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In high school, to be different is to be the object of ridicule, prejudice, and misunderstanding. Two males, Reis and Marcus, try their best to live their lives despite the day-to-day fear of the outcome of their choices. When the two of them meet, Marcus is drawn to Reis in ways he's never been to another male. But to truly befriend the wolf, Marcus has to break down Reis' fears and mistrust to make Reis find a reason to trust another fur again.

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This story contains scenes of MxM homosexual acts. If you're not into MxM, gay, or furry, don't read. If you are under 18 (21 in some states) or your locality prohibits looking at subjects of a pornographic nature, don't read. Otherwise, please enjoy :)

Characters by Rukis, story by SpikeFoxx

www.furaffinity.net/user/rukis

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This is a fic I offered to do for Rukis when she originally posted a picture of the two main characters;

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3279084/

She has since done a comic of her own, but our two storylines are NOT intertwined; they're two separate plots. If you haven't seen her comic or gallery, check it out ^_^

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CHAPTER ONE

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The smell of sweat assaulted his nostrils while he stripped off his sweaty gear. Dropping everything, including his jockstrap, into his bag to go home, the grey wolf picked up his towel and headed down the row of lockers for the showers. Sighing, he could see the last couple of his team mates in there, laughing and jiving one another. They all looked up when the wolf walked in. They didn't break the mood, the wolf being one of them, but a couple of them did turn their back to him, hiding their sheaths. Ignoring the few that wouldn't look at him, the wolf went right to the back and turned the knobs on, slipping under the water and letting it wash all the filth of practice away.

"Looking good out there, Reis," said one of his team mates, a rabbit, to his left.

Reis just nodded. "Thanks." He was soaping up his large, muscular arms, and then over his cut chest and stomach that was nearing a six-pack, visible even through his thick fur. He turned his head to the right, looking over at another of his team mates, another wolf.

The other lupine caught his gaze, and sneered. "The fuck you lookin' at?"

Reis shook his head and went back to looking forward, not bothering to really engage in any idle chit-chat. Finished washing himself off, he turned the water off with a vague squeak of metal. Turning, he walked past all the other nude males and emerged from the humid shower room. Grabbing a towel off the rack, he began to dry off his fur, enjoying the cleansed feeling about him. Reis never bothered to wrap the towel around his waist like some males did, letting all of him hang out. Opening his locker with a clang, he took out his boxers, jeans, and a black T-shirt. When he was all dressed, the T-shirt clung tightly to him, still showing off all of his muscles underneath. Pausing for a moment, he also slipped his industrial piercing into his left ear. Last, he took out his blue Moreau High varsity jacket, puling it on. It was, after all, October outside.

Slamming the locker closed, Reis picked up his bag and trudged out of the room, not bothering to wait for anyone else. His acceptance on the team was, in actuality, more a tacit submission on everyone else's part that he could, in fact, beat anyone who wanted to start things with him. The wolf even put most of the football players to shame, and after he had soundly thrashed two linebackers, no on else felt the urge to try again. Sighing to himself, it was always such a sad thought how much of an urban jungle high school was sometimes.

Most furs could glide through unnoticed, or be popular enough that if they bucked the staus-quo no one would question it. Being gay definitely was not something most males would let you get away with, friends or not. Reis wasn't lacking in friends, but he wouldn't call anyone on the sports teams his 'friend.' He had already been on the lacrosse team when he had come out, and didn't want to quit. The idea of joining one of the town-run teams had crossed him mind, but in actuality, it wouldn't matter where he was, it would be the same. So, since he was already established on the school's team, he decided to stay. The coaches had assured him that no one would give him any more trouble after the football players incident, but Reis was well aware that the coaches didn't approve of homosexuals any more than the players; and if they did, they tended to have ulterior motives for being so pleasant.

The gym doors opened off into a back hall that the gym dominated. It was more or less the back area of the school. Halls ran around the gym in a U-shape, with the guys' lockers on this side, and the females' on the opposite. Also on the opposite side were the art rooms, and not much else. A hallway off of the apex of the 'U' lead back towards the classrooms, and the cafeteria was also nearby. The smell of food mixed with the scent of the chlorine from the pool room nearby made Reis turn up his nose.

Slinging his pack over one shoulder, he walked across the hall to the double doors nearby. Heading outside, he got a quick hit of brisk autumn air, and the low sun casting light over his face, which felt good. This was the area where some of the buses loaded up at the end of the day, but by now it was absolutely desolate. There were still a few lingering furs, either from practices or detention. Nearby, a few males were skateboarding around the parking lot. Ignoring them, Reis walked across the blacktop and to the sidewalk, turning left and heading home. He walked home most days, and in truth, he enjoyed the solitude. Gave him time to think, and just be with himself; especially on practice days, after having to pretend to get into the male camaraderie that went hand in hand with putting that much testosterone in one place. Every day was a pissing contest, and Reis wanted nothing to do with it. It was all part of 'the game,' and he didn't necessarily mean the sport.

Getting a couple blocks from the school, he turned down one of the side streets, heading into the residential areas. Leaves quietly rustled under his feet, long since dropped off the now-skeletal trees above him. Reis liked autumn; he liked spring a bit more, since autumn meant he wouldn't really be outside as much when snow fell. It was always a very calming time of year for him.

Coming to his house, he walked up the front steps, opening the door and slipping inside. Already, he could smell dinner cooking from the kitchen.

"Hi, honey," called his mother from the kitchen. "Dinner'll be ready shortly!"

"Okay, mom," he answered, dropping his bag. Their house was fairly small; a one-floor place, with the front door opening onto the living room, and the dining room and kitchen branching off it on either end, making a giant square. Off to the right side of the living room was a short hall down to the bedrooms, his and his mom's. The third room down there was empty now, his sister having gone off to college the year before.

Crossing the living room, he spread out on the couch, picking up a book he was reading and set his book mark aside. Reis had always liked to read, and even more so since it bucked the idea of the 'dumb jock.'

His mom appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, wiping her paws on a dish towel. Her name was Sara, and as far as Reis was concerned she looked as beautiful now as he could ever remember. She smiled softly at Reis. "Hey, there, kiddo. How was practice?"

He shrugged, turning the page. "Okay, I guess."

"No problems?" she asked, not wanting to intrude, but just being the usual concerned parent.

Reis sighed. "No problems." His mother had been the first fur he came out to. Having raised two cubs as a single mom, she had gotten close to both of her kids. Sara had her suspicions Reis had something to tell her, but had let him broach the subject. They talked for a bit, her asking him if he had anyone special, or something like that. Reis had told her it was more a state of mind for the moment, and he wasn't actively pursuing anything. When he'd gotten into his fight, Sara had been right down to the school, and in the principal's face when he threatened to expel Reis under their zero-tolerance policy.

"I just decided to make burgers with mac and cheese tonight," she called, going back into the kitchen. "I didn't think you'd mind an easy night."

"No," he answered again, turning the page of his book. Whatever she was cooking did smell good, and burgers had always been one of his favorite things to eat. He looked over at his school bag and sighed. After dinner, he'd have a lot of homework to tackle. Some of it was English, which he excelled at, but he Reis also had a healthy bit of math as well, which was he less than stellar at.

"Dinner's ready!" called his mom from the dining room.

Reis got up from the couch with a slight grunt, re-marking his page and setting the book down. "Coming, mom."

***

"Hey, Marcus!"

The young fennec fox turned from the front doors, twitching his ears. He smiled when he saw one of his friends waving at him from across the front lawn of Monroe High. Marcus turned, hefting his backpack by one strap over his right shoulder. Waiting, his friend gently jogged over to him, smiling broadly.

"Wanted to catch you before class," said the other fur, a tiger.

The fennec tilted his head one side, as if puzzled. "So, what's the big deal, Tal?" The tiger's full, proper name was Talbert, but he couldn't stand it, and insisted everyone call him 'Tal.'

"Welllll," started Tal, with a coy grin, "since it's Friday, I wanted to know if you wanted to go downtown and sneak into that club again tonight, like last weekend."

Chuckling a bit, Marcus shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Aww," started Tal, legitimately disappointed, "Why not?"

"For one, every guy there wanted to fuck me," explained Marcus, uncomfortably.

"And that's a bad thing?" asked Tal, flicking his tail a bit. Marcus was more than aware that his friend had more than a passing interest in him, but it wasn't an avenue Marcus was ready to pursue yet. Not just with Tal, but in general.

Sighing, Marcus continued, "It is when I'm just not interested. Plus, I spent, like, fifty bucks last weekend. I can't do that every week."

Walking past the fennec, Marcus replied, "I guess not. At least want to come over tonight? We'll play a game or something."

"I'll let you know later," answered Marcus. "I have a strong suspicion I'm about to get a major paper for the weekend from English class."

Furrowing his brow, Tal asked, "Why?"

Shrugging, Marcus merely explained, "Call it a hunch."

"Ha. Okay. I'll see you later." With that, Tal walked towards the front doors, disappearing inside. Marcus watched him go, almost wanting to linger on the tiger's backside. Tal dressed like the fennec often did; tight-fitting jeans and shirts, leaving little or nothing to the imagination. For Marcus, it wasn't necessarily advertising himself, it was more that he was proud of his body, and liked to show it off. The word 'twink' had been tossed around more than once to describe him, but Marcus didn't think of himself that way. He was just in shape, and, due a very high metabolism, had a hard time putting on muscle. So in the end, he looked much thinner than he really was.

Opening the front doors himself, he slipped inside, almost sad to leave the sunny fall day outside. It seemed like such a waste to be indoors, and when he crossed the threshold, the smells and sounds of a high school assaulted him. Since the cafeteria was directly across from the front doors, the smell of lunch cooking was under his nose, and he already could tell he was happy he decided to bring his own lunch. On his right were the admin offices and a hall that lead out to the athletics area. To left was a staircase upstairs and another hall at ground level that lead back to classroom areas. Students were already filing down the halls, getting to their homeroom before first bell rang.

Hitting the steps, Marcus headed upstairs. At the top, he waded through the throngs of students, heading for his English class. Originally, he had wanted to get down to his locker, but didn't feel like fighting down to it, and then back to class. When he finally picked his way through the crowds of other furs, he walked through the doorway to English class. Drifting past other furs, he went to his assigned seat, which was right to the windows on the far side of the classroom. Anytime he got a seat next to the windows, he was always happy. Often he found himself staring outside and daydreaming of a day he wouldn't need to come here anymore. Being a junior, he still had another year to go, which was a fact that never ceased to make him miserable. Sometimes, he just wished he had more friends, or even that other furs were just a little more tolerant of him. He found that as time went by, more and more prejudices seemed to surface. It may have been a bit naive to think that it would all end after high school, but he was at least hoping for a reprieve.

"Good morning, class," said his teacher, Mr. Goodwin, a black panther that strode in just as the bell rang for first period. Marcus often wondered if the cat stood just outside the door and walked in when the bell was about to ring, as the feline had an awful knack for it.

Setting his books down, Mr. Goodwin pulled on a pair of reading glasses. "We'll pick up on our reading and discussion of 'Macbeth' today. If you'll turn to page thirty, we'll get going on this."

For nothing more than appearances, Marcus turned to the page, setting it open on his desk and turned his attention outside. He wished he was outside, riding his bike, laying on the grass, just about anything. The trees were brilliant explosions of fiery color, belying the fact that each leaf would fall and turn to dust in the coming days. Already the hint of winter was in the air when the sun would set, which was earlier every day.

Edging in on his thoughts was also the offer his friend had made about going downtown to the clubs again. Last Friday, they went to 'Uno,' a new nightclub that catered to the gay community. Tal had begged and begged, until he finally wore down Marcus. They hung around outside until they found someone willing to take them in. A couple of older guys had finally agreed, and the bouncer hadn't even blinked as they walked inside.

