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Chapter Sixteen

Marcus

“I’m sorry, it’s just that Tim is a good friend of mine, and I’m very affectionate with my friends.”

“I see.”

“I’m not mutually exclusive,” Marcus said as he took a sip of coffee.

“How do you mean?” Ralph replied, fixing Marcus a reproachful expression.

“Remember what we discussed in the restaurant back near Little Hartbrook?”

“But I thought that was just part of the game?”

They were sitting at the kitchen table in Ralph’s apartment. Marcus’ throat felt scratchy after a night of drinking and he had fleeting memories of kissing Tim and turning to see Ralph behind them.

The rest of the night had progressed awkwardly to say the least. Tim had hung around but he had shifted away on the sofa so that Marcus couldn’t touch him while Ralph had at first sat there giving Tim the odd irritated glance before settling into an uncomfortable silence.

After Marcus said goodnight to Tim, they had taken a taxi back to Ralph’s place together before showing together (albeit in silence with no sex) and climbing into the Doberman’s spacious bed without saying goodnight.

The morning came and Marcus rolled over to see Ralph stretching next to him.

“I’m going to put some coffee on and make breakfast, what would you like?” he had asked in a rather business-like tone.

“What do you have?” Marcus replied with a yawn.

“I’ll go and investigate.”

Marcus couldn’t help but feel his cock stiffen slightly as the naked and muscular Doberman got up to make his way in the direction of the kitchen.

His butt flexed as he walked, but Ralph didn’t seem to want to perk it out in Marcus’ direction. Marcus had felt an unusual pang of guilt, something he didn’t feel after a fun night out.

He grabbed a pair of underwear from his suitcase and followed Ralph to the kitchen.

And now they were sitting at the table with two cups of coffee in front of them.

“I like to be affectionate with my friends,” Marcus explained with a shrug. “Tim is a good friend of mine, Conor was affectionate with his friends.”

I got permission to be frisky with Gabe and Aaron, and Conor then got frisky with… yeah let’s not go there. That killed things off.

_ _ “Right,” Ralph said in an unenthusiastic tone, nursing his coffee. “I couldn’t find anything in the fridge, so I guess we’ll order something before I go to my screen test.” The Doberman tapped at his phone as he brought up a delivery service. “Also, I got a text from my agent. They’re resuming filming at the Threapleton Manor place tomorrow, so I need to get back.”

“Okay,” Marcus replied, taking a sip of coffee. “So, do you have a problem with me being affectionate with people I like?”

“How many people do you like?”

“A lot.”

“Hmm,” Ralph said, glancing back down at his phone. “I ordered us a full English breakfast from a nearby café, although I got you the vegetarian option.”

“Thanks,” Marcus replied. “So, you and your ex never did stuff with other guys when you were together?”

“Not really, other than maybe one or two close friends, but that wasn’t really our style,” Ralph explained.

He didn’t seem angry anymore, his tone was slightly nervous and Marcus could see the same hint of sadness in his eyes at the mention of the word ex.

“Aww, that’s a shame. A stud like you could have any guy,” Marcus said, fixing Ralph a cautious but slightly mischievous grin.

The grin and the comment seemed to make Ralph soften slightly.

“Well, one guy is enough for me,” the Doberman replied. “And yes, that’s fair to say you did warn me. Maybe next time just tell me when you’re going to do that. It was a shock seeing you make out with that leopard.”

“You’re not cross with me?”

“Not cross, I was just taken aback.”

“I guess that’s fair, next time I promise I’ll warn you, and,” Marcus began for allowing his grin to grow wider before leaning in to talk to Ralph as if they were in a public place. “Whatever I do for others, I’ll do better for you.”

Ralph cocked his head and smiled.

“Really?” he said with a nervous smile.

“Yes, I promise.”

“I suppose you’re forgiven then,” Ralph said with a more natural chuckle. “I guess I don’t want more nasty surprises.”

“When your audition is over, how about we go for a massage treatment. There used to be a good place in Chelsea that did them,” Marcus explained, although the memory caused him to cringe.

“What’s up?” Ralph asked. “Does a friend I should know about run this place?”

“No, it’s where I first met Conor,” Marcus admitted. “He was in London visiting a mutual friend we both had at the time, and then I went along for some treatment, and there he was.”

“Oh boy,” Ralph replied with a smile.

“Heh, I’m glad you’re smiling again stud,” Marcus grinned. “I thought I’d scared you off.”

“I can’t deny I was a little shocked, but as I say, so long as I’m not unpleasantly surprised by something similar I’ll be fine.”

“Fair enough,” Marcus reasoned, working his smile on Ralph.

I won’t hurt his feelings, but at the same time I want to broaden his horizons. A hot stud like Ralph needs to have his taste palette widened, and he’s a great dom in bed but he’s too innocent at the same time.

