me by surprise a bit."

By surprise? Taking into account the warmup Julie gave him earlier, he's waited about five times longer than I did!

He pulls back slowly, and I feel Julie tense as he slips out of her. She laughs as he leans down to kiss the base of her tail, then stands and heads for the bathroom to wash up.

"Well, what should we do now?" Julie pushes herself up onto her arms to look down at me.

"I dunno about you," I smile. "But I'm pretty comfy right here."

"Mmm, me too," she agrees, pressing her hips down against me. "How close?"

"Fairly," I admit.

"Good," she nods, putting her hands on my chest and rocking against me more firmly. "That means I win and you owe me," she winks.

I reach up to cup her breasts as she moves above me and she grins.

Reappearing, looking clean and fresh, Jack straddles my legs behind Julie, slipping his arms around her middle.

"I think you're gonna lose the race, sugarstripes," he chuckles, nuzzling her ear.

"Nah, he'll crack," she smiles at me. "Zey always crack in ze end."

"I don't think so," Jack sounds regretful as on hand reaches up to cup her left breast as the other dips between her legs, pressing at the top of her entrance. "I think this one's gonna outlast you."

"Bastard!" Julie hisses, clenching her teeth and panting.

"And you love me for it."

"Well, yes, but it's still cheat... cheating!"

Jack winks at me over Julie's shoulder as she arches her back and climaxes in my lap, her insides clenching hard around me, taking me up to the edge of what I can handle, but not quite pushing me over.

"Nuts," Julie slumps forwards, looking frazzled. "Ok, you win," she smiles at me. "Gonna sit up and claim your prize?"

I do as she suggests, my head resting against her soft breasts. With my eyes closed, I feel Jack move round behind me, putting his arms around us both. Surrounded on all sides, I'm suddenly forcibly reminded of the dream I had on Saturday night. Julie rocks her hips against mine, and I press my cheek against her chest, seeing stars on the backs of my eyelids as my pleasure surges between my legs.

"Goodness, you are a spontaneous little thing aren't you?" she giggles as the rush of climax fades from my ears. She kisses the top of my head.

"He's cute like that," Jack says over my shoulder, and she kisses him on the nose.

"You ok in there, sweetie?" she asks me, and I murmur a vague response. It's far too warm and comfortable between them to think of intelligent words. Somehow they manage to manoeuvre me into lying down without losing my contact with Julie, so that they are front and back of me, nuzzling and stroking me gently. It would be remarkably easy to fall asleep at this point, but I try not to, just relaxing onto Julie's arm as it runs under my head.

"Are you ever going to settle down?" Julie giggles after what feels like several minutes of being stroked and cuddled from both sides. I realise I'm still hard inside her.

"Can you blame me if I don't?" I ask, and she laughs.

"No, but it does mean I'm going to have to think of something inventive to do with you," she leans back to kiss me between my eyes.

Jack purrs. I can feel his erection pressing against the base of my tail. "I can think of something," he says, nuzzling my ear. He must feel me tense slightly because he adds, "Actually, I can think of two things. Do you like to be the bread or the filling?" he chuckles softly.

I am kind of tempted to let them both stay like this. I've never let anyone even touch under my tail, but under the circumstances I might allow it. He nuzzles between my ears reassuringly, and I feel my tail twitch as if it wants to move aside. I lift my hand to touch his as he holds his arm around me, and lace our fingers together.

"I've never let anyone..." I whisper, but the rest of the words somehow get lost. Half of me wants to let Jack do that to me, half is... "I'm scared."

They both hug me at the same time, almost squeezing the breath out of me.

"Benny," Jack murmurs. "Don't ever, ever be scared with us. I swear we'll never ask anything of you that you aren't happy about."

"I know," I squeeze his fingers. "I'm just... I think I need time to get used to this."

"Take all the time you need," he whispers.

"Mmm, you can fill me anytime, lovercat," Julie purrs, which I figure has to be a pretty good consolation prize. Jack must agree, because he's moving around behind her, a small plastic packet in his hand.

"What do you reckon, sugarstripes?" he nuzzles her ear, settling down behind her as we shuffle over a little to make space. "Room for one more?"

She giggles. "Only one way to find out." She tenses up, hugging me tightly as I feel the rubber clad tip of Jack's shaft pressing against us where we join. Moments later, becomes incredibly tight around me as Jack presses himself forwards, his shaft sliding along mine until we are both held tightly in the embrace of her body.