When they were in, it was so much different from what Marcus had imagined. Neon lights, tight clothes, and the faint smell of liquor and smoke in the air. Tal had loved it, taking off for the dance floor in hopes of finding someone to partner up with. Marcus loved to dance, but for some reason in this atmosphere he didn't feel at home. He had instead opted to go to the bar. Playing it safe and not pressing his luck, he ordered a plain coke. Since they had gotten in for free, he didn't care if he had to sit around for a few hours and wait for Tal to get his fill.

His plans had changed when a black labrador had sat down next to him. Striking up idle chit-chat, the lab, whose name Marcus already forgot, offering Marcus a drink. The fennec had done his best to refuse, but the dog had two double shots of cabo wabo in front of them before Marcus could protest. Not wanting to pass on a free drink, the fennec slammed it back. The alcohol had been almost bitter. He had no experience with tequila, and after that wasn't in a hurry to try again when he had to fight his dinner back down.

After that, he and the lab went back and forth buying drinks. Marcus hadn't intended to spend so much, but before he knew it, he had gone though all the money in his wallet. When it came back to his turn, he smiled sheepishly, realizing his wallet was empty. The lab assured him it was okay, and bought another couple shots. At that point, Marcus realized he was rather light headed. The lab offered to help him out onto the patio, which Marcus nodded to. He stumbled along, the labrador helping keep him going in the right direction. The two of them made it to the door, opening and stepping outside. The smell of cigarettes was stronger here, as it was where everyone went to smoke. The lab guided him to a corner of the patio, behind a low hedge that was there. Marcus enjoyed the fresh air, closing his eyes and breathing slowly. He couldn't remember the last time he drank so much.

It was at that moment the lab's paw had closed around Marcus' crotch. The fennec opened his eyes sharply to the dog's grinning muzzle. Puzzled, Marcus asked him what he was doing, which the canine answered with guiding Marcus' paw to the dog's crotch. The fennec could clearly feel that the canid was aroused, his cock pressing against the inside of his pants. The dog asked Marcus if he ever sucked a dick before, and the fennec nodded vaguely, knowing where this was going. The black lab unzipped himself, letting his erect cock flop out of his pants. Marcus could now feel the smooth shaft directly against his paw, and it excited him. It wasn't the first time he had ever touched another male's private places before, but it had been awhile.

Getting down to his knees, Marcus took the canine's penis into his muzzle, unzipping his own pants to free his throbbing maleness. The lab growled and breathed deeply as Marcus went to work. The fennec had been told he was quite good, and apparently his prior partners weren't exaggerating. It didn't take long for the lab to unload inside of his muzzle, which he swallowed down dutifully. Smiling down at him, the dog tucked himself back inside his pants, looking around to make sure no one had noticed. The fennec wiped his muzzle, deciding it was time to find Tal and get out of here. He didn't know why, but he didn't want to tell his friend what happened.

Helping him back to his feet, the lab asked him, "Mr. Knighte?"

Frowing, Marcus asked, "What?"

This time, it was Mr. Goodwin, asking him, "Mr. Knighte? Would you like to tell me what page we're on?"

Marcus looked around himself, snapping back from his daydream. He was also mildly embarrassed that he had a definite bulge in his pants, despite the fact he was fairly certain no one could see it; at least he hoped not.

"Um...," started Marcus, looking down at his book, "Thirty?"

The teacher sighed, Marcus able to hear some of his classmates giggling behind him. "Anyone care to help him out?" continued the panther. Slumping in his seat, Marcus just decided to keep his head down for the rest of the class.

***

As the day went on, Marcus couldn't wait to get home. After his English class, which he did get assigned a six-page paper from, he realized he had forgotten to do his math homework, someone had stolen his clothes from his gym locker, and his history teacher told him if he didn't pass his next test with at least an eighty-five he was probably going to fail the class.

Now, it was one more day over, and despite having the English paper and math make-up for the weekend, the next two days were all his. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew it wouldn't involve this building. He slammed his locker shut, grabbed his bag, and made his way downstairs. With his locker right next to the back staircase, it was just a quick jaunt downstairs and out the door. Sometimes his dad came to pick him up, but he knew today he was walking home. On a pleasant day like today, that was fine with him; he was hoping to get his actual driver's license by early next year and maybe borrow the car sometimes.

Hitting the bottom of the stairs, Marcus opened the doors, stepping outside. Nearby, idling school buses made a gentle roar of their engines, and the shouts of teens filled the air. Fleetingly, the fennec thought of waiting for Tal and walking with the tiger, since they lived somewhat near each other, but Marcus just started walking. He padded down the walkway in front of the school, lost in his own thoughts; so much, that he didn't see the group of males until they were almost on top of him.

"Hey, fag," came a cruel sneer.

Looking up, Marcus saw three large, burly males in front of him, grinning wickedly. The letters on their jackets branded them as football players, which Marcus tried his best to avoid. He knew that not all football players were bigoted, but he'd had enough run-ins with them to not want to sift the good from the bad. Not saying anything, he adjusted his course off the walkway and across the lawn. He knew it wouldn't change anything, but it was worth a shot.

"Not so fast, fairy," started the one in front, a leopard. He quickly put himself in front of Marcus again, his two buddies, a doberman and a lion, following right behind. "Think you can just walk around here dressed like that and no one will notice?"

Marcus said nothing in return, just shrugging.

"Better start answering, faggot," jeered the leopard.

"Just go away," muttered Marcus.

The leopard laughed, his two friends joining in. "We know all about you. You like to fuck guys, and dress like a girl."

"What's your problem, anyway?" asked Marcus, now a bit more defiant.

"You," retorted the leopard, shoving the fennec. Marcus stumbled a bit, the trio laughing at him. "C'mon, guys, let's beat his ass in until he learns it's not for fuckin'."

The fennec knew where this was going at this point and ran, going to his right. The three were right on his trail, Marcus able to hear the thumping of their paws even over his own deep breaths at this point. Sprinting hard, the fennec made for the parking lot area. His lithe frame squeezed in between parked cars easily, while the bulky, muscular football players had to choose their paths a bit more carefully. Marcus had put a bit of distance between them, ahead by twenty feet or so. Behind him, they were still calling him names and yelling out threats of what they would do when they caught him. This spurned Marcus on harder.

When he reached the other side, he ran flat out, favoring the blacktop as he could run faster on it than the grass. Hitting the main sidewalk, he turned left and kept going, not bothering to look back. He didn't dare a look back until he was off the school property, and saw no one behind him. Slowing, he took deep gulps of air, getting his wind back. Now he really had something to look forward to on Monday; he would have to stay away from that door for awhile. He balled his fists up at his side; now he couldn't even use the door he wanted to! What was it about him that made him such a target? Tal had been picked on once or twice before, but not to the degree that Marcus was.

Walking onward, he went a couple blocks down, making a weaving path around side streets, and finally turning onto his street. His street was always quiet, and he liked it that way. It was the sort of area where everyone knew everyone else to one degree or another. Nothing really ever happened, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

He came to his house, a modest two-story Victorian style, painted an evergreen color. As he walked up to the front, the smell of his parents' autumn cherry tree in the front yard drifted under his nose. Mixed with the crisp scent of a fall day, it was an exquisite smell to him. Marcus had always liked the cherry tree since it bloomed even when all the other trees were losing their leaves. It also bloomed again in the spring, which was a rarity.

Opening the front door, Marcus slipped inside, setting his pack on the floor. "Hello!" he called out. The front door opened onto a tall, vaulted ceiling, with doorways on either side of a staircase that lead upstairs. His dad worked as a surgical consultant at one of the local hospitals, and his mom was a day-care aide, so money was never really an issue. Unlike some furs that made a sizable income, his parents had opted to be thrifty about their spending, and not invest in grandiose amenities in their lives. Their cars were 'standard' vehicles, their house suited to a family of three, and they didn't attempt to go beyond their means.

Going through the right doorway, Marcus padded through their living room and to the sliding doors beyond. Opening the door gently, he stepped onto their back deck, and could see his father tending to some of the plants in the garden.

"Hi, dad," called Marcus.

His father, Glen, looked up, squinting against the bit of sun coming over the house. He smiled when he saw his son. "Hello, Marcus. How was school?"

Shrugging, Marcus stepped down the deck onto the soft grass. "It was okay, I guess." He left out the part of being chased after leaving the building. His sexuality was still a secret from his parents, and for the moment one he intended to keep. After all this time, he still wasn't sure how they were going to react. Every time he started to think it would be okay to tell them, something would happen to make him reconsider, or one of his folks would make some off-handed comment. Marcus knew his parents loved him, and always would, but didn't want to make things weird. As far as he was concerned, when he went away to college, that would be a fine time to tell them.

"Got any homework this weekend?" asked Glen, standing up.

Shrugging again, Marcus answered, "A little."

"Well, make sure it's done before Sunday," said his father, with a slight grin. "I think your mother mentioned something about going out for dinner that night."

Smiling back, Marcus just nodded. "Where is mom?" he asked.

"You know your mother," started Glen, sitting down in a lawn chair. "She wanted to get some book-keeping done for the daycare. I told her she's just an aide, but she insisted it would be helpful for when ordering came around next week." The elder fennec opened a cooler he had brought out with him, and took out a beer, popping the top. He took a long swallow before setting it on a glass table next to him.

The garden in the back was just as nice as the rest of the house and property, mostly because Glen took so much time to keep it in order. Even with the onset of the natural fade of autumn, the yard looked immaculate. Gardening was his hobby and passion, and had once upon a time tried to make a living of it; but selling houseplants and shrubs didn't put food on the table and pay the bills for a family. So he had gone back to college to get his degree.

"Did your teacher talk to you today?" asked Glen.

"Umm...which one?" asked Marcus, feigning ignorance. He didn't like where this was going.

Giving his son an exasperated look, Glen went on, "You know which one. The school sent home a letter that you're failing history."?

"It's okay, dad," started Marcus, sitting down in the other chair on the other side of the table. "The teacher said if I get an eighty-five on the test coming up, I can get my grade back up."

"What about the test after that? And then another one?" pressed his father. "It's only October, and you're already falling behind on this."

Sighing, Marcus just said, "I'll get my grades back up."

"Well, until you do, your mother and I have agreed that you're to study two hours a night on history..."

"Two hours!?" burst out Marcus, almost horrified.

"...in addition to," continued Glen, "whatever other work you have."

Slumping down in his chair, Marcus grumbled, "Anything else?"

"Yes," said Glen, faking a tough voice, "Come help me get the grill out to start dinner."

Sighing, Marcus stood up, mumbling, "All right."

CHAPTER TWO

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Sundays always passed uneventfully for Reis. He had no homework for the moment, his mom was at her second job, and the sun was casting lazy shadows across the living room. The wolf was lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, sighing to himself. He could go out for a run, or clean up his room, do some laundry, anything but just lie here; but he also made no effort to get up.

Sitting up a bit, he looked up at the clock on the wall; 12:41. Even the day was dragging on in such a boring way. Nothing was even on TV that he felt like watching, and he had finished his book yesterday. His mom had promised to take him for a new one when she got home later tonight, but he didn't know if his mom remembered that the bookstore closed early on Sundays.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the couch, he got to his feet, and went into the kitchen. The wolf retrieved a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water, gulping it down quickly and refilling it. Reis was walking back into the living room when the phone rang. He looked to the cradle on the wall while it rang again. Setting his drink down, he went to the receiver and picked it up, saying, "Hello?"

" 'Sup, bro?" came the voice on the other end.

Reis smiled a bit. "Hey, Jeremy." Jeremy was his closest friend, the two of them going back to elementary school. Despite all that had happened in Reis' life, the two of them had always remained close friends. He had actually been the first fur that Reis had come out to, and Jeremy had always been nothing but supportive about the whole thing. "What's up?" asked Reis.

