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"Discrete Details: Part 2"

By S. K. Gwinne

August 2019

"Is it alright if I come in?" Wes called from outside the bathroom.

Dennis grabbed the door and pulled it open, leaning around to view the excited, young tiger on his stairway landing.

"Of course," he accepted with a smile, speaking over the roar of the tub's running torrent. He watched Wes come inside and look around while he, Dennis, continued to wipe gingerly under his tail.

"Wow, it's larger than I expected," Wes commented, getting on his knees and leaning over the edge of the bathtub. He sloshed the warm water around in a testing manner and seemed otherwise mesmerized by it.

"Is it warm enough, or too warm?" Dennis asked, tossing the wet hand-towel aside and moving to stand beside the prone youth.

"It's good," Wes assured, then peered up at Dennis. "May I?"

"After you," he answered, and watched the limber, Pantherine male rise and step over the edge, into the rising cloud of suds and into the steaming bath.

"Does it have jets?" Wes asked, sliding around appreciatively in the wide space.

"It doesn't have jets," Dennis informed, crossing his arms and watching Wes test the vessel and its contents. "I've been thinking about renovating this bathroom, but getting a bathtub this big with jets would be... well, very expensive. I need to replace my car first."

"The SUV out back?" Wes asked absently, rubbing himself down with the silky bubbles.

"Yeah, it's something of a lemon."

"Oh," Wes began in a disappointed tone, and Dennis could see he was eyeing Dennis' manhood, "you're not excited anymore."

"It'll come back," Dennis assured, "but it doesn't need to be hard right now anyway."

"Why not?" Wes asked.

"Because we're not gonna have sex in the tub. Water makes a terrible lubricant, and soap burns like the dickens."

"Alright," Wes allowed, sliding forward and rising by the side of the basin until his face was not far from Dennis' pelvis, "but I think I can change his mind."

Dennis gasped as the tiger boy took the Cervine male's flaccid length into his mouth, and suckled gently. He had intended on avoiding this, believing an inexperienced youth like Wes would be unaware of the danger his predator teeth posed to the soft flesh of an erect penis. But he was surprised at the boy's skill, feeling almost no teeth, and quickly engorged at the lovely sensation of Wes' long, skilled tongue.

Wes then took Dennis' hips in his hands and pleasured the older male dutifully, his eyes fluttering open and closed in concentration. Dennis, not typically one for much oral pleasure, found himself enraptured with the experience nevertheless. He took the boy's rounded ears in his hands and massaged them gently, losing himself in the experience. He almost got to the point of climax and opened his eyes to warn Wes when he noticed the water was almost at the lip of the tub.

"Oh, shit," he swore, and Wes pulled off quickly.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Sorry, the water," Dennis warned, and stepped over to turn off the faucet. He then leaned in and pulled the drain plug to lower the water level briefly.

"Oh, I didn't notice," Wes said apologetically. "I was afraid I had accidently cut you or something."

"No, Wes, you did... really well," Dennis assured. "Actually, where did you learn that? Oral skills in the bedroom typically take some time to learn."

"I learned on myself," Wes answered plainly, and Dennis' mouth fell open.

"Seriously?"

"Yes." The look in Wes' eyes showed he knew how amazing that was.

"That's incredible," Dennis offered, replacing the plug, "and incredibly rare."

"A combination of being skinny, having a Pantherine spine, and being determined to succeed," Wes informed, licking his lips and glancing away thoughtfully. "You taste good, by the way."

"You think so?" Dennis asked with a wry smile, climbing over the edge and stepping into the water.

"Absolutely," he assured, "I can finish what I started if you'd like."

"Let's save it for now," Dennis suggested, submerging himself below the bubbles and sliding next to the young tiger. "I will probably ask you to finish that later though, you were really onto something."

"I've had some practice," Wes said, scooting just enough so they could lay side-by-side in relative comfort. "Believe me, I got all the awkwardness out of the way on myself. After feeling my own teeth a few times, you can rest assured I learned how to guard against that."

"Oh, man," Dennis winced, "I can imagine."

"I can show you that, too, if you want," Wes offered suggestively.