We hold still for a while, both stroking her flanks as I dip my head to nuzzle her breast, feeling her slowly relax.

"All good, sugarfur?" Jack murmurs.

"Oh hell yes," she agrees. "But I may have to charge extra fare for all the baggage."

"What to you think, Benny, is it worth it?"

"I think we can probably come to an agreeable trade," I smile, bumping my hips gently forwards and hearing Julie gasp above me.

Our rhythm is slow, enforced by the slightly awkward position, but it seems to suit us all perfectly. Julie pants softly as Jack and I alternate, each pushing forwards as the other pushes back, so that she's never empty inside. It feels so strange, and yet so good, having both of them in such intimate contact. Jack puts his arm over her to touch my flank, and I do the same, pulling us all closer together, and I realise that this is more than sex between three people... this is making love, each of us caring for and bringing pleasure to both others. The knowledge makes me tingle inside, and I let my hand stroke down his flank and under Julie's bottom, exploring their contact with my fingers as they both purr.

It takes surprisingly little time until Julie's panting hard, trembling with every motion. Jack hugs her tightly as she reaches an arm back to touch his flank, and she climaxes gloriously around us as we both fill her completely, her leg draped over mine, pulling me as close to her as she can as he snuggles against her back.

We let her calm down for a few moments, just cuddling and stroking as she purrs, somewhat floppy under our attention.

"That's one fare paid," she giggles, opening one eye to look down at me and I laugh.

"Then we better fork over another," I smile, snuggling close to her as Jack and I resume our movements. I'm glad they've allowed me to take the pressure off - twice - now, because it's allowing me to concentrate on how wonderful everything feels, to relax into the pleasure rather than fight against it. I shiver as Julie runs her hand down my back, slipping her fingers around the base of my tail - but that's as far as she goes, right on the edge of my tailhole but not beyond that. Somehow, it's incredibly exciting, and I lose rhythm until she moves her fingers away a little, putting her hand flat across my bottom, her thumb over the base of my tail, gripping me firmly while tugging me against her.

She climaxes again, this time with both arms around me, hugging me almost hard enough to bust a rib.

"Ok... ok..." she pants, her chin resting on top of my head. "Fare paid. I need... someone to get off at this stop please."

I figure it must be Jack's turn to finish with her, and withdraw slowly, being wrapped up in a cuddle as I do so. It's so warm and friendly like this that I don't really care if that's it for me. It seems my friends do, however, because as Julie lets me go, she and Jack move as if by unspoken agreement, so that she's lying on her back, her head on the pillows as he kneels behind her bottom, her legs raised over his strong thighs. He strokes her lower tummy gently and smiles at me.

"Why don't you come here, Benny?" Julie pats her midriff, taking my hand and tugging me until I'm straddling her body, just below her breasts.

I feel Jack's hand on my bottom and let out a small and embarrassing "Eep," noise that makes them both laugh.

"I get his tail!" Jack announces gleefully, and I feel said fluffy appendage grabbed and cuddled against his broad chest, unable to help laughing as I look over my shoulder at him. He looks like a kid with a particularly elongated teddy bear!

"I get something far better," Julie grins, and I only now realise that my length is lying in the valley between her breasts. She puts a hand on either side of her chest and pushes inwards and I tense up with a gasp as I'm surrounded by warm fur. Then she purrs as I feel Jack move behind me and I'm grabbing handfuls of sheets. Oh wow that feels good!

And then it feels better as the tigress bends her head to lap her tongue softly over the tip of my captive shaft, just poking out from between her soft mounds. I'm trembling, and it gets worse as Jack starts to nuzzle my tail as he cuddles it, really compounding the matter by reaching one hand all the way down to the very base, scritching lightly at the underside. I can't help hunching my hips into Julie's gentle touch, feeling Jack's fingers follow me, not letting me escape.

Julie finally solves my problem by putting both hands on my bottom, pulling me forwards onto my knees so that she can take my entire length into her mouth as I grab the headboard for stability. She's far less restrained at this than Jack was, her tongue immediately swirling around me, investigating every contour of my shaft. She pushes me back a little, then pulls me forwards, encouraging me to gently thrust into her mouth, looking up at me all the while. I think this is possibly the most incredibly erotic thing I have ever had anyone do for me. There's something about trusting a partner with the free use of your mouth and tongue that transcends all other activities, and Julie seems to trust me completely.