"Just wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat," said Jeremy. "I could go for some chinese food."

Reis laughed a little. "You can always go for some chinese."

"Too true. So you in? My treat."

"Yeah, sure. Same place as usual?"

"Sure," answered Jeremy. "See ya there in a few." With that there was a click on the other end. Shrugging, Reis hung up the phone. Jeremy was always interesting to hang with. He was something of a 'lady's man,' but not in the sense that he was particularly romantic, but that he went through them like there was no tomorrow. In many ways, he and Reis couldn't be more different; where Jeremy was loud, outgoing, and into females, Reis just liked to keep to himself and never could get in with Jeremy when he would go on about a pair of breasts or some such thing.

Crossing the living room, he opened the front door, stepping outside. Another sunny autumn day greeted him. It was supposed to start raining in a couple of days, but for now Reis was willing to enjoy the pleasant weather. It wouldn't really matter one way or another, since the chinese place was only a few blocks away.

Walking down the sidewalk, all the sounds of fall were around him; leaf blowers nearby, the crunch of dried leaves underfoot, and laughs of cubs playing nearby. For him, that seemed like such a long time ago when he was one of those youngsters running around the front yard, jumping in piles of leaves, and not worrying what the world around them thought.

He turned around the corner, heading out of the residential area and to one of the somewhat-busy streets in the area. It was on the outskirts of the main town area, which wasn't saying much for the size of the actual main street. Their town had always been a quiet place, which had been one of the reasons his mother had moved them here when Reis was younger.

He turned again to head down the 'busier' street. There was still light traffic here, especially with it being so early in the afternoon. The chinese place, 'Ming's,' was within sight, across from an RV rental place and next to the last butcher's shop in town.

He and Jeremy lived fairly close to one another, with the other male living a few blocks away from Reis. The wolf liked that Jeremy was nearby. He had a couple other friends as well, but none as close as Jeremy. It also made it easy if they wanted to hang out or meet somewhere.

Stepping up to the front door, he opened it with a slight jingle of a bell hanging in front of the door. A tigress behind the front desk smiled and nodded to him, Reis responding in kind. He and Jeremy were here so often, the wait staff at least knew their faces. Reis wouldn't have been surprised if they did in fact know their names.

Looking around the restaurant, he saw Jeremy at a table in the corner. The kangaroo smiled and waved when he saw Reis. The wolf walked past the front desk and into the dining area. He and Jeremy always liked this place because it was small, quiet, and out of the way. It also was decorated in 'traditional' Chinese decorum, including a small fountain surrounded with miniature palms and other flora in the center of the room.

"Hey, there," said Jeremy, with a smile, as Reis sat down. "I got us a couple egg rolls to start with." Reis just nodded, picking up the menu in front of him, even though he almost knew it by heart.

"Why do you even bother looking anymore?" asked Jeremy, with a rueful grin. "We both know you're going to get the curry chicken in the end."

Giving a slight smile of his own, Reis nodded and closed the menu. "Yeah, you're right." He pushed the menu out of his way and poured himself a cup of green tea.

"It's our last year, y'know," Jeremy remarked suddenly. "Been thinking of what you're going to do after classes are over?"

The wolf shrugged. "I'll find something to do."

"I'm interviewing over at the tech support center next week," said the roo, taking a sip of water. "Probably end up taking calls that could be fixed blindfolded, but with no training or experience, I'll take what I can get."

Reis nodded vaguely again. He was actually waiting to hear back from one of the local colleges. His sister, Sierra, had gone a few hours away to one of the state colleges. Reis had initially been planning to leave as well, but couldn't leave his mother here alone. In the end, he had applied to a community college in the area, and was hoping to attend there until he was sure his mother would be okay for the foreseeable future.

The tigress that had been behind the counter came with their eggrolls and took their orders, leaving with a slight bow. Reis broke his in half, letting them start to cool while Jeremy took a bite from his right away and blowing air back out of his muzzle when the freshly-cooked eggroll hit his tongue. Shaking his head, Reis just waited patiently for his.

"Damn," muttered Jeremy, taking a quick sip of his ice water again. "Fresh apparently."

"We've been coming here long enough, I think you would have learned by now," murmured Reis, taking a bite of his own now that it was cooled.

The roo laughed a bit. "Yeah, yeah. So what else have you got planned foe today?"

The wolf shrugged again. "Hoping mom comes home in time to take me over to the bookstore."

"Why not just ask my mom? You could come back over to my place, even stay for dinner probably."

"I guess...," answered Reis, not really wanting to be an imposition. "Not like I'm doing anything better."

"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Jeremy, sarcastically. The wolf just went about his eggroll again, munching on it contentedly. The upcoming week was going to be rough at school. November was just around the corner, and after that would be exams just before winter break. It seemed like a long time, but in reality it would probably go by quickly, and so much could happen between now and then.

***

Marcus crossed the loud cafeteria, holding his lunch tray and not able to get the wide grin off his face. He sat down at one of the tables next to Tal, and with their friends Jackson and Vance, a raccoon and fox.

"What's got you in such a fine mood?" asked Tal, raising an eyebrow at Marcus.

The fennec shrugged, opening the top on his soda. "Got history next period, and we're getting our last test back."

"And?" pressed Talbert, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"And...I've been studying every night for the last week and a half, mostly because my parents were making me. But I felt good about this one," explained Marcus.

"Glad you do," mumbled Jackson. "I probably bombed this one. Too many dates to memorize."

Tal chuckled. "Hard to memorize much of anything with a dick in your ass," jeered the tiger.

Rubbing his arm nervously, Jackson just replied, "Ha...yeah," with a tentative chuckle. Marcus smiled a bit at the back-and-forth. Jackson was just recently out, and had started hanging with them a few weeks ago. Marcus knew the raccoon was still a virgin, but Jackson had picked up a quick blow from a male he met at a coffee house the other night. He had already filled Marcus and Tal in on the dirty details, and judging by the giggling from Vance, the fox was also aware of what happened.

Picking at his lunch, Marcus just kept hoping his confidence was in the right place. This was pretty much going to be what made or broke the rest of his year. He was sure everything would go right; it wasn't a one-hundred percent grade, but it would be high enough.

"Little nervous?" asked Tal. Marcus looked up from his thoughts to the grinning tiger.

Shaking his head, Marcus replied, "Nah. It's all good." The fennec stood, taking his tray. Suddenly not feeling hungry, he walked towards the trash bins, dumping what was left of his food. There was still a few minutes left in the period, but he didn't feel like staying. Hall monitors stood right near the doors to make sure no one wandered the halls, but hardly anyone ever bothered to watch the small door near the kitchen. Looking around himself once, Marcus quickly stepped towards it, disappearing into the hallway near the gym.

As always, it smelled like the pool all around here, mixed with the smell of turpentine from the art rooms. Marcus didn't really care about any of them as he walked past the art rooms, past a couple of vending machines that were usually empty, and towards the end of the hall. At the end was a set of double doors that were padlocked closed during the day so no one could ditch out. On the left of those was another door that was supposed to be locked, but the lock hadn't worked in forever. Making sure no one was in the hall again, Marcus quickly opened the door and ducked into the stairwell.

Climbing the concrete stairs, his footsteps echoing hollowly, the fennec went all the way to the top. Opening the door at the top, marked 'ROOF ACCESS,' he took in a lungful of autumn air. Marcus kicked a doorstop in front of it as he went outside.

Often, he liked to come out on the roof when he was stressed, or just when he wanted to get away from the grind for a bit. When he had first started getting picked on for liking other males, he came up here a lot. At the moment, he wished he had brought along his sweater. Days had turned to November, and even with the sun kissing his fur, it was still rather chilly. Crossing his arms tight against his chest, he sat down on one of the vent intakes, looking out over the track field, and beyond. He couldn't quite see his house from here because of the tree line, but he knew where it was. Checking his watch, he still had a minute or two before he had to go back down. Part of him didn't want to go until it was time to head home, but eventually he had to get it over with.

"There's only two reasons usually when someone comes up here."

Marcus jumped bit, spinning to look behind him. There was a maintenance housing, and from around it stepped a gray wolf, wearing a blue varsity jacket. "Usually they're trying to get away from something," said the wolf, looking like he was weary and worn out.

Standing and facing the wolf, Marcus asked, "What's the other reason?"

With a slight grin, the wolf answered, "They like the view."

Smiling himself, Marcus went on, "Guess I'm a little of both." Gesturing to the door, he added, "Thought I was here alone. The door was closed when I came up. How'd you plan to get down?"

Fishing into his jacket pocket, the wolf held up a roll of duct tape. "Taped the lock back. Less obvious than the doorstop."

"Ah," observed Marcus, laughing a bit. "So what's your reason there...um..."

"Reis," offered the wolf quietly. "And I just like the view."

Nodding again, Marcus paced back and forth, nervous a bit at the sight of the varsity jacket. Most of the ones he had seen were on guys willing to beat the hell out of him. "I'm Marcus."

Reis said nothing in return, checking his own watch. "Next class starts in a minute."

"Shit!" exclaimed Marcus, making for the door. "Aren't you coming down, too?" he asked Reis.

The wolf shook his head. "Gym class. If I'm late, coach doesn't care."

Nodding again, Marcus made his way quickly down the staircase. Reis just stood there, musing on his encounter with the fennec. The fox had clearly been a homosexual, judging just by the way Marcus was dressed. Reis liked to think he had a fairly decent 'gaydar' when he needed one. Fennec had been cute, too.

Sighing, Reis decided it was time for himself to go down as well. Gym didn't really matter to him; the coach barely made him do anything, not wanting to chance one of his star lacrosse players taking some accident, especially on game day. He also felt a little unrelieved. There was his third reason for coming up here; to find a quiet place to paw off. But apparently he was sharing his spot now.

***

Downstairs, Marcus was going as fast as he could to History class. He didn't want to blow a good test grade with getting caught skipping. Turning a quick corner, Marcus brushed past a few furs, hearing some yell out as he pushed through. The fennec managed to make it through the door just before the bell rang. Taking a deep sigh, he walked over to his seat, sitting quickly.

"All right, everyone," started his teacher, a hyena, "I'm certain you're all eager to see your test grades. So, we'll get to those right away." Carrying a stack of papers, he walked up and down the rows, passing them out. Marcus was so nervous, bouncing his paw against the floor while he waited to see his own. When the teacher walked past the fennec, he didn't even stop or hand Marcus anything back. Frowning, Marcus was puzzled.

"Okay, once you've had a chance to look at your tests," started the teacher, "take out your books and start to read chapter five." He then looked right at Marcus, and continued, "Mr. Knighte, can I see you in the hall?"

Feeling his heart start to pound hard in his chest, Marcus stood up, walking to the front of the class. He could feel eyes on the back of him as he walked with the teacher into the hall, the hyena closing the door behind them.

"Marcus, I wanted to talk to you," started the teacher. He held up another test, with Marcus' name at the top. "It's about your test."

Glancing at it quickly, Marcus' stomach twisted into a knot when he saw a grade of '73' staring back at him. "That can't be right...," muttered Marcus, almost just to himself.

"I checked it three times," assured the hyena. "I'm sorry, Marcus, I know you've been studying hard. You're still now going to need a ninety on the next test now, and the midterms are going to be right after winter break at the end of December."

"What am I going to do?" asked Marcus, feeling frustrated now. He had worked so hard and still hadn't pulled himself out of this hole. Midterms were in a matter of weeks, and if he couldn't get himself on level ground by then, he would probably end up repeating the class.

The hyena shrugged. "We have a student resource center in the library, or see about a tutor. But I am going to have to send another letter home to your parents letting them that you're still failing the class."

Sighing, Marcus just nodded. What else could he do?