"You mean..." Dennis began, "suck yourself?"

"Yeah."

"That... would be awesome. I would love to see that. Is it difficult?"

"Not anymore," Wes answered honestly, shrugging, "I just need some space on a carpeted floor so I can get traction. The rest is rhythm."

"Man," Dennis exclaimed quietly, trying to imagine the beautiful tiger bent over himself, hilted in his own mouth. The very thought brought his erection to full strength. He almost thought of something else to say about it when Wes turned sideways and snuggled up to him, laying his head on the Cervine male's chest. "Oh... this is nice."

"Yeah," Wes sighed pleasantly, wrapping an arm over Dennis' abdomen and sliding a leg across his legs.

Dennis had to admit that, despite his growing lust, this was wonderfully comfortable. He had enough patience to enjoy this moment of closeness in the warm envelope of a hot, soapy bath. He looped his arm around the Pantherine boy and brought his hand around to caress Wes' ears and the side of his face. They lay like that for a while before Wes began to stroke and explore Dennis' inner thighs and genitals. The Cervine male let it continue for a few minutes before he dared venture a suggestion.

"I'm less and less interested in this bath," he began, "and more and more interested in the bedroom."

Wes chuckled and placed a hand on Dennis' shoulder for leverage, drawing himself up and into a kiss. Dennis joined the wet tiger in making out for only a moment before Wes slipped and slid downward, staring comically up Dennis' exposed abdomen and into his eyes.

"I'm ready," Wes offered.

"Great," Dennis exclaimed, placing his hands on either side of the tub and pausing. "I'll let you out first."

"Safer that way?" Wes asked, getting his legs under him and standing.

"Maybe," Dennis explained, "but I just want to watch your beautiful body getting out of my bathtub."

Wes pursed his lips and blushed, raising his tail suggestively as he stepped out of the tub, facing away and exposing the pretty, pink pucker between his buttocks. Dennis' heart skipped a beat and he sincerely hoped that, despite Wes' earlier assertion that he preferred topping, the boy might afford him the opportunity to bury himself between those striped, orange cheeks. He was beginning to ache for it.

"Does this drier work?" Wes asked, gesturing to the large series of vents in a shower-sized inlet in the wall.

"Surprisingly they do," he answered, pointing to the outer wall, "just hit the switch and get in there."

The crescendo of a rising thrum became a subdued roar as the vents blasted warm air out and downward, and Wes got into the stream, shedding water in rivulets down his torso and legs. Dennis passed him a towel to aid the process, and stood by, admiring the tiger's shape, his color... everything about him. He truly was beautiful, and the longer Dennis thought about it, the more he wanted him.

"Okay," Wes said, stepping out and stretching, "your turn."

"There's a conditioning towel by the door," Dennis offered, stepping into the hot cyclone and taking the damp towel from Wes' hand. "I don't use it that often, but it would probably do your fur situation some good."

"Oh, yeah, I love these," Wes said from the other side of the room. "We go through these pretty regularly," he went on, and then his voice became muffled in the roar of the air. Having much shorter fur, Dennis was dry in no time and rounded the corner, flipping the switch and tossing the towel on the countertop. He paused when he saw Wes conditioning his fur with the towel, operating it with finesse, as if polishing a smooth surface. When he was done he hung the towel and turned, now-silky fur sporting a heavier quality, sheen catching the ivory lighting. He smiled bashfully and crossed his arms.

Dennis approached his innocent lover, placed his hands gently on the boy's arms and encouraged him to open them. Wes let Dennis do so, and with the way open Dennis closed Wes in an embrace and kissed him passionately. He smelled of lilac and lemon from the conditioner, and his body was warm to the touch. When Dennis broke their kiss to stare into his tiger's eyes, Wes said:

"Take me to your bed, Dennis."

"This way," he replied quietly, taking Wes' hand in his own and leading him out of the bathroom into the dark hallway and through his bedroom door. He guided Wes to the bed and directed him onto it, which the boy did without any coaxing. Dennis turned on the lamp on the nightstand, filling the discreet room in soft light, then climbed on as well, meeting Wes in an immediate kiss and wrapping him in his arms.