She's panting through her nose, and given that I can feel her rocking under Jack's movements, I can guess why. Suddenly she gasps, pulling back from me at the same time I feel another tug on my tail. I look round to find Jack tickling the top of her entrance with it.

"What?" he grins and I shake my head, laughing.

I don't think it's a laughing matter for Julie though. For a moment she looks up at me with an expression of apology, then her eyes close and she looks angelically peaceful as she climaxes, her hands reaching up my flanks. I move to hold her fingers, watching her beautiful face as her lips tremble, her mouth half open as her shivering breath washes over my erect shaft. No, I decide. This is the most erotic thing anyone has ever done for me.

I look over my shoulder to see Jack has increased his pace. I twist my body, holding out a hand. He looks at me, and smiles as he takes it, his expression blanking out as his fingers tighten around mine, his hips locking hard against Julie as his eyes close. He gives me a sheepish smile as he relaxes, his gaze finding mine again, but I grin back at him. Then I feel Julie pull me into her mouth again and I turn back to her as her nose presses into the fur on my tummy.

She must want me to finish like this because she isn't giving me any chance to catch my breath, pulling on my bottom to make me push against her, flicking her tongue out far enough to lick my testicles every time her nose nuzzles my fur. I feel Jack move behind me, and his arms wrap around me as he nuzzles my ear. I'm trembling again as he slides one hand down my stomach, to end with his fingers parted either side of my arousal as Julie works me with enthusiasm.

"Nearly there, Benny?" Jack nuzzles into the crook of my neck and I giggle. Then I climax, answering his question, squeezing my eyes shut as little spots of light dance in front of me, feeling like all the energy in my body is departing through a single channel. I feel Julie swallowing around me and shiver.

I feel myself sagging, but Jack is holding onto me, not letting me slip. I lean back against him as he takes my weight. Julie plants a little kiss on my tip as I slide from her and I tremble.

There's a bit of confused motion, and I'm snuggled between them under the duvet, Julie's breasts pressing against my back, my head on Jack's chest. I feel so incredibly secure and comfortable, but I can't help yawning.

"Geez, big guy, you look like you need another nap," Jack chuckles, hugging me. So warm. I think he's right...

I wake up to find Julie sitting on the edge of the bed, looking freshly showered and in a blouse that she's rolled up to her elbows. Given the smell of cooking food coming in from the kitchen, I assume that considerable time has passed since I dozed off.

"Hey, Benny," she smiles, touching my cheek. "How do you feel?"

"Wonderful," I grin, sitting up. "And slightly sore..."

She laughs and kisses my nose softly. "Then I'll make sure to go a little gentler on you next time," she smiles. "Your phone rang while you were asleep, I hope you don't mind that I answered it?" I shake my head. "Said he was your manager, something about 'got five volunteers,' and that if you're feeling better tomorrow, Freeman Designs have a big project for the MoD that he wants you on the team for. Said it should keep you busy for at least six months."

I blink, trying to process the words. Project, MoD, Freeman Designs, six months... me. Wait... those only connect if...

"I'm not fired!" In one bound I'm out of bed and and whooping as I run out of the room. "Jack! I'm not fired!"

I run into him coming out of the kitchen, and he laughs, picking me up and hugging me while my feet dangle in the air.

"You see?" he chuckles. "I knew it'd be ok. Nobody in their right mind would fire you, Benny!" He hugs me tighter as I rest my chin against his shoulder. I feel a tear sneaking down the side of my muzzle, but I don't care. It's a happy tear, and it's ok to let it show.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I thought I was though." I can't help giggling. It's naughty, and not-for-polite-society, and we did it anyway, and it felt great.

"Me too," he declares, setting me down. "Now then, I think I should go open that bottle of wine we've been saving, and you," he taps me on the nose. "Can go put some clothes on so you don't distract the natives."

I suddenly realise I'm still naked, and I blush, instinctively covering myself with my hands even though I know they've already seen all there is to see.

"Aww, but I like him like this," Julie appears beside me and pats my bottom, making me jump.

"And I think I could do without the wine," I say, wishing she wasn't smiling so very charmingly at me because it's threatening to provoke a visible reaction from bits of me that have had quite enough exercise recently.

Jack smiles kindly. "Understood," he nods. "Three lemonades then. Now go and dress before I do something I shouldn't do in the kitchen!"

I do as he says, retreating to the bedroom, feeling two sets of eyes on my tail, which is embarrassing, but really quite pleasing at the same time.

"Oh, Benny?" Julie leans on the doorframe as I pull on my shorts.

"Yeah?"

"Next time you're worried about something to do with Freeman Designs, come talk to me before you talk to the bartender, hmm?"

That's a line I hadn't expected. "Why? Uh, besides the obvious," I rub the back of my neck, feeling my ears redden. I wonder how much Jack told her about the state I was in last night.

She moves over to me and holds out her hand. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Julie Freeman."

I hesitate, confused.

"My father owns Freeman Designs," she adds, and I feel my mouth open without being told and with little hope of closing either. "I know I shouldn't, but I could probably tug on the old heartstrings a little, if ever you needed a helping hand..."

I put my arms around her, resting my head against her shoulder, and she hugs me back.

"Julie... much as I appreciate the offer, I promise you that I will do my best never to take you up on it. This is my job, and my life, and my problems, and its me needs to deal with them."

"Not always," she strokes between my ears. "You don't have to deal with them alone, but I'll give you points for having managed it this time." She nudges my head back until she can kiss me, her tongue investigating my teeth as one of her hands slides down to pinch my bottom, while one of mine slides up to caress her chest. I'm tempted to push her onto the bed and make love to her all over again, but Jack calls that the food is ready.

"Nuts," Julie says, looking over her shoulder, having possibly been thinking the same thing.

I soon find myself quite amazed at Jack's cooking ability as I tuck into the best risotto I have ever tasted. There are at least two feet rubbing against my legs under the table, and the distraction causes me to drop my fork several times. The final time, it lands on the floor, and I duck under the table to get it back.

Well now, this does present an opportunity doesn't it... time to play. I make sure my hands make considerable contact with inner thighs as I pretend not to be able to find the fork, and there's a lot of chuckling and giggling from above the table.

"Any requests for tonight's film, Benny?" Jack asks as I finally re-emerge, smug in the knowledge that his trousers now feel way too tight for him.

I haven't. I don't care what we watch, the important thing is that I have someone to watch with, and it's not long after eating before we're all settled onto the sofa - a strange arrangement that involves me lying across four feline legs, with my head on the arm of the sofa. I can't complain though, there seem to be two pairs of hands intent on stroking me, and it's proving very relaxing. Except when fingers stray over my shorts, which happens far more often than can really be accounted for by pure chance.

By the time the film finishes - I have no clue what it was - I'm feeling remarkably relaxed and sleepy, and the idea of my shorts lying flat against me has become laughable.

"Sure you don't wanna take those off, big guy?" Jack pats my stomach lightly, inches from the tented material lower down.

"Actually, I should be getting back..." To my annoyance, it has occurred to me that I actually am expected in work tomorrow.

"Why bother, you've got clean clothes here now," Jack grins as Julie tickles my feet, making me kick my legs and giggle madly until she relents.

"And my car is back home," I point out, breathing hard.

"I'll give you taxi money," Julie grins.

I don't even get chance to argue as I'm suddenly hoisted into the air, and carried out of the room over Jack's shoulder.

"Aren't you supposed to be dragging me by my hair, oh chief of the caves?" I ask, and he bursts out laughing.

"Sorry," he grins, dumping me on the bed and nuzzling my chest. "I figured you wouldn't object."

"Ok, I'll admit to that," I grin as Julie follows us in and sits beside me, pressing her nose against my cheek before tackling me around my shoulders and dropping me back against the sheets.

The following hour cements today as being the best day of my entire life, and we finally drift off to sleep, way ahead of normal bed time, in one warm, cuddly, purring heap.

I grin as I check the wall calendar by my desk. Moving house tomorrow. Or at least, moving my stuff to the place I've unofficially been living for the last two months. What my housemates think, I have no idea. I haven't asked, and I haven't given details on where I will be, just saying that I need a change of scenery and found somewhere I'd like to be.

I think they're grateful, in a way. We'd all been feeling a little stagnant, and this has proven the kick that was needed to get them going. George is finally buying his own house, after talking about it for about two years. Charlie is moving in with some other friends of ours, about a mile away, but he's gaining a lot of bedroom space and an extra bathroom in the process, so he's happy.

And me... well, I'm almost certainly the happiest. I don't even need my own bedroom to move into, though Jack was kind enough to clear our the spare room until we get my stuff distributed around the house.