"Okay, why don't you go back in and start reading the chapter?" finished the teacher. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

Going back in and walking to his desk wordlessly, Marcus couldn't concentrate on anything he was reading. All his mind was wandering to was how he was going to get himself out of all this.

***

"I can't believe this!"

It had been two days, and as promised, a letter had promptly arrived from the school, informing Marcus' parents about the fact that the fennec was still failing History. At the moment, Marcus was staring at the floor in the living room while his father stormed and yelled, his mother, Aubrey, sitting in the nearby chair just staying silent. Marcus was especially respectful at the moment; his father never got angry, and when he did, it brought with it a definite impact.

"We had you studying for the last couple of weeks, and you're still under a sixty-five in History!" continued Glen, pacing back and forth. He glared at Marcus as he bellowed, "You're grounded until you get this over a passing mark! Maybe that will encourage you to do better."

"Yes, sir," murmured the fennec, not lifting his eyes.

Sighing, his father softened his frown a bit. "Maybe just grounded until the weekend is up." Still not looking up, Marcus nodded. Glen stopped his pacing and sat next to his son. "What can we do for you, son? Studying on your own didn't do the trick."

Shrugging, Marcus whispered, "I don't know."

"There has to be something," pressed Glen. "We'll do whatever you need."

"What about a tutor?" suggested Marcus' mother suddenly. They both looked over at the female fennec. "Well, why not?" she went on. "We'll hire someone to help you study."

Glen looked over at Marcus. "So what about it? Think it would help?"

"I guess...I could at least try," responded Marcus, slowly. "I've tried everything else."

"All right," said Glen, patting Marcus on the knee. "Your mother and I will look into it for you. Just make sure this works, I can't imagine this will be cheap."

Nodding, Marcus also stood up. "I'm just going to go to my room for a few minutes before dinner." With a nod from Glen, Marcus disappeared upstairs quickly to his room.

Closing the door, he sat on his bed, letting a deep breath go. It hadn't been as bad as he expected, but his father was still rather cross. His mother offering to get him a tutor had been surprising, and honestly, the idea had appealed to him. Obviously he wasn't able to do this by himself, so getting aid would be beneficial to him in the long run; and better now than later.

Reaching over, he picked up the phone to call Tal.

***

A bell over the door jingled when it open, the light sound filling the cafe. The wolf female stood in the doorway, looking around. Spying her appointment, she walked over to the female fennec already seated with a cup of jasmine tea.

"Such a lovely day to be out," said Sara, seating herself on the other side of the table. "I see you've started without me," she observed with a smile.

Finishing her sip of tea, Aubrey replied, "Just something warm. Getting a bit chilly in the air these days. Won't be too long before we'll see snow."

Feigning a shiver, Sara said, "Don't remind me." Standing, she went on, "I'll be right back. Just need to fetch something to drink myself." Walking to the counter, she ordered a drink and sandwich. She and Aubrey had been meeting here and there for years, having met on a school fundraiser meet once upon a time. They quickly found they enjoyed one another's company, especially in times when making adult friends could be so hard.

Coming back to the table, Sara seated herself again, slowly beginning to eat her lunch. "So how have things been with you lately? Been awhile since we've had a chance to chat."

Hesitating, Aubrey explained, "Most things are going all right."

"Most things?" asked Sara, between bites of her sandwich.

Stirring in a bit of honey to her tea, the fennec went on, "Our son, Marcus, is having a lot of trouble in History. Midterms will be along in little over a month, and his average right now is a sixty-three. We're thinking of hiring a tutor, but they're all so expensive."

Looking up from her food, Sara asked, "A tutor?" Aubrey nodded in confirmation. "My son, Reis, does excellent in History. They even offered to let him take AP History last year, but he declined, said he was in no hurry."

"Do you think he'd mind?" asked Aubrey. "I mean, it would be fantastic, but I don't want to impose..."

"No imposition," assured Sara. "I'll ask him about it tonight, and let you know tomorrow."

"And what would he charge?..."

Smiling, Sara answered, "I don't think he would need to charge anything."

"No, I couldn't!" said the fennec. "I would need to give him something for his time."

With another slight smile, Sara just went on, "I'm sure we'll work something out."

***

Lying on his bed, one leg crossed over the other, Reis was reading a copy of a new book he had finally managed to pick up. His headphones were around his ears, subtly playing Everclear's greatest hits from his iPod. Late November wind blew in through his open window, gently ruffling his fur. Nearby, he could tell that someone was grilling, trying to squeeze it in before the last dying breaths of autumn. Mixed with it, he could also tell his mom was cooking meatloaf for dinner. She had come home a bit ago, but had left Reis alone for the most part. The wolf was content to have some quiet time before dinner, anyway.

Putting his bookmark in, he set the novel on his nightstand. Stretching out across the bed, he rolled onto his stomach, sighing. He knew Sara would be calling him in a few minutes for dinner, and he was having a rare moment of lethargy. Dangling one arm over the edge of the bed, he closed his eyes and turned the volume up slightly on his iPod. The scent of food kept drifting under the nostrils, and urging him to get up and follow the command.

Finally, he got on his feet, stopping his iPod and taking off his headphones. Crossing his average-sized room, Reis opened his bedroom door and walked out towards the kitchen. As he passed by the dining area table, he noticed it was already set. Usually they just ate in the living area, so to have set out plates already, something was going on.

"Dinner's almost done, honey," called his mother from just beyond the kitchen doorway. "Why don't you come grab some silverware."

Stepping into the doorway, he watched Sara grab the meatloaf from the oven. With a cheerful smile, she set it on the counter and grabbed a carving knife. "How was your day?" she asked while she cut.

"Fine," answered Reis. He opened the silverware drawer with a slight jingle and grabbed forks and knives. With cutlery in hand, the wolf went back to the table, laying down a pair for himself and one for his mother.

"All right," started Reis, coming back into the kitchen, "what's the occasion? The last time we set the table was when grandma came to visit a few months ago."

"No occasion," assured his mother, finishing cutting the meatloaf and bringing it out to the table. "Grab the potatoes and mac and cheese while you're there."

Dutifully, Reis grabbed both bowls, brining them along with him. Sara disappeared into the kitchen once more and came back again with a pitcher of water and glasses. Motioning to the table, they both sat down. Each of them made their own plate, and for a moment having a family moment between the two of them. In truth, Reis liked times like this. They were rare, but somehow, that made it better when the opportunity finally presented itself.

A few forkfuls into their dinner, Sara finally said, "Actually, there was something I wanted to talk about."

'I knew it,' thought Reis. Continuing to eat, he just waited for his mother to finish.

Clearing her throat, Sara went on, "One of my friends, Aubrey, needs a tutor for her son for History class. I know you had been offered AP History for this year, and are really good at it. Anyway, I told her I would ask you about teaching her son."

Reis went on eating, looking down at his plate, hardly even acknowledging that his mother had said anything. Most other parents would take the reaction as seeming to be angry or purposely rude, but Sara knew this was just her son thinking.

When he finally spoke, Reis asked, "For how long?"

Shrugging, Sara said, "I don't know. I would guess until he gets his grade up above passing."

"And what am I getting out of it?"

Smiling ruefully, his mother answered, "I told Mrs. Knighte she wouldn't need to pay you a dime. But I'll see to it that you get to the bookstore for a couple of novels every week you're still tutoring him."

Nodding, Reis pressed, "There's a hardcover book I've had my eye for a bit. It's supposedly not coming to paperback."

"I guess I'll consider that a down payment," agreed Sara. "So you'll do it?"

Nodding again, Reis replied, "Yeah. Am I going there, or will he come here?"

"I'm not sure. I'll call his mother later tonight and figure out he wants to do," explained his mother.

Now that he knew what his mother had been after, it didn't seem so bad anymore. He just hoped whoever this guy was that he was at least tolerable.

CHAPTER THREE

___________________

Checking his watch for the fifth time is as many minutes, Marcus looked impatiently towards the doors of the school. Supposedly his new tutor was going to meet him out front here at 3:20, but that was ten minutes ago now. Marcus wasn't exactly sure what he looked like, other than that he was a wolf. The fennec was starting to think he'd been ditched, and was ready to leave when he spied the gray wolf come through the doors.

The wolf had the most intense blue eyes Marcus had ever laid eyes on. Even through the blue varsity jacket that he was wearing, it was clear the wolf was in terrific shape. When he laid his gaze on Marcus, he walked right over to the fennec with his black gym bag hoisted over one shoulder.

"Are you Marcus?" he asked forwardly.

"Um...yeah," answered the fennec, for some reason now feeling somewhat timid. He had never been so immediately impressed by a male before.

"I'm Reis," the wolf went on, putting forward a paw. Marcus took it with a gentle shake. The wolf was appraising him up and down while they shook his hands, his eyes gliding over Marcus' tight hip hugger jeans and even tighter A&E sweater he was wearing for the day.

Breaking their grip, Reis asked, "Are we going to my place or yours? That was the one detail I was still unclear on."

Thinking for a moment, Marcus answered, "Why not my place? My folks aren't home yet, so we'll have a quiet place, and if you want, I'm sure you could stay for dinner."

"We'll see," answered Reis, in a non-committal tone. "Lead on," urged the wolf.

Nodding Marcus started walking across the green lawn to the sidewalk, turning to the direction of his house. "It's not a far walk, I live just over this way."

"Same area I live in," remarked Reis, following closely behind.

"Oh?" was all Marcus could think of to respond, feeling unusually awkward. Usually he was much more at ease with new people. But Reis was a different type of male; he practically dripped with confidence, but not in a way that he flaunted. Just in a manner that the wolf knew he was in control of himself, and didn't care who was or wasn't aware of it.

"I think I know you," said Reis, suddenly from behind Marcus.

Looking over his shoulder, Marcus furrowed his brow and asked, "Oh?"

Reis nodded, continuing, "A couple days ago, on the roof. That was you, right?"

"Oh, yeah!" exclaimed Marcus. "I didn't even realize you were the wolf that was there for the view."

"One of the best in town," agreed Reis. "So what were up there to get away from the other night?"

"Hmm?"

"The other day, you said part of you being up there was the view, the other was getting away from something," the wolf went on. "What was it you were getting away from?"

Sighing, Marcus answered, "Mostly had to do with why we're going to be spending time together. I had a test result that day that was going to determine if I was passing or failing for the moment." With a shrug, the fennec added, "Obviously that didn't go so well."

"I see," murmured Reis.

The two of them were now back near the residential area. They were just passing where Reis would normally turn to go to his own house. But they went down another street and then turned left, going down two blocks and making a right. On that street was where Marcus stopped in front of his place, turning up the walk with Reis following behind. The fennec produced his keys and opened the door, motioning for Reis to follow.

Stepping inside, Reis was immediately impressed by how awesome Marcus' house was. The high lobby was immaculate, with a black and white checked floor. Beyond, Reis could see the living room on the right, and the kitchen on the left; he assumed the dining room was on the other side between the two. Off of the living room was the hallway that lead back to the bedrooms and other miscellaneous places. Despite being well-designed, it still didn't overly speak of money.

"Hungry? Or need a drink while we're here?" asked the fennec, pointing off handedly towards the kitchen.

"Just water would be fine," answered Reis. He followed Marcus into the kitchen, which was just as posh of the rest of the house Reis had seen so far. There was a long kitchen island in the center, with cabinets and counter space on one side, and the refrigerator, freezer, and stove on the other. The set-up even included a Dutch oven.

Reaching into one of the cupboards, Marcus produced two glasses. Fetching ice from the freezer, he then grabbed a blue glass bottle from the fridge and poured water into both of the glasses. He handed one to the wolf with a smile, keeping the other for himself. "Shall we?"