They made out for a while, fondling and caressing each other. Dennis stroked the tiger's impressive erection while Wes gently acquainted himself with Dennis' scrotum and testicles. Their hot breath intermingled between their lips and their tongues danced erotically together in one mouth and then the other.

Dennis felt a bead of seminal fluid at the tip of Wes' penis, took it on his thumb and lifted it to the tiger's lips. Wes greedily closed his mouth around Dennis' thumb and suckled it dry, then released it and rejoined their lips. Dennis, more than ready, lowered himself to the mattress and invited his lover to cover him, but Wes hesitated.

"No," the tiger boy said, laying on his belly beside Dennis and lifting his tail, "it's your turn."

"You're okay with it?" Dennis asked desperately.

"I want it," Wes answered, running his paws up and down the comforter suggestively and lifting his buttocks just enough. "I trust you."

Dennis rose fluidly and crawled to a position behind the tiger, taking in the sight of his exposed opening, his soft, white perineum and beautifully rounded testicles resting gently on the blanket. It was a welcome, handsome sight highlighted by Wes' expectant, swishing tail. Dennis wasted no more time, placing a hand on each buttock and kissing first one and then the other. He could tell by the sudden tension in Wes' body that he hadn't expected this, and Dennis decided to alert the boy before going further.

"I'm going to get you ready for me," he explained, peering over the perfectly rounded rump he worshipped to the soft, golden eyes turned to consider him, "but if it gets uncomfortable or you want me to stop, let me know and I will. I promise."

"Likewise," Wes replied, "unless I tell you explicitly to stop, don't."

Dennis grinned at the boy's cheeky command and slowly traced his tongue from the base of Wes' left buttock to where it became his lower back, then nibbled teasingly at the base of his tail. Wes moaned and squirmed a little, but otherwise let him continue. The Cervine male then proceeded to kiss and lick the soft, velvety perineum between his sac and opening before advancing slowly, but assertively, to the pink, inviting pucker. His tongue slid across its clean, tasteless surface, eliciting a loud moan and trembling squirm from Wes. Dennis then teased the opening, pressing his tongue inward and then drawing back, then in and back again, depositing saliva as he went, slickening the opening and teaching it to give to his invading member. When he was pleased he had gone deeply enough for long enough, he withdrew himself and wiped his mouth.

"Jesus," Wes breathed, gasping irregularly and clenching the comforter in his fists, "that was terrifying and amazing at the same time."

"An acquired taste," Dennis assured, wiping at the corner of his mouth with his thumb, "no pun intended." He then sidled forward to kiss the middle of Wes' back between his shoulder blades before returning to his position at the boy's rear. "I'll go slow, but you can help me by pushing just a little, like you're trying to eliminate."

"Eliminate?" Wes asked uncertainly, looking forward and finding a comfortable resting position.

"Like you're letting out a crap," Dennis explained crudely.

"Oh..."

"It relaxes your muscles back there, and it means it'll hurt less when I penetrate you." Dennis angled his cock downward and pressed against Wes' opening, then paused. "Have you ever played with yourself down here? Any experience like that?"

"Yeah," Wes sighed, "but not a lot."

"I'll be gentle," Dennis said, and pressed the first bit inward. He felt the tight flesh give, but noted the taut quality of a virgin sphincter. He rocked his hips and lower back slowly, pressing inward and then drawing back, stressing the opening and then letting it rest. He repeated this for a couple minutes, confident that he was making way when Wes backed into him, forcing him deeper. "Whoa, whoa."

"I can take it," Wes alleged, taking more of Dennis' length in each thrust, moaning piteously at the stretching and the pain.

"Slow down, buddy," Dennis warned. He could tell by the tightness this must be hurting Wes, and feared injuring him. "There's no rush, let's do this right."

Wes slowed, allowing Dennis to take charge again. The Cervine male, whose member was about as long as the tiger's and had better tapering, continued his thrusting, almost at his cock's corona, and pressed each time until he felt what he believed was Wes' safe limit. When he felt the first ring give way he halted his progress, shifting left and right to prepare the inner ring for his erect flesh, then gently and slowly pressed the rest of the way in. Wes' flesh gave suddenly, closing over his shaft and slipping downward, and Wes cried out in surprise.