For the first time in my life, I'm actually content. My job is going well, and my love life better. All three of us have lost all shyness about approaching either or both of the others when we're in the mood. Sometimes this leads to just two, sometimes to all three, but it's invariably wonderful and none of us feel jealous of the others. As for whether I've relaxed enough with Jack to take those extra couple of steps with him that I couldn't on our first night... well, that's a secret that nobody but me and him need to know.

Jack and Julie still plan on official wedding some time - at which point the official line becomes that they have a lodger, i.e. me. I think it's largely to please their parents, as neither of them seem to be in any hurry about it. They're clearly in love with each other, and I've never thought otherwise for a moment, even when they argue. They both seem to love me too, but they aren't in love with me. It's a subtle difference, and I don't think it worries me. Not that I wouldn't like to be in love with someone... but my feline friends are a very close second best, and I wouldn't part with them for the world.

As Christmas draws near, Julie brings us a surprise visitor in the shape of her friend Lucy, who turns out to be a very pretty wolf girl. I feel all clumsy and awkward whenever she's in the room, but I don't think she notices, and she's very friendly.

She seems to be very friendly with Julie, since Jack and I discover the pair of them bundled into the guest bed as we return from a shopping trip. There's a lot of blushes, a lot of laughs, and somehow we discover that you can indeed fit four into one double bed. Oh what a night! And what a lady Lucy is...

By Easter, Lucy has moved in, and I am without doubt utterly in love with her. She's beautiful, charming, ferociously intelligent, and the fact that she's fallen right into our house-habits of openness and freedom doesn't hurt at all. Her movements are as graceful as a swan, her words as soft as a summer breeze. When she smiles it's like the morning sun, and when she cries the skies darken and the whole world hangs its head in shame for bringing tears to her shining blue eyes. There is nothing, absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for her.

When I tell her my feelings, blushing, and stuttering, all she does his press her fingers to my lips and kiss my cheek, asking how come it took me so long to work it out when she knew how I felt three months ago. I can't answer her with words, so all I can do is kiss her gently and hold her all night long.

Summer, autumn, a pay raise, and another Christmas have been and gone. We've moved house - that's we as in all four of us. We've divided a little in that we have two main bedrooms - Jack and Julie, and myself and Lucy, but it's still a case of anyone-for-anyone when the mood strikes, which has lead to some new and wonderful experiences for us all.

Of course, Christmas brings with it parties, and late nights, and more alcohol than is quite wise, and eventually mistakes happen. The night is long, and wonderful, and the top drawer beside the bed forgotten completely.

A few weeks on, Julie and Lucy break the news together as Jack and I both choke on our orange juice.

Looking down into the soft, fluffy face of my new daughter, I find myself moved to tears.

"Good morning, little Lisa," I murmur as her eyes flicker open to look at me. She smiles, as does the entire world. Nothing matters, nothing, while she smiles.

I'm a dad.

I made it.

Lucy grins tiredly at me from the bed, as Julie sits in the chair beside, her two-day-old baby son James cradled in her arms. Life is never going to be the same, and I couldn't be happier.

I wonder what will become of us as time passes. Will we stay together, as two cohabiting families? Will we eventually go our own ways? I hope not. I want my daughter to grow up with Julie's son, and I want them to be friends forever.

They may have been unexpected additions to our family, but they certainly aren't unwelcome, and I love them both dearly.

I can't be thankful enough for all that has happened in the last two years. I still don't understand how it did, and there's times at night like this one that I lie awake, just holding Lucy tightly, reassuring myself that I'm not dreaming. Then the buzzer goes off, and I get up to give Lisa and James their milk.

As I do so, I read them a story, as I often do. I know they're only babies and won't understand the words yet, but I feel like they appreciate the sound of my voice, and it certainly makes me feel good to watch them smile at me. Tonight's story is about wizards, and witches, and dragons, and magic. How often have I wished I lived in a world where such magical things could happen? Well, not recently, really. Reality seems to suit me just fine.

It's a strange thing, looking at them together, the one oddity I can't explain. Lisa's eyes are brown like Jack's, though Lucy's are blue. James' eyes, like mine, take on the colour of whatever he's near at the time, and glitter green as I reach over him to turn off the light.

Perhaps there is a little magic left in this old world, after all.

Now Lucy is leaning on the door frame, smiling, her robe somewhere back in the bedroom, and I realise that actually, there's a lot of magic left.