Nodding, Reis took a sip of the water, noticing it was incredibly filtered. Marcus walked back through the living room and back towards the bedrooms, with Reis in tow again. The wolf had assumed they'd be working in the living room, but apparently Marcus had other ideas. Opening his room door, the fennec let Reis in first.

Marcus' room was as big as most master bedrooms, with a king-size bed pushed up against the far wall in the middle, flanked by a nightstand on either side. A sizable wooden desk occupied one corner, with a iMac on top and a leather executive chair in front of it. Reis had almost expected posters of some sort of bands on the walls, but surprisingly they were bare, save for a medium-sized LCD TV next to the desk on the wall with a PS3 and DVD player hooked up to it.

"Nice place," murmured Reis.

With a slight smile, Marcus responded, "My folks do okay, I guess."

Without another word, Reis went to the desk, setting his drink down. "Got another chair?" asked Reis.

"Oh, yeah. I'll get one," said Marcus, disappearing.

While the fennec was gone, Reis walked around the room. Passing the TV and set-up, he wandered next to the bed. Idly, he glanced over it, noticing the down-stuffed pillows and soft sheets. His eyes meandered to the side table, noticing it was open a little. Despite himself, he looked a closer, inching the drawer open with one finger. On top, he could see a couple packs of condoms, lube, and an all-male magazine.

"Find anything interesting?" asked Marcus from the doorway.

Turning quickly, Reis saw the fennec standing there with a bemused smile. He felt embarrassed now, and like a total ass. Getting caught rummaging through a near total stranger's stuff was such a stupid thing to get caught doing.

"May as well find out sooner than later," said Marcus, setting down a folding chair he had brought with him. The fennec sat in the folder, motioning to Reis to take the leather chair. The wolf also noticed that Marcus had taken off his sweater, and was now down to his tight T-shirt, which was just plain sky-blue, but it showed off the fennec's lithe frame so well.

"I assume you're referring to the fact that you're gay," murmured Reis, sitting down. "I'm sorry I was--"

"It's fine," assured Marcus, cutting off the wolf. "Doesn't bother me that you saw some of my sex stuff. Fact of life, right?"

Shrugging, Reis went on, "What are you studying in History?"

"Right now, we're on World War II," Marcus said, getting his class book and opening it up.

"And what gives you the most trouble?" asked Reis, looking over the chapter for a moment and re-familiarizing himself with it all.

"Just...everything, I guess," replied Marcus, with an exasperated sigh. "Trying to keep dates and names straight, and the battles on top of it."

With a mirthless grin, Reis said, "Yeah, dates are especially a favorite of most teachers. Never could stand memorizing them myself."

"Obviously you did, though," pressed Marcus. "My mom even said you were up for AP."

"I was," confirmed Reis. "I always found the best way of getting dates was just pure, raw memorization, and keeping them in context. If you're getting a question about World War II, and one of the answers is outside the dates of the war, you can just cross that one right off."

"Uh-huh," murmured Marcus, waiting for the wolf to go on.

"Why don't you read this chapter here for today," said Reis, "and we'll go over it when you're done. Tomorrow, we'll go to the library and I'll show you some of the books I used to study out of. A lot of them are much more interesting than a text book."

"Okay," agreed Marcus, nodding. He settled himself in to read the chapter while Reis leaned back in the chair, relaxing.

"And don't just read it, really comprehend it," added the wolf. "If you let your mind wander, you won't retain what you're taking in."

Nodding again, Marcus looked up from his textbook. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"It's kinda personal."

Reis just closed his eyes and nodded, indicating for Marcus to go ahead.

Taking a deep breath, Marcus quickly asked, "Why did you pass up on AP classes?"

With a quizzical look, Reis just asked, "Why so curious about that?"

Shrugging and feeling like an idiot again, Marcus just said, "I-I dunno. Most furs jump at the chance to take college-level courses that count for credit for free, I guess. Was it because of sports or somethin'?"

"No," was all Reis said. He saw Marcus was still waiting for an answer. After the question just hung in the air, the wolf merely added, "Just finish the chapter."

Feeling bad now, Marcus inwardly chided himself while he started to look over the material. When he looked up, he expected to see Reis looking stern. Instead, the wolf was looking away, almost thoughtfully, as if he didn't even know the answers that Marcus had been asking himself.

***

The sun was beginning to set when the two decided to break. Reis was always somewhat disappointed when the sun started to set earlier and earlier. It wasn't just because it meant winter was right around the corner, though it was a big part of it. A few more weeks, and snow would start to fall. The wolf had never been a big of that time of year.

Standing in the kitchen was Aubrey, putting a few groceries away. "Oh, hi, boys," she said when she saw the two of them. "I didn't even realize anyone else was home." Looking to the wolf, she went on, "And you must be Reis. Your mother talks about you all the time."

Nodding curtly, Reis just said, "Ma'am."

Smiling a bit, she added, "Your mother always says you're so proper. Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble you...," started Reis.

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Aubrey. "I'm making spaghetti and meatballs; it's Marcus' favorite. It would be just fine for you to stay."

"I suppose if it's no trouble," said Reis, agreeably.

"Good, then that's settled. Once Glen gets home I'll start everything; shouldn't take long," said the female fennec. "Why don't you show Reis your dad's flower garden? If you haven't already," she suggested to Marcus.

"Sure," said Marcus. "If you want, anyway," he said to Reis.

Willing to go, Reis encouraged the fennec with a, "Lead on."

Marcus opened the back sliding door, the two of them standing on the deck. Turning on the lights, the backyard was bathed in gentle light, with some ground-level garden lamps kicking on as well.

Most of the flowers were already starting to wilt and die, but the shrubs and one evergreen in the corner still had greenery on them. Even without everything in bloom, Reis could tell that it must look spectacular.

"My dad is out here all the time," said Marcus, sweeping his arm in gesture across the backyard. "It's his favorite hobby."

Walking the edge of the garden, Reis merely answered, "It shows."

While watching Reis walk around, Marcus timidly asked, "Do you really think I'll be able to pass this class?"

"When's your next test?" asked Reis, not turning around.

"A couple weeks," started Marcus, "just before winter break. And just after is the mid-term."

"I think you'll be okay," assured Reis. Though, in truth, he couldn't make such promises and fully believe them himself. He could only show the fennec the way, the fox would still have to do it for himself.

"You want to go back inside?" asked Marcus. "Not much to see this time of year."

Nodding, Reis turned, and answered, "Sure."

The two of them headed back towards the house, with Reis trailing slightly behind Marcus. Tomorrow, Reis planned to show Marcus some of the books he used to study out of, and get him ready for his next test. As far as Reis was concerned, the sooner this was all done the better.

***

Feeling the wind slip over his fur and face, Marcus rode his bike towards Reis' house. This was the first time the wolf had offered to have the fennec over to his place in the week they had been studying together now. Reis had said he had a late practice, and for Marcus to come over around five. The fennec intended to be there right on time, and not keep his tutor waiting.

A gentle, chilly wind pulled at Marcus. He zipped his jacket up the rest of the way, and remembered that December was only around the corner now. Pulling into Reis' driveway, he left his bike near the garage, grabbed his backpack, and walked up to the entrance. Gently, he rapped on the door, waiting. When the door opened, he was surprised to see a female wolf there. "Yes?" she asked.

"Um...hi," Marcus said, sheepishly, "Is...Reis here?"

She nodded. "You must be Marcus. Please, come in."

Smiling, the fennec stepped inside, while Reis' mother closed the door. Marcus looked around, noticing their house was quite a bit smaller than his own; not that they needed much room with just the two of them living there.

"Reis is back in his bedroom," she began, "I think he's waiting for you. I'll order a pizza for the three of us." With that, she went into the kitchen to grab a menu. Shrugging to himself, Marcus wandered to the back rooms. In one of the rooms, he could hear a stereo playing lowly. He figured that was probably Reis' room. Pushing against the door, he found it swung freely.

"Hello?" he said, pushing the door open all the way. "Reis, it's Mar--"

Cutting himself off, the fennec stopped when he saw the wolf standing in the center of the room, naked. A towel lay across the bed, and Marcus assumed the wolf must have just come from the shower; he noticed a door off to the left side that was ajar, and more than likely lead to the bathroom. The two of them stood across from one another, not saying anything. All Marcus could do was let his eyes trail down over the exposed wolf's body, taking in his tight muscles and loose sheath. Reis still looked stunned just to be seeing Marcus standing there. The fennec almost surmised that, since he showered in the locker so often, that Reis probably wasn't that shamed about being exposed.

Clearing his throat subtly, Reis bent down and grabbed a pair of boxers off the floor, pulling them on. "Sorry about that," he muttered.

"No, I'm...sorry," said Marcus, quickly. "Your mom said you were back, and I could--"

"It's fine," interrupted Reis, getting his jeans on. Finally he pulled on a shirt, with 'Monroe High Panthers' across the front. "Shall we get started?"

"Um...yeah," answered Marcus, with a creeping blush starting to form on his cheeks. "Is your dad at work? I just saw your mom when I came in."

"I'm afraid I don't really have a desk," said Reis, flatly, ignoring the question. "If you just want to come sit on the bed."

Nodding, Marcus sat on the foot of the bed, feeling even more like an ass when Reis dodged his question. Reis sat near the head of the bed, right across from the fennec. "So, what's left to take care of before your exam next week?" asked the wolf.

"Um...Kristallnacht, and the invasion of France," answered Marcus, opening his book.

"Why don't you read the chapter again, and then we'll review it," said Reis. "Take a look over the review questions, especially any ones you haven't done for homework yet."

Marcus just nodded, appearing that he were looking down at his book. Really, he was looking across the bed, and at the place between Reis' legs. Even through the denim of the wolf's jeans, Marcus could mentally trace the bulge of Reis' sheath. A shiver of the feeling of seeing something taboo traced the fennec's spine while he thought about it again.

"Marcus?"

"Mmm?" asked the fennec, looking up.

Raising an eyebrow, the wolf asked, "Did you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah," replied Marcus, "read the chapter, look at the questions."

"All right." The wolf got off the bed, walking to the door. "I'll be back in a few. Just going to make sure mom ordered dinner." With that, he was through the door without another word.

The fennec watched him go, still lingering on the idea of the naked lupine. Turning his attention back to the book, he started to read, but kept finding himself straying to the image of Reis' sheath and toned body. The wolf very definitely had a hot body. When he thought about it, Marcus had not seen a male who looked so good in quite some time, and Reis had been under his nose for a week already. He didn't really think the wolf was gay; it was just nice to think about.

Trying to bury himself into the book, and not think about naked wolves, Marcus still found his every attempt in vain. Inevitably, he also felt his own sheath swell, and his mind wander.

***

Standing on the roof, Reis looked out past the field and over the trees, the tops of buildings, and to the horizon beyond. His paws in the pockets of his brown leather jacket, he weathered the setting cold against his exposed fur. Before the snow was going to fall, he wanted to enjoy the view for one last time. He was supposed to be in study hall right now, but he had learned a long time ago that as long as he wasn't making trouble, he could duck off and do whatever he wanted.

Sighing to himself, Reis reflected on the last couple of weeks. Tutoring Marcus had been rather easy, with the fennec surprisingly eager to learn. Reis suspected maybe the fennec had just needed someone to teach him the information in a different way. Admittedly, he had been somewhat embarrassed when the fennec caught him naked a few days ago. Reis didn't have a whole lot of shame left, but it was odd to have another male see him nude outside the locker room; and he hadn't had another guy see him naked in his own room in quite some time.

The squeal of metal brought him from his reverie. Turning, Reis saw Marcus standing in the doorway. Stopped, the fennec looked embarrassed again, just like the day he came into Reis' room. "Oh...sorry. Didn't mean to intrude."

Shrugging, Reis faced back towards the field. "Not like I own this place."

Quietly, Marcus just went on, "I could...go..."

"It's fine," Reis insisted. "Not much longer to enjoy this, anyway. Once the snow falls, that door is all but impossible to open."

Letting the door swing closed, Marcus walked out onto the roof, standing next to Reis. Their breath came out in frosted puffs while they watched the world go by in silence. Marcus had noticed that the wolf was often times rather introverted, hardly ever talking about himself at any lengths. Marcus still wondered why he passed on AP History, or what happened to his dad, but after asking for some personal details on the wolf and getting nowhere, Marcus had learned that Reis just liked to keep to himself.

"How much longer until your test?" asked Reis, suddenly.

"Oh, um...this Friday," answered Marcus, scuffing at the loose gravel on the roof with his footpaw.

"Feeling good about it?"

Shrugging, Marcus just said plainly, "As good as I can feel, I guess."

Nodding, Reis just added, "Good."

Feeling a blush creep on before he even asked it, Marcus blurted out, "Reis?"

"Yeah?"

"Um...Can I ask you something?"

"You just did," observed the wolf, dryly.

Sighing, Marcus just muttered, "Never mind."

"Oh, for...what is it?" pressed Reis, almost exasperatedly.

"Um...I was wondering...," started Marcus, "if you wanted to do something, like...not just studying?"

Raising an eyebrow, Reis inquired, "Like what?"

Shrugging himself now, Marcus just said, "I dunno. Whatever you want. Dinner maybe? A movie? Whatever."

"Why?" asked Reis, flatly.

"Why?" echoed Marcus. He frowned, thinking for a moment. "I thought it would be fun to do something else besides just doing homework all the time."

"Look," began Reis, now facing the fennec, "I'm flattered, but I'm just your tutor. Don't take it wrong. In another month, after you pass your mid-term, we'll probably never talk to each other again." Checking his watch, the wolf said, "I gotta run. Why don't you read over some of the notes we took this week, try the memorization exercises I gave you, and we'll chat tomorrow."

Before Marcus could even respond to all that, Reis was through the door, leaving with just a slam of metal. The fennec stared at the door for a moment, trying to tell himself he didn't really care if Reis wanted to hang out with him or not. In truth, he did. Over the last couple weeks, he was starting to want to do more with the wolf than just studying all the time. Reis was so calm, cool, and collected all the time, full of self-confidence. As time went by, Marcus was finding himself attracted to that more and more.

Sighing, he l was about to go in himself when he felt a new coldness on his nose. Looking up, he saw white flakes gently beginning to fall to the ground. Holding his paw out, a few landed gracefully in his paw, and across his shoulders, headfur, and chest.

***

It was two days before Marcus' next exam, and he was becoming slightly nervous. On his left, Tal was talking about something while they walked the halls between classes. All of Marcus' focus was on was the test, and to some extent, Reis. Slowly, he was finding himself dwelling increasingly on the wolf.

"So what do you think, Marcus?" asked Tal.

"Huh?" replied Marcus.

Taking a deep breath, Tal repeated, "I said, what do you think of that new clothing store they're opening in the mall?"

"It's fine, I guess," answered Marcus, distracted.

"What's been up with you lately?" asked Tal as they wove in and out of throngs of students.

"Guess I'm just nervous," answered Marcus as they turned a corner. "With the test coming up again and everything. I mean, we have winter break right after it, but still..." As he was thinking about the test, he looked ahead and saw Reis break out of a tight cluster of students. Looking annoyed, the wolf started walking in Marcus and Tal's direction. For some reason, Marcus suddenly felt awkward and nervous as the wolf got closer.

"Um...hey, Reis...," he started as the wolf passed by. Reis didn't even break stride, just walking right past them and down the hall, out of sight.

Looking over at Marcus, the tiger asked, "What was that all about?"

"That's the guy who's tutoring me," explained Marcus. "I sort of wanted to hang out with him, too, but he's not interested. Keeps to himself a lot."

"Well, no wonder," stated Tal, cryptically.

Puzzled, Marcus asked his friend, "What do you mean?"

Lowering his voice, Tal explained, "Everyone knows he's gay. Got outed last year. He's one of the school lacrosse players; really good, too. Everyone pretty much leaves him alone because of that fact, but there's a lot of rumors and whatnot behind his back."

"But...you're sure he's gay?" pressed Marcus.

"Yeah, why?"

Shrugging, Marcus just murmured, "No reason."

Tal didn't like the way that Marcus suddenly looked when thinking about the wolf that had just passed them. The tiger was also slightly perturbed he had never seen Marcus look at him that way.

"Hey, if I invited him over this weekend to hang with all of us, would you mind?" asked Marcus, suddenly.

"What, with me, you, Jackson, and Vance?" said Tal.

"Yeah," went on Marcus. "Maybe if it's not just me, he'll be more open to hanging out."

"I think you're trying too hard," remarked Tal, with not completely altruistic motivations.

Shaking his head, Marcus just said, "No, it'll be cool. I'll be done with the test by then, and it'll sort of be a way of saying 'thank you.' Then once he's having fun, maybe he'll want to do it again."

Throwing his hands up in mock defeat, Tal just finished with, "Whatever you want to do." Deep down, though, he was hoping the wolf would say no.

***

Slamming his locker shut, Reis sighed. So far, the day was a total waste of time. He had left his homework at home, had a pop quiz he probably bombed, and had already been given a fifteen-page paper for the holiday break.

"Hey, there," came a familiar voice. Reis looked over his shoulder to see Jeremy, with his pack slung over one shoulder, giving his usual, casual grin. "Could practically follow the unhappiness to you."

Turning back to his locker, the wolf just muttered, "Just a bad day."

"I can tell," said Jeremy, leaning against the locker next to Reis'. "So what's up?"

"Everything that could go wrong is," mumbled Reis, exasperatedly. "And of top of it, I..." trailed off Reis.

"You what?" pressed Jeremy.'

With another sigh, Reis answered, "I've got that guy I was tutoring asking me to hang out. I thought this would just be something easy; get this kid a passing grade, make mom happy, everybody wins. Now, he wants to 'hang out' and whatnot."

The kangaroo was quiet for a moment, before asking, "What's the big deal?"

"What?" queried Reis.

"Seriously," went on Jeremy, "what's the big deal? He wants to be friends, and, to be quite blunt, you could use a few. You've been rather closed off since the whole thing with Scott last year."

"You know why that is," said Reis, quietly.

"Yeah, I do," remarked the roo. "But do you even know why anymore?"

In response, Reis just picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going to be late."

As the wolf started to walk away, Jeremy put a paw on his shoulder. "Think about what I said, okay?"

Without so much as a nod, Reis just kept walking. The roo stood next to the lockers, folding his arms and watching his friend go.

***

His footpaw thumped against the ground while he bounced his leg, and he couldn't stop chewing on the end of his pencil in between questions. Marcus had never been so on edge in his life. Each and every question made him doubt his answer, erase it, and fill in another. Glancing to the clock, he only had a few minutes left. Quickly, he moved onto the last couple questions.

When the bell rang, he jumped in his seat. Chairs scraped against the floor, and students started to file out of the classroom, dropping their tests on the teacher's desk on the way out. Taking one last furtive look over his answer sheet, the fennec got up as well. Grabbing his bag, he walked slowly to the front.

"Um...Mr. Bombay?" started Marcus.

"Yes?" asked the hyena, looking up at the fox from his desk.

Nervously, Marcus asked, "Could you...grade my paper right now? I think it would kill me to have to wait all weekend for the results."

With a slight smile, the teacher replied, "Sure." Taking the test from Marcus, he compared it to his answer sheet. Mr. Bombay started to make a few red marks, and Marcus winced inwardly with every stroke of the pen. When he was finished, the hyena turned the test over for Marcus to see. "Ninety-one. Just enough."

"You mean...I got my grade up high enough?" asked Marcus, incredulously.

"Just barely," said Mr. Bombay. "And you'll need to make sure that you don't fail any other exams, and it wouldn't hurt to score high on the midterms. But yes, for now, you're passing again."

With a slight laugh, Marcus just exclaimed, "Thank you!" He took off out of the room, barely able to contain himself. The fennec suddenly couldn't wait to get home and tell his parents. Most of all he wanted to let Reis know that all their studying had paid off.

At the end of the day, it was always a hassle to fight down to his locker; especially on a Friday. This time, he didn't care, he was in such a good mood. All that mattered was that he was passing again, and in another week, winter break was starting. At this point, everything looked like it was going his way.

Finally elbowing his way to his locker, he opened it up and dumped his backpack inside, just leaving it here for the weekend since he had no homework. On top of it, he felt he earned an easy weekend with getting a 91 on his exam. Grabbing his jacket and slamming the locker shut, Marcus turned and walked down the hall, going down one of the back halls that looped around to the other side of the school. Coming to the top of a staircase, he quickly went downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. On this side of the school, it was much quieter at the end of the day because there were no lockers down here. The smell of the pool assailed his nostrils as he got closer to the gym, which was where the hall he was in came out. The exit doors were on the other side, which was the exit he had started using. Despite going right past the gym, he had yet to have a problem coming down here.

Quickly making his way around the U-shaped hallway, his paw was on the door handle when he felt someone grab him by the collar of his shirt. With a slight gagging noise, Marcus reeled backward, almost losing his footing and falling down. However, right now, he knew if he fell, it would be very bad for him. Before he could fall, the grab on his collar changed to a chokehold around his throat.

"Hey, queer," came a voice in his ear. Once the larger male had dragged Marcus away from the door, his two friends came into view, who Marcus recognized as the lion and doberman who chased him a few weeks. He guessed that the leopard who had been with them was the one holding him around the neck.

"Miss us?" jeered the doberman, getting right in Marcus' face. "We saw you coming out here the other day and decided to wait for you."

"Almost like you've been avoiding us," added the lion, with a sarcastic edge. "That hurts our feelings." All three of them laughed at that remark.

"Time to make up for lost time, faggot," started the doberman, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

Closing his eyes and wincing in preparation, Marcus knew all he could do was wait for the inevitable.

***

Reis packed his last few items into his gym bag, zipping it up. The indoor lacrosse season wouldn't start until after winter break, so there was no point in leaving everything here at school. The wolf had wanted to clear out his locker while he was more or less by himself. He knew none of the teams were practicing right now either, with everyone already checking out for the break, including the teachers and coaches.

Sitting on the edge of the bench, the one thing really on his mind was his conversation with Jeremy. The roo was, to an extent, right. Maybe it was time to start letting more furs in again. When everything had gone to hell the year before, he had just decided it was easier to cut everyone loose. Jeremy had been the only one that Reis hadn't wanted to lose touch with, and not just because they had been friends for so long. The roo was so supportive in the beginning, when everyone else was shunning Reis, when friends the wolf had known for years were pretending like they had never met before. At first, Reis had just been angry; but anger gave way to depression, and depression into apathy. In the end, he just didn't care anymore, and found that was the best way to deal with it.

Here was another male reaching out, making the effort, and Reis had slapped the offer away without giving it real consideration. He hated to second-guess himself, but maybe it was time he let go of some of the past unpleasantness and move on.

Standing, he picked up his gym bag and made his way out to the exit. In the office, he saw one of the coaches watching a football game on a small TV. When he saw Reis, the coach waved, and the wolf returned the gesture in kind. Moving past the double-doors of the locker room, Reis stepped into the hallway. As soon as he did, he heard gruff voices.

"Time to make up for lost time, faggot," Reis heard one growl. Looking to his right, Reis saw three of the football players crowded around a single figure that was pinned down by the largest of the players. The other two, a lion and doberman, looked like they were about to take a run at whoever was being held by the leopard.

"Hey!" called Reis.

The three of them turned to face the wolf, and in that moment, Reis could see the male being pinned was Marcus. The fennec looked terrified, but at the same time now hopeful that Reis was there.

"Let him go," commanded Reis.

With a mirthless, wicked grin, the doberman asked, "Or what?"

Dropping his gym bag, Reis simply repeated, "I said, let him go."

"This your boyfriend?" taunted the lion. "Oh, we know all about you, too, cocksucker. Wouldn't mind a two-for-one, here."

In an even tone, Reis just cautioned, "You don't want to do this."

Raising an eyebrow, the lion said, "Is that a fact? I see three of us and one of you. If I were you, I wouldn't like those odds." The leopard had let go of Marcus with the arrival of a more interesting quarry, throwing the fennec to the floor.

"Think we'll beat your ass in," threatened the leopard. "That's what you like, right?"

Reis just waited impassively as the three of them encroached on him. He was already sizing them up, and was planning to take the leopard first, since he was the biggest.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Looking over his shoulder, Reis saw the coach standing there in the doorway. "Haven't you three been warned about this bullshit before?"

"Aw, c'mon, coach...," started the lion. "We're just messing around."

Looking at Reis and the cowering fennec behind the three jocks, the coach went on, "I don't think so. Just because you're on the team doesn't mean I'm going to look the other way. You three dumbasses aren't even on first string." Pointing down the hall, he commanded, "Principal's office. Let's go."?

The three turned and walked down the hall, giving a lingering glower to Reis and Marcus. The fennec watched them leave, not daring to move a muscle yet. He didn't get to his feet until they were around the corner and out of sight.

Reis walked over to the fennec, asking, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," assured Marcus. "I wouldn't be if you hadn't come along, though."

Nodding, Reis just said, "Good." 'Tell him you'll hang out with him,' Reis chided himself inwardly. 'You know he wants to, just say it."

What came out was, "I need to get going. I'll see ya." And with that, he went past the fennec and out the doors into the outside winter day.

Just watching the wolf go, Marcus could only mange out, "Yeah, see ya."

CHAPTER FOUR

___________________

Day rapidly turned to night, the December evening taking over outside. Inside, Reis sat on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV with no real goal or purpose on what he wanted to watch. At the moment, he was just bored. Winter break was just around the corner, and he had no plans. Of course, he would hang out with Jeremy a bit, but other than that, nothing. Normally, he wasn't bothered by his own company, but for some reason, he wanted a little more interpersonal contact this time.

"Everything okay?" asked his mother from the kitchen doorway. She was drying her paws off on a dish towel, having just finished the dishes.

"Yeah," Reis answered simply. "Is Sierra coming home for Christmas this year?"

Sara stopped for a moment, surprised by the question; normally Reis didn't seem to care what was going on. Maybe Sara had just misinterpreted his lethargy. "Um...yes, she is. I was going to pick her up this weekend. Her classes are all over, just have to drive and get here. Probably going to take all weekend, too."

The wolf nodded, turning off the television. "I'm going to go outside for a bit."

"Outside?" asked his mother. "But it's December."

He shrugged, grabbing his coat from the back of the chair. Opening the front door, Reis stepped into the cold night. His breath appeared is gentle wisps, and he tucked his paws in his pockets. Walking around to the side of the house, he opened the gate and went into the backyard. Silver light from the moon above lit up the fresh snow in the backyard. The evening sky was completely clear, showing off the dots of stars.

With the crunch of snow underfoot, Reis walked to the small shed in the corner of the yard and opened the door. Reaching inside, he brought out an old mat that he liked to use when he lay on the ground. Spreading it out in the center of the yard, the wolf lie down on his back, looking up at the stars. This had always been a favorite way of his to just unwind. Despite feeling a bit of the cold seep through the mat and leech into his back, he felt more calm and at peace. There was no one around to disturb him, no intruding noises, nothing that needed his immediate attention. Just the stars up above and the cool night around him.

While he gazed up at the firmament above him, he couldn't help but let his own thoughts crowd in and distract him. Most of them were of Marcus, and the events of earlier in the day. The fennec had looked so grateful to Reis, and the wolf had just kept walking. Had he really become so heartless? Firmly, he decided that the next time he saw Marcus, he was going to tell the fennec that he wouldn't mind doing something together.

While his mind wandered, he barely heard the crunch of snow nearby. Sitting up, he saw Marcus standing nearby, looking embarrassed and awkward. He had on navy blue jacket with a black scarf around his neck. "Um...hi," Marcus said, softly. "Your mom said you were out here..."

Sighing, Reis got to his feet. "What brings you over here?"

"Oh, um...I wanted to tell you I got a ninety-one on my test," explained Marcus, plainly, while he fidgeted with his paws. "So now I'm passing."

Nodding, Reis just replied with, "That's good."

Taking a few steps closer, the fennec went on, "I also wanted to thank you...for before..."

Holding up a paw, Reis just said, "That's not necessary."

"It is," insisted Marcus, with a look in his eyes Reis couldn't place. "I...I don't know what would have happened if you didn't walk out right then."

Sighing again, Reis suggested, "Why don't we go inside?"

"I hope I didn't disturb you...," trailed off the fennec.

"No," answered Reis, softly, walking toward the yard gate. Marcus fell in step behind him, the two of them walking back around to the front door and stepping inside.

"Reis, Marcus was looking for you," called his mother. "Oh," she started, appearing in the kitchen doorway, seeing the fennec. "I see he found you," she finished with a smile.

"Hi, Mrs. Kirkpatrick," said Marcus, with a slight wave.

"You two need anything?" asked Sara.

The wolf shook his head while hanging his jacket up. "No, we're just going to be in my room." He crossed the living room, Marcus right after him with another quick awkward wave to Sara. Opening the door to his room, Reis stepped aside to let Marcus in. The wolf closed the door behind himself when he came in as well. Gently, Marcus just sat on the edge of Reis' bed.

"I...um...sort of came to ask you something else," muttered Marcus, rubbing absently at his arm.

"I was...wondering if..."

"We should do something this weekend," interrupted Reis, suddenly. Marcus looked up at him, and saw the seriousness on the wolf's face.

"You...mean it?" asked Marcus, tentatively. "I was planning to ask you if you wanted to come hang out with some of my friends this weekend."

"I was thinking something a bit more...quiet," said Reis. "My mom is leaving tomorrow to get my sister from college, probably not going to be back until Sunday. You want to come over here tomorrow? We can hang out here."

Surprised, Marcus replied with an enthusiastic, "Sure! I'll just let everyone else know that plans changed." He frowned for a moment. "But why the sudden change?"

Shrugging, Reis simply answered, "Guess I just realized I should be a bit more open to things like this."

Hesitating a moment, Marcus asked, in barely a whisper, "Are you always alone because you were outed last year?"

His eyes widening ever so briefly, Reis evenly asked, "Who told you that?"

Casting his gaze to the floor, Marcus quickly answered, "I-I-I heard it from someone at school. They saw you in the hall, and said you were gay because they had heard it." 'Dammit,' Marcus yelled at himself, inwardly, 'I shouldn't have pushed it! Now I've fucked it all up.' The fennec flattened his ears against his head and continued to curse himself.

Crossing his arms impassively, Reis simply said, "It's true." Taking a deep breath, he went on, "I guess in the spirit of trusting someone, I may as well tell you." Marcus didn't say anything, just waiting patiently. The wolf went on, "When I came out to myself last year, I didn't even know what to do with it. Being 'out' in high school isn't always the most advisable way to go about it, so I was careful. Just tucked the information away for the moment.

"But then...then some new male transferred in; Scott, a coyote. He joined the lacrosse team, and things just went on as usual. But I caught him, here and there, checking out some other males, or lingering on a touch too long. Nothing overt, but enough to put together over time. After practice one day, we were both putting equipment away when he suddenly, out of nowhere, decides to confide in me that he felt like he becoming attracted to males lately. At first, I didn't say anything, just listened. When he was finished, I told him I had also recently come out, pretty much just to myself, though. He asked me if I had yet had a chance to try out the physical aspect, and I told him I hadn't; I was a virgin in all ways. In his eyes, I just saw this want; I didn't know if it was for me or just the desire to try out this new thing in general. But, he offered himself up to me, not for a date, but for a chance for both of us to explore the other.

"We came back here and I took him. Scott had a wild submissive streak, and wanted me to use him for every thing I could think of. I used his muzzle, his paws, and his ass, and it was all fantastic. He spent the night, and in the morning we went to school together. Life went on as usual, with the two of us exchanging a knowing look in the locker room on occasion, but never a repeat of that night.

"But after a few weeks, things started to change. I started to hear furtive whispers and giggles when I walked by, with other furs pointing and sharing a laugh. The other males on the team started to give me odd looks, especially in the shower. And, I noticed Scott was no longer there. I came to learn he had changed schools, but not before he told a bunch of other furs what happened between. Of course, in his version he wasn't some cock-hungry bottom; I seduced him, according to what I heard. But the damage had been done. Most of the friends I had stopped talking to me, just shutting me out. I had one hang on, and I had no desire to try and make anymore. At the time, I had had enough betrayal."

Marcus was just silent for a moment. Eventually, he broke the quiet, and asked, "So you just stopped talking to most furs because of that?"

Nodding, Reis said, "I didn't really want anything to do with anyone else."

Standing, Marcus murmured, "I wouldn't do anything like that to you."

Saying nothing in reply, the wolf turned and faced away from the fennec. It felt like so long since he had let someone in, and dropping his armor so quickly felt awkward to him. The wolf jumped a bit when he felt arms snake around his midsection. Marcus pressed himself against Reis' back, and despite his misgivings, Reis enjoyed the contact. It had, indeed, been awhile. Slowly, he set one of his paws atop Marcus'.

"See?" whispered Marcus, "it doesn't all have to be bad."

"I know," answered Reis, softly.

Their embrace was interrupted when Sara called, "Reis!"

Dropping his paws from around Reis, Marcus took a couple steps backward. "I should get going," the fennec said, quickly. Going around Reis, he went to the door and opened it. "So...tomorrow?" asked Marcus, quietly.

Reis nodded in affirmation. With a quick smile, the fennec disappeared from the doorway. When he was gone, the wolf softly touched the spot where Marcus' paws had been. Prodding himself, as if in wonder, Reis couldn't help but feel a pang of regret that the moment had been so brief; and beneath that, he wondered why he let it happen.

"What the hell?" he said to himself.

***

Leaning against the side of his mom's BMW, Marcus looked up at the bright sun overhead. Despite having on a pair of sunglasses, he still squinted; between the sun itself and the rays bouncing off the white snow around him, it was all painfully bright.

At the moment, he was waiting outside of Starbucks for Tal to come back out. When the fennec had let his friend know that the group get-together was off, the tiger had insisted on doing something together before Marcus went over to Reis'.

Even though Marcus liked the coffee, he had opted to stay outside. Sun in the middle of winter was so rare, and he wanted to enjoy it for a moment. Secretly, he also liked being seen with the car when he managed to talk his parents into letting him use it now and then. It was jet-black, and Marcus absolutely loved to drive it. Once, it had even been instrumental in him getting some action.

Coming through the doors of the coffee shop, Tal carried two steaming cups with him. Handing one to Marcus, he kept the other for himself. The fennec took a deep whiff of the liquid inside; scents of hazelnut and vanilla greeted him.

"So, where to now?" asked Tal, walking around to the passenger's side.

Shrugging, Marcus simply said, "Wherever. I don't need to meet Reis for a few hours."

A brief frown passed over Tal's face at the mention of the wolf. "Oh, right..."

Tilting his head a bit, Marcus asked, "Something wrong?"

"No," answered Tal, with a slight shake of his head. Opening the door, the feline got in without another word.

Following suit, Marcus got in as well. Securing his mug to the cup holder, he started the car and slowly departed the parking lot, merging into traffic.

"So when are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" asked Marcus, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" replied Tal, feigning ignorance as he looked out of the window

Sighing, Marcus pressed, "You've been moody ever since I met Reis. Every time I mention him, you just look angry. What's the deal? You haven't even met him."

"I don't need to meet him," said the tiger, looking back over at Marcus. "I see the way you look when you talk about him. It's not the way you talk about a friend; it's the way you talk about a crush."

"But, I don't--"

"Don't try to pretend," Tal cut him off. "I can tell you have feelings for him; it's rather evident."

Quietly, Marcus said, "I know you have feelings for me, too." Opening his muzzle to say something, Tal just stopped and looked back out the window as restaurants and businesses went by. "It's okay," went on Marcus. "I've known for awhile."

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" asked Tal.

"Because...," trailed off Marcus. "Because you and I are friends, and I didn't want to take a chance on that. What if we tried and it didn't work? We can't go back after that to what we were. And who would be my best friend then?"

"Still would have liked to try," muttered Tal, still looking away.

"Look," started the fennec, laying his right paw over Tal's left, "we're always going to be friends. Okay? That's not going to change. And you'll find someone right for you."

"Is Reis the right one for you?" quietly queried the tiger, turning to the fennec.

"I...don't know," answered Marcus, honestly. "I do sort of like him, even if he's obviously had a bad time with other relationships. But...I'm still willing to maybe try."

Nodding, the tiger just said, "Maybe I'll still have a chance then."

With a weak smile, the fennec just simply stated, "Maybe."

Taking his paw from Tal's, Marcus just kept driving while they lapsed back into silence. The question still hung in his head, however; is Reis the right one for him? Thinking of it gave him a slight shiver up his spine, but in a good way. Even to himself, he didn't know the answer.

***

"I'll have the cell with me," said Sara, standing by the front door. "Anything comes up, just call."

Reis nodded. "I'll be fine for the weekend, mom."

She smiled. "I know you will." Kissing her son on the cheek, she opened the front door and stepped out. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Bye, mom." With that, she closed the door and was gone. For a chance, Reis was relieved to have some time to himself. He was used to the solitude, but there was a difference being alone and lonely. Not having thought about it much until now, the wolf now realized how lonely he had been over the past year since the incident with Scott. Having Marcus coming over soon would be a nice change of pace now.

Laying on the couch on his back, the wolf braced his arm on his forehead and looked up at the ceiling. Inside his head, he drifted to the last time he and Marcus had talked. It wasn't specifically what they had talked about, but more what wasn't said between the two of them. When Marcus had put his arms around the wolf, Reis hadn't felt like that in a long time; and it was enjoyable.

For the longest time, it had always been about keeping others at arms' length, and not letting anyone inside. Now, he realized that he had slowly shut himself off not just from the potential of pain, but also of friendship, and possibly love. Despite the cruelty of Scott, he couldn't live as an emotional hermit for all his life.

When the door rang, Reis almost jumped a little. Sitting up, he got to his feet and crossed to the door. The wolf took a deep breath and opened it, seeing the slight fennec on the front step. "Hi," said Marcus, shyly.

"Hey," replied Reis, with a smile. "Come on in," he encouraged, stepping aside. The fennec moved inside, with Reis closing the door against the cold outside.

"I've never liked winter," muttered Marcus, taking off his jacket and scarf. Underneath, he was wearing a tight tan shirt, complimenting his hip-hugging black jeans. "Too much clothing," he went on, with a seductive look.

Staring for a moment, Reis recovered himself and took the fennec's jacket, hanging it up in the front hall closet. "So...what do you want to do?"

Shrugging, Marcus answered, "I dunno." Laughing a bit, he added, "Just whatever, I guess."

Glancing up at the clock, the lupine noted it was just about four; still a bit early for dinner. While Reis was looking at the clock, Marcus sauntered into the living room and lay across the couch. He was certain the wolf was looking at him, but just put his head back and closed his eyes like he didn't much care what was going on.

"Could always watch a movie," suggested Reis. "Or play on the XBox." Unfortunately, he knew he didn't have many games for it; he had gotten it from his aunt a year ago, and hadn't bought many games. All he had was HALO3 and Final Fantasy XIII.

"Movie is good," answered Marcus, tilting his head back toward his host. "Whatever you feel like."

Getting down on the floor, Reis opened the doors beneath to get to the DVDs. While he was bent over, Marcus lounged on the couch and admired the view of the athletic wolf's ass. The fennec smiled inwardly to himself as he let himself gaze until Reis stood back up. Turning to Marcus, the wolf held up a case, and asked, " 'Clerks' okay with you?"

In response, the fennec just shrugged. "Never seen it."

"Good flick," said Reis, booting up the XBox and putting the movie in. Grabbing the remote, he went to sit down in the nearby chair.

"Come sit with me," encouraged Marcus, moving his footpaws a bit to make room.

Hesitating for a moment, Reis took the proffered seat. When he was on the couch, Marcus stretched his legs and feet back across the wolf's lap. Reis looked over at his guest, who greeted him with a sly grin. Not saying anything, the wolf turned his attention back to the TV and started the movie.

The beginning of the movie went by uneventfully, the two of them sitting there and enjoying one another's company. After awhile, Reis was slowly, absently, rubbing the top of Marcus' footpaws. The fennec curled his toes a bit at the touch, enjoying it.

"Sorry," muttered Reis when he realized what he was doing.

"No," started Marcus, "it's okay," he assured the wolf with a slight blush. Reis smiled a bit and resumed his touching. The fox's tail flicked a bit when Reis touched the more sensitive areas of his feet; around his heels and the arch of his paw.

While the TV went on, Marcus gradually moved his spot from lying with his feet pointed towards Reis to having his head in the wolf's lap. Reis had been aware of the slow transition, but said nothing about it as the fennec slipped his head against the lupine's thigh. With a faint smile, Reis gently lay his paw on top of Marcus' shoulder. Murring with contentment, Marcus snugged in close against Reis' belly.

"Affectionate, aren't we?" asked Reis, almost rhetorically.

Looking up at Reis, Marcus simply said, "You could use it."

Smiling again, almost sadly, the wolf stroked the fennec's shoulder and headfur. The soft fur under his paw felt good. He let his paw glide down Marcus' back and hips, scritching and rubbing gently. Returning the tenderness, the fennec roamed his paws over the wolf's stomach, feeling the tight muscles beneath the wolf's shirt. Lifting up Reis' shirt, Marcus could make out the defined abs even through the thick grey fur.

"What're...we doing?" asked Reis, almost whispering it.

"Just enjoying the moment," answered Marcus, quietly. Getting up, the fennec straddled Reis' hips, putting his arms around the wolf's neck. In kind, Reis put his arms around the small of Marcus' back. The fox grinned a bit, as they intimately held one another.

"I'm sensing you didn't just want to come here to hang out," observed Reis.

Blushing again, the fennec shook his head in reply. Reis smiled, not quite sure still what to make of the feelings that he and Marcus were clearly experiencing. The fennec definitely had a thing for him, and, admittedly, he was getting to the point where he was recognizing that he was also attracted to the younger fox.

Before Reis could even properly put his thoughts in order, Marcus was slowly sliding off of his lap and onto his knees on the floor. Reis gave the fennec a quizzical look, wordlessly asking what the fox was doing. Without an explanation, Marcus seized the wolf's top button of his pants and undid them. With that out of his way, Marcus gingerly took the zipper tab in his teeth and slowly pulled it downward. Nearly in shock at what was going on, Reis could only watch what was going on between his legs. He felt like he was miles away, seeing this happen to someone else. The sensation against his sheath, with only his thin bit of underwear separating him and Marcus, made it all too real. Most of his crotch was exposed now; at least his boxers. Marcus was gazing on the fabric that concealed Reis' most private places, like a chest revealing its most hidden treasures.

"I...," started Reis, quietly. "Are we...?"

Shrugging, Marcus said, "Think of it as a 'thank you,' for getting me to a passing grade." Taking his index finger, he gently traced it against Reis' boxers, feeling his warm sheath and testes beneath. Taking a deep breath and letting it go, Reis just continued to give Marcus his rapt attention.

"You have any condoms?" asked Marcus, suddenly.

"Um...," thought Reis for a moment. Did he have any? "I think there's some in my room."

"Why don't we go there, then?" suggested Marcus, with a grin.

Just nodding in assent, Marcus waited for Reis to get up, then got to his own feet. When the wolf was up, he kicked off his pants that were already around his ankles, leaving his underwear on for the moment. Marcus led the way into Reis room, with the wolf coming in behind. Marcus closed the door while the wolf sat down on the bed.

"Oh, come on," said Marcus, "don't be shy; lose the pants."

For all the times he had been nude in front of other males, and even in front of Marcus by accident, he still felt awkward at the moment. However, he did stand and slowly take his boxers off; moving them over his hips and letting them drop. Kicking them to the side, he stood with his shirt still on, nude from the waist down.

"That's more like it," murmured Marcus, taking in the nude wolf again. A bit of pink was starting to show through the slit of Reis' sheath, and becoming more apparent as the wolf stood there. Not wanting to make the lupine feel too self-conscious, Marcus began to strip himself, deftly taking his pants and shirt off, revealing his own nudity. As the fennec did with him, Reis admired the naked male before him. Lithe and sexual, Marcus was highly attractive. His own pouch hung between his legs, still mostly, surprisingly, unaroused.

"It's okay," said Marcus, "you can sit down."

Backing up against the bed, Reis sat on the edge, waiting. Marcus crossed the room and rubbed his paw against the top of the wolf's thigh "Where're the condoms?" he asked. Reis motioned to his desk. Reaching over, Marcus opened the top drawer and sifted down through the accumulated layers of stuff before lighting on what he wanted. He preferred to use condoms when he was first having sex with a male; he always liked to be careful. He was hoping eventually he'd be able to take just the wolf with nothing in his way.

Getting back on his knees between Reis' legs, he reached over and gently stroked the wolf's sheath, slowly bringing the lupine to his arousal. Reis closed his eyes and breathed deeply, enjoying even the simple touch. It brought back pleasant memories of last year, before it had all gone to hell.

With the gentle, subtle urging of Marcus' paw, Reis' sheath began to slowly part and give way to his stiffening maleness. His head pressed from its furred cage, and his shaft moving into view shortly after. Marveling at the wolf's girth, Marcus also noticed how long the male under his touch was; as his pink cock fully unleashed itself, it was at a full nine inches. The fennec had been with a few large males before, and though it was rare, he always enjoyed it. Deep down, he fancied himself a bit of a size queen.

"Big wolfie," whispered Marcus, gently tantalizing the underside of Reis shaft. The wolf shuddered a bit as the somewhat-foreign touch of another shot up through his body.

"Uh-huh...," was all Reis could manage out, lost in his own reverie already; and Marcus had only barely begun.

The fennec could feel the wolf's cock still hardening in his grip, expanding into his palm. He smiled at the feeling and sight. Slowly, he inched his paw lower, past the base of Reis' shaft and to the wolf's loose-hanging balls. Cradling them s if they were fragile as glass, Marcus rolled them around in his paw, deftly and expertly eliciting another moan from Reis.

"Oh, God...," moaned Reis, looking down at the fox hard at work between his legs. By now, his penis was fully erect and sticking out from his body. Wanting so badly to reach down and touch himself, Reis fought the urge back so he could let Marcus play.

Spurred on by the wolf's sounds of pleasure, Marcus felt his own pouch beginning to swell and release his member. Always he had liked the feeling of his arousal coming slowly, his cock emerging gradually, achingly so, as it was now. Looking down between his own legs, his six-and-a-half maleness was halfway out already, and he knew the rest wasn't far behind.

Still playing with Reis' testes, Marcus took the condom he found and tore it open