"It's alright," Dennis assured, rubbing the tiger's lower back compassionately, "let it rest, get used to it."

"It feels so big..." Wes groaned around a mouthful of pillow. "How could you possible handle me? I can't imagine taking something that big."

"Well..." Dennis offered, "practice."

"It still hurts..." Wes whined.

"I can pull out," Dennis offered, "but it's almost over."

"Stay in," Wes commanded, "I can take it. And I want you to finish inside me."

After another minute Wes relaxed, and Dennis knew he was past the worst of it.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah... go ahead."

Dennis pulled back, then slid the rest of the way in, hilting himself in the tiger boy's depths. Wes' firm buttocks squashed against his pelvis and the back of his tail rested against the Cervine male's abdomen. The boy moaned, now feeling the pleasure of being taken from behind, of having a virile male in his confines. Dennis withdrew and drove in again, angling himself so his cock would brush the tiger's prostate, eliciting strong moans and squirming movements.

Confident he now had free reign to take his lover, Dennis leaned forward and lowered himself where he could gently kiss Wes' shoulder blades while he rutted him. He ground against the Pantherine male's buttocks, driving deeply and with increasing force. Dennis really wanted to let go and have his way, but held back, knowing it would be insensitive and inappropriate, this being Wes' first time. Dennis took his time, making sure to angle himself so he achieved the best friction and pressure, aiming to climax sooner rather than later for his lover's benefit.

"This is nice," Wes said quietly, and Dennis noted he was now hugging the pillow he had been biting. He looked serene and seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Once you get past the hard part," Dennis added placing his hands on Wes' back for leverage, "it can be very pleasurable."

"I was afraid I wouldn't like it at all," Wes explained, wiggling his hips slightly, testing, "but now that I'm used to it, I really like it."

"Thank you," Dennis said then, and blushed when Wes raised his eyebrows and turned to look up at him sideways, "for sharing your first time with me."

The tiger boy smiled and looked forward again, not replying. Dennis continued his rhythm and focused on all the most erotic details he could think of. The squashing of Wes' buttocks with each thrust, the way his body moved each time, the tightness of his virgin opening, the angle of his narrow waist, the way the hair on his head swept forward over his brow.

He could feel his climax building, and dared to increase his speed, gaining the slightest slapping sound from his pounding thrusts. With each drive he began to feel his balls graze the curvature of Wes' buttocks, and then he was over the edge. He grunted and cried out in ecstasy at each powerful pulse of his orgasm, sinking lower and coming to rest himself on Wes' back, draped over him splendidly and peacefully.

"How was it?" Wes asked curiously.

"Outstanding," Dennis answered, nuzzling the back of Wes' neck. "You're probably the sexiest person I've ever been with."

"Shut up," Wes chuckled skeptically.

"Seriously," Dennis assured, adjusting slightly and noting the sensation of still being buried in the tiger's depths. "You're so handsome, and your cock is great, and your ass is great, and you're a surprisingly skilled kisser... simply the best."

"Yeah, well," Wes began, a hint of mischief in his tone, "you're the best I've ever had, too."

Dennis laughed, then lifted himself off the tiger boy, pulling out slowly and watched the gaping hole gradually close after him. Wes sighed and Dennis reached behind him to the towelette he kept at the foot of the bed, wiping himself clean and then gently dabbing and wiping at Wes. The tiger boy glanced behind himself, then slowly turned onto his back, revealing a fully erect penis.

"Did you want me to show you my self-service trick?" Wes asked, clasping his hands behind his head.

"Maybe in the morning," Dennis said, and before the worried look on Wes' face could become a verbal protest he added, "I would rather you just had your way with me again, and then we clean up and hydrate."

"Oh," Wes exclaimed, rolling forward into a sitting position, "I could go for another round at you, but this time let's do it the way you did with me."

"Sure thing," Dennis agreed, turning around and laying on his belly, propped up on his elbows with arms crossed in front of him. "If you lubricate yourself it should be enough at this point."

"You think so?" Wes asked from behind him, and Dennis heard the muffled sound of the tiger boy spitting into his palm.

"Yeah... I think there's some of you left in me making its way out... sorry if that's gross." Dennis felt Wes' hands spread his cheeks and touch the perimeter of his anus.

"Yeah... you're kinda wet already," Wes commented. "Can I go ahead?"

"You may," Dennis replied, glancing over his shoulder, "but be gentle, I'm probably a little sore from earlier."

"Okay."

He felt the shifting on the mattress as Wes found his position, then the pressure of his cock's large head pressuring his opening. The next ten seconds or so were not very productive due to Wes being overly cautious, so Dennis encouraged him.

"You can push a lot harder than that," he said, "but when it feels tight enough on you that it hurts, just back off a little then and it'll be okay."

"Ah," Wes exclaimed, "gotcha."

He pressed in with renewed fervor, and Dennis scowled a little at the discomfort and the pain, but soldiered through. He was surprised when his opening gave in, letting Wes plumb his depths way faster than expected. He breathed through the pain and smiled when he felt Wes caressing his lower back with the backs of his fingers.

"How're you feeling?" Wes asked affectionately.

"I'm good," he answered, wishing he could kiss the adorable boy for his compassionate response. "Start slow and then do what you want."

Wes plumbed his depths yet again, rutting into him with less restraint than Dennis wished he would have, but not to such a degree that it caused him real pain. It was marvelous all over again, being taken by this beautiful boy.

Then Dennis felt Wes slow and stop long enough to wrap his arms under the Cervine male beneath him and pull him into a position on all fours. There were no words as Dennis adopted this new position and felt Wes forcibly reinsert himself, slapping against Dennis' buttocks with shocking energy, drawing out gasps and moans with each powerful thrust. Dennis grimaced against the force, almost crying out in pitiful protest when, all of a sudden, Wes' short, animalistic breaths turned to cries and moans of ecstasy, and his halting thrusts became shallow and punctuated by orgasmic convulsions. Dennis breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he might need a chiropractic adjustment before work on Monday, but confident that he had enjoyed Wes' powerful lovemaking. He tried not to imagine what it would be like when Wes had gained sixty or so more pounds and matured into the adult he was becoming, but almost salivated at the thought and silently reprimanded himself.

"That was even better the second time," Wes commented, panting loudly, "don't you think?"

"It was great," Dennis offered, gritting his teeth when Wes pulled out. He wanted to relax now, it being so late, but felt Wes' essence dribbling out of him. "Uh, can you get that towel?"

"Oh, right," Wes mumbled, and pressed the cloth against Dennis' backside. "It's not, uh... closing all the way."

"It's gonna take a bit," Dennis assured wryly, "but it'll go back to normal."

After they had finished cleaning up, Dennis went to retrieve their glasses of juice from the bathroom counter and cut the liquid with water from the faucet, downing his before making it back to the bedroom. He spied a clock on the wall and saw that it was only just past eleven, but after all the sex and entertaining it felt so much later.

He returned to the bedroom and handed Wes the glass. His guest and lover had donned a T-shirt from his dresser, a simple black one that he recalled as being particularly comfortable. It struck him as hot seeing his younger lover wearing his clothing after they had coupled.

"Good choice," he commented.

"What's with the collar?" Wes asked, fingering the barely-noticeable elastic band.

"I have to buy that kind so I can get it over my antlers."

"Ohhh," Wes exclaimed in revelation. "That makes sense."

"I'll show you," Dennis offered, rifling through the drawer quickly and settling on a dark green T-shirt. "I pull it over one set of antlers first... then stretch it over the front of the others, watching for the prongs... then once I get it to my crown I can put it on." He pushed his arms into place and pulled the cloth down to his waist. "Voila."

"Thanks for letting me borrow yours," Wes said, smirking, "you wiped your hand on my shirt downstairs when we did it the first time."

Dennis chuckled and grimaced apologetically.

"Sorry."

"It's fine," Wes said, sipping from his glass. "This is comfortable." He took a longer drink, then turned to set the empty glass on the opposite nightstand. Dennis caught himself marveling at the youth's beauty once again.

"You know," he said, "you're very attractive. It may seem weird to say, but I think you look great flaccid, too."

"I was thinking of saying that to you," Wes admitted bashfully.

Dennis smiled appreciatively, then pulled the covers back and paused.

"Would you... be interested in sleeping with me tonight?"

"I was hoping I could," Wes replied, pulling the covers back on the other side of the Queen mattress and crawling in. "It just wouldn't feel right otherwise."

"I'm glad," Dennis admitted. "I wanted you to. Just mind the antlers if you want to cuddle up to me. Getting poked in the eye can be a real turnoff, I hear."

"Noted," Wes chuckled, pulling the covers over himself and savaging his pillow until it met his shape standard.

Dennis crawled in and turned off the lamp, enshrouding them in darkness. He found a comfortable position facing toward the tiger in his bed and heard the sheets rustle as Wes closed in. He first felt his feet and legs, then a hand slid over his side and pulled him close. Wes carefully sniffed around until he found Dennis' mouth, then kissed him before sighing contentedly and becoming still.

Dennis thought about returning the sign of affection, but figured it would probably incite them to another round of intimacy. Instead he closed his eyes and smiled thinking of the handsome boy sharing his bed until he fell asleep.

* * *

When Dennis awoke the next morning... glowering at the alarm clock telling him it was only just past seven... Wes snored away on the other side of the bed, facing the wall. Rather than wake him, Dennis decided to go quietly downstairs and prepare breakfast.

He walked through house tentatively, both amazed and somewhat ashamed of the night before. Looking back, he felt like he should have encouraged Wes to get to know him better before they decided to do anything physical, if they did. That would have been the more appropriate thing to do. He warred with himself casually while making eggs and cutting fruit and berries, on the one hand telling himself sex was simple and physical, and on the other hand holding to some older beliefs about sex being an intimate exchange between trusted and well-known partners only.

He was halfway through heating up muffins and brewing coffee when he heard the rhythmic thumping of graceless, morning footfalls on the staircase. He glanced casually over his shoulder and chortled.

"You should grab a pair of shorts," he suggested, "I have windows open and it's Sunday morning."

Wes grunted something and shuffled back into the living room. While he covered himself, Dennis poured two cups of coffee and set up the cream and sugar on the breakfast bar, then started staging the food as Wes walked in, squinting the slightest bit and scratching his chin.

"Did you sleep well?" Dennis asked, setting the muffins on a small plate and sitting catty-corner to the spot he had prepared for Wes.

"I think so," Wes answered, taking the seat and reaching for his cup of coffee. "Had some weird-ass dreams though."

"Wanna tell me about 'em?"

"Are you a dream interpreter in addition to being a sexual mentor?" Wes asked sarcastically over a half-smile.

"That is not a skill I can claim," Dennis chuckled, gesturing to the cream and sugar and plating himself some eggs and strawberries.

"I'll spare you then," Wes offered, popping some pineapple and strawberries into his mouth and pouring cream into his coffee before taking a huge gulp.

They ate breakfast quietly for the most part, passing each other something here and there, but otherwise not saying much. Neither seemed to mind, though Dennis did note the occasional stolen glance and sometimes-awkward touching of the other's hand. When Dennis was on his second cup of coffee and Wes had cleared his plate for a third or fourth time, it appeared they had reached a point where they could more freely talk.

"I'm, uh..." Dennis began, "I'm glad you came over."

Wes smiled curtly and nodded. He seemed so much more comfortable this morning than yesterday.

"Me, too," Wes said. After a brief pause he added. "My ass is pretty sore this morning, not gonna lie."

Dennis snorted into his coffee, spilling the brown liquid on the bar, but luckily avoiding his clothes. Wes raised an eyebrow in mock disapproval, but suppressed a smile and said nothing.

"I have to echo that sentiment," Dennis replied.

"Does that mean, 'me, too'?" Wes asked smartly.

"Heh... yeah."

They passed into another lull while Dennis mopped up the coffee spill with a napkin, then Wes placed his hand on Dennis' and rubbed this thumb affectionately across the Cervine male's fingers.

"I would like to come see you again," Wes said then. "I really needed this, and I really enjoyed it. And before you say what you want to say about not buying flowers and chocolates and stuff like that, I know. I'm not saying I want to be your boyfriend, but this... this was good." Dennis nodded briefly, only a little concerned about what this might look like moving forward. "I just... don't think we're done here... do you?"

Dennis thought about it. He'd been thinking about it all morning, and now he had to make a decision. Did it end here like an awkwardly disregarded mistake, or did he cultivate something unusual, Grecian, special, and invite this to continue? When he saw the soft, pleading, golden stare of the boy sitting across from him, his mind was made up. He bit his lip, reached over the counter, and moved a business card to the spot in front of Wes.

"This is my number," he explained. "I... hope this will continue, in some form or fashion. You're right, I'm hesitant because I don't want either of us, not just you, to start thinking we're in love or muddy the waters with that kind of thinking. But... I also really enjoyed your company. You weren't a burden or in any way unpleasant, and while I don't know what all we have in common, I think I'd like to see what happens. That having been said, please take a few days before calling or texting me. Think about it, mull it over. And when you go to school this week don't feel pressured into making any declarations, because it's no one's business but your own. No one needs to know you prefer dicks to chicks."

Wes chuckled and nodded, then lifted the card emphatically.

"So I can call you?" he asked.

"Of course, you would pick up that of all the details," Dennis chided only somewhat sincerely, sipping from his coffee.

"I'll give it some time," he assured, sitting the card down on the bar and drinking the rest of his coffee in a gulp. "But probably not too long, and I won't make any declarations or whatever. But I do want to talk more without the sex at some point..." He trailed off, a pensive look on his face, "not that I don't enjoy the sex."

"I understand," Dennis offered, "I was going to suggest the same thing... when you call, or if you call."

"I'll call," Wes declared, and trotted off to the living room, grabbing his things.

"Gonna be late for church?" Dennis asked jokingly.

"It doesn't start until ten," Wes called from the other side of the sofa, "I have time."

Dennis laughed, but Wes didn't.

"Are you going to church?" Dennis asked.

"Well, I have to swing by the house first and get changed," he answered, slapping his hoodie pockets to ensure there were keys and a phone in them.

"Whoa," Dennis exclaimed awkwardly, glancing around the room, "I wasn't expecting that."

"Don't worry about it," Wes said, closing the distance between them and kissing Dennis on the lips slowly and meaningfully, "it's not a big deal. I just made plans with some friends."

"Sure, I mean... whatever."

"Thank you, Dennis," the tiger boy said, and his voice was heavy with emotion. "Thank you very much."

Dennis sighed and squeezed the boy's hand.

"Thank_you_."

Wes smiled and left out the back door. Dennis listened for the car to start and watched his little, black care leave the driveway and turn onto the street. It would go in the books as an exceptionally unusual weekend... strangely enough, not the most unusual, but it ranked pretty high on the list. Against his better judgment he poured himself another coffee and thought about the coming work week.

* * *

Monday came and went without incident, as did Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He saw Anton several times, but decided to play it cool, pretend like nothing had happened. He was only able to accomplish it knowing he had the moral high ground... or some kind of high ground anyway... on the older, Pantherine male. When Friday rolled around and people started talking about who was and wasn't going to the bar, Dennis made sure Anton knew he expected to see him there.

That evening, Dennis arrived after Anton did, and was surprised to find the tiger had kept a table for two with an empty seat, gesturing him toward it as he walked in the door. Dennis pursed his lips, waived at the bartender and showed two fingers, walked over and took his seat across from Anton.

"Here I was thinking you would try and hide from me," Dennis remarked coolly.

"No," Anton assured soberly, "I knew you would want to talk, and I wasn't about to hide. That being said, I know what you want to say, and I'm offering you a secure forum to say it." The tiger fixed him with a neutral stare, and Dennis felt his ire slowly fade.

"Why didn't you tell me Wes was your son," Dennis began, "and why didn't you tell me your intention was for me to have sex with him?"

Anton watched a patron walk past their table before answering.

"I should have," he explained, shrugging and nodding, "it was wrong of me to deceive you. I can only say that I was starting to really worry about Wes and was willing to blur some lines and break some rules--"

"And trust."

"--and trust, yes, and trust, to try and make sure my boy had the clarity he needed to get past the funk of figuring out who he is."

"You couldn't have sent him to a counselor or therapist?" Dennis asked obviously.

"And made him feel sick or broken?" Anton retorted.

"Therapists and counselors aren't just for the sick and broken," Dennis argued.

"Doesn't matter," the tiger asserted, "that's the perception. That's what kids see when you send them to a therapist, they see, 'something's wrong with you and we need to fix it'. I'm sorry for deceiving you, Dennis, but you should understand before you pass judgment on me that I selected you for this from... well, an admittedly narrow pool of candidates, because you're a good guy. You're proper, careful, sensitive, and I've seen you choose integrity and consequence over the easy way consistently."

"Is this an employee review?" Dennis asked sarcastically.

"I know," Anton said, rubbing his muzzle, "it kind of sounds like that. But the point is, you were the only one I could trust. I mean, when I was his age, the first time I slept with anyone, it was my best friend's older sister. She knew what she was doing, and while nothing romantic came from any of it, I learned a lot, I gained confidence, and when I had serious girlfriends there wasn't this immaterial pressure. I mean, when was the first time you had sex?"

"I was eleven," Dennis answered carefully.

"Oh..." Anton mumbled awkwardly, wincing at the realization. He stumbled over what to say, but Dennis interjected.

"It doesn't matter. I understand what you did and why, and I forgive you for deceiving me. Anyway, I can't be too judgmental because it's not like I turned him away."

"I don't..." Anton began, biting his lip in pensive thought, "want any details, obviously, that would be inappropriate. But, uh... do you feel like it went well? I mean... did he do well?"

"He's a very nice guy," Dennis offered with a sigh, "and flexible. He didn't seem to have any mental or emotional issues with anything I told him, and most of what we did was his idea."

"Hm," Anton thrummed, not comprehending. Dennis tried a different approach.

"He's very blessed genetically," Dennis said, raising an eyebrow. Anton smiled and tucked his head bashfully. "He's also very masculine in that he prefers the more masculine role in lovemaking. He has great stamina, and he's a good lover. I didn't have to teach him much."

"That's my boy," Anton said quietly, the glistening of tears in his eyes.

"I don't want to tell more because I feel like we'd be defrauding him," Dennis asserted, sighing deeply, "but I will say he left an impression on me, and I'm kinda bummed he hasn't called me."

"Oh," Anton replied, shaking his head knowingly, "you don't have to worry about that."

"What do you mean?" Dennis asked suspiciously.

"I told him not to call until we spoke," Anton explained. "He pulls that card out of his wallet and looks at it at least ten times a day when I'm around to see it. If you don't get a call tonight I'll be surprised."

Dennis felt a little burden shift, and quickly caught himself.

"You're alright with him seeing me again?" he asked.

"Definitely," Anton said loudly, looking around. "Where are our damn beers? Anyway, I hope you do see each other. You're clean and kind and have good character, older and wiser and all that jazz. If he starts looking for a guy to give him what he wants now they'll undoubtedly fuck it up, and that's if he finds another young guy like him. If he lets some douchebag older dude take advantage of him he'll be hurt, might turn to alcohol or drugs... I don't know, but I feel safe if he's with you."

"Fair enough," Dennis mumbled, touching a hand to the phone in his pocket and almost willing it to buzz.

"Where the hell are our damn beers?" Anton muttered sourly, glancing around.

* * *

That evening Dennis grabbed the mail from the mailbox and revised the weekend grocery list on the refrigerator door, then dumped the contents of his pockets onto the breakfast bar and walked toward the living room. He had almost decided on watching a movie when his phone began to ring in the kitchen, and Dennis smiled warmly.