_ _ Marcus couldn’t deny that watching someone he liked getting sexual with his significant other was hot – within reason as Conor had abused that, but the feeling of being able to do that with a new significant other and have power over it as he’d lacked with Conor gave Marcus a feeling of confidence.

The intercom for Ralph’s flat buzzed, interrupting Marcus’ train of thought.

“That would be our food,” Ralph said. The muscular Doberman stood and walked to his bedroom. Marcus thumped his tail as he got a good sight of Ralph’s butt, and felt mildly disappointed with the Doberman returned swaddled in a dark blue silk bath robe, although Marcus was sure he could still see the outline of Ralph’s sheath. “I’ll be right back.”

Ralph left the apartment and returned a moment later with two cardboard packages under his arms.

“I’m guessing mine is the one with vegetarian written in sharpie,” Marcus grinned.

“Yup,” Ralph replied, setting the boxes down. “These are from Bennett’s, it’s is a really nice organic café down the road,” he explained.

Marcus opened his box and the food inside did look tasty. Ralph set some silverware down the on the table and they began eating.

“Mmm, this looks and smells delicious, thanks stud.”

“You’re welcome, and I would call you bitch in return but doing that at the table feels strange compared to the bedroom,” Ralph chuckled.

“You’ve got to more adventurous.”

“Okay bitch.”

“Heh, now you’re learning. So, tell me about this superhero role you’re trying to get?” Marcus asked casually.

“I’m pretty much guaranteed it if I pass the screen test, and I’m in the final two candidates apparently,” Ralph replied. “Are these practice questions for if I get the part and go on a chat show?”

“Heh, yes let’s do that,” Marcus laughed. “Does this superhero wear underwear over his suit?”

“Man, you can’t stop, can you?” Ralph laughed. “And I think the character did in like the sixties comics, but not anymore thank god.”

“Aww, that’s a shame. That look would be sexy if they still did, you’d rock that look.”

“Would it now, how about I lose the suit and just wear the underwear?”

“Is that a tease?”

“Yes, and if I’m not too tired after our drive back to your countryside place the fox might see this, and then be shown whose boss.”

“I like the sound of this,” Marcus said, mustering his teasing smile.

They finished their breakfast in silence, but Marcus felt relieved Ralph was back to his old self, and the idea of being pinned to the bed in Little Hartbrook made the idea of returning there more bearable.

Ralph glanced at his watch as he finished his food.

“I need to get going if I’m gonna beat the traffic,” he said, getting to his hind-paws. “Would you like to come with me? You can stay here if not, to be honest the studio is cool but the waiting room not so much.”

“I can stay here,” Marcus replied. “Be quick, daddy.”

“I know you’re trying to tease me,” Ralph grinned. “And it’s working, bitch.”

“Good.”

Marcus watched as Ralph walked to the bathroom, unwrapping his bathrobe and (obviously on purpose) showing his butt off. Marcus couldn’t help but lick his lips.

The faint sound of the shower started and Marcus wondered what he would do to pass the time while Ralph was at the studio.

Continue planning my novel and finish that article.

_ _ Both were certainly productive.

Ralph emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later. He was wearing a tight fitting black polo shirt and smart jeans.

“Be on your best behaviour while I’m gone, you naughty fox,” he growled.

Marcus felt the Doberman grip his muzzle before he closed his eyes as they kissed.

“I intend to be stud,” Marcus replied in an innocent tone as they broke off.

“I’ll trust you,” Ralph chuckled.

Marcus closed his eyes again as Ralph put a paw under his chin, angled his muzzle and went in for another kiss.

“See ya later,” Marcus said as they finished. “Will I be pinned down?”

“Oh you will be, and see ya later too cutie,” Ralph replied. “I left a spare key on the nightstand if you want to go out, and I’ll tell the concierge you’re staying in my apartment too.”

“Ooh, getting a key to your pad already, I’m moving quickly,” Marcus chuckled. “But good luck with your test.”

“Thank you,” Ralph grinned as he made his way out of the door.

Marcus went to retrieve his laptop from his bag. He set it down on the kitchen table and booted it up. Article first, and then fun writing after he decided.

“Shit,” he muttered out loud, realising he had left his written notes in Little Hartbrook.

Oh well, it’s pretty easy to recall the memories I’m going to share.

_ _ The article was for a new start-up web magazine called The Urban Index that was being started by a friend of Gabe’s. They wanted articles on coming out experiences from LGBT celebrities. Marcus didn’t usually like sharing intimate details, but as a favour to Gabe he promised he would write one.

Marcus closed his eyes as he remembered telling his parents when they had gone out for dinner at a fancy restaurant in Fildown. His mother had sprayed her wine down the front of his dad’s shirt when he had told them.

“We’d better talk about this more when we get home,” she said, wiping her muzzle with her napkin.

_ “What just happened?” his father replied as wine dripped from his muzzle._

_ _ The rest of the meal had progressed in silence, so that was hardly worth writing about.

Marcus allowed his memory to spool forward to when they got home and his paws began to type on his keyboard as he remembered all the details.

“I’ve known for a long time now Marcus,” his mother sighed. “I mean, when you were a kit you used to try putting my perfume on, and then you…”

“Janice, have you got something that can clean wine off?” his father called from somewhere, cutting into his mother’s speech.

“Yes Jeremy, look in the kitchen, the cupboard next to the washing machine, there’s stain remover!” mother called before turning back to Marcus. “It was obvious Marcus, and I’m not cross or upset, but I hope you realise you’re going to lead a difficult and lonely life. You won’t settle down with anyone like your father and I or have kits.”

“But what if I try.”

“I doubt that Marcus.”

“Janice! I can’t find it.”

“Oh for god sake Jeremy!”

Marcus closed his eyes and sighed as he remembered how his mother had left him standing alone in the hallway. For the first time in years, he felt his lips curl as he let out a genuinely aggressive growl.

And she wonders why I don’t like visiting her in hospital?

In truth, his mother had been tolerant of him after that evening and he couldn’t entire reject his parents, but at the same time he wanted freedom and the ability to do what he wanted without disapproval.

Perhaps going out for fresh air might help.

He slid off the kitchen chair and made his way to the bathroom. The towel Ralph had set out was still hanging on the heated rack.

Marcus reached out the shower dial and yelped again as the water smacked into him.

“How powerful does he need this shower to be?” he grumbled as he began scrubbing himself clean.

Now that he was alone, Marcus knew he could indulge in singing in the shower.

He closed his eyes and above the sound of the gushing water, sang a delightfully off-key version of Forever Young by Alphaville. It was the first song that came to his mind and it was a perfect shower ballad.

Marcus shut the water off, shook himself dry and smoothed down his fur.

His clothes were half hanging out of his suitcase and he tugged on a pair of shorts with a pink and white stripy shirt.

Although he was full from breakfast Marcus felt like another coffee to ease the roughness of his throat, but this time he wanted to get it in a location where he could watch the world go by and concentrate on writing. The Bennett’s café that Ralph had got the food from sounded interesting and he decided he would go there.

Marcus shoved his laptop into its bag and made for the front door.

He waved to the concierge on the way out and searched for Bennett’s on his phone. The café was indeed only a short walk down the street and Marcus slid his ray-bans up his muzzle before setting off.

Bennett’s looked like a Parisian style café from the outside, with white table cloths and wicker chairs. The scent of coffee hit Marcus’ nose as he walked closer and he smiled as he made his way through the door.

The café was surprisingly empty and Marcus guessed, based on his experiences living in London and San Francisco, that he had just missed the morning rush of office workers lining up for their caffeine fix.

He walked up to the counter and ordered a cappuccino from the lynx barrister before finding a table at the side.

The cappuccino came with a small cinnamon biscuit and Marcus munched on it as he watched the traffic go by; red busses, black taxis and hip, young looking people of various species.

This is more like it.

He opened his laptop and began typing.

After coming out and feeling a sense of passive rejection, I began writing.

Yes, that was a good way of phrasing it. Marcus took a deep breath and recounted his memories.

“What are you doing Marcus?”

“I’m writing mum.”

“Writing what?”

“Oh, a story about someone like me. It’ll be a bestseller someday.”

“I doubt that Marcus, but if it means you’re not off drinking or taking drugs I guess it’s something constructive, but you need to do something more practical with your time.”

“Janice, where are my reading glasses?”

“Jeremy I must have told you a thousand times now! They’re on the coffee table in front of the television.”

Marcus tried not to scowl as he poured the memories into the article. Writing had been a retreat from everything and then he had met Frank. His paws hovered over the keys as he wondered whether to use Frank’s name. Instead, he simply typed out my first boyfriend. Sanitising Frank that way made Marcus feel a little guilty, but then again he wasn’t sure if the wolf would appreciate being splashed all over a personal article.

His phone buzzed and he glanced down expecting to see a message from Ralph.

Heya fox, recovered from last night ;)

Marcus felt a little disappointed that it wasn’t Ralph and simultaneous relief that Tim was still talking to him.

Just about, how are you doing? he messaged back.

Good, good. Hope your Dobie stud wasn’t too mad

Oh no, he’s doing good this morning

_ _ If’ he’s not too mad then is it safe for me to see you again ;)

** ** Marcus wrapped his paws around his coffee cup as he wondered what to do. Part of his mind knew it was a bad idea, but on the other paw he didn’t want to turn down an opportunity to see his friend again.

He glanced back at his writing and felt the same flash of resentment he had felt when his parents had denied or derided things he wanted.

The thought made him pick his phone back up.

Yes, I want to see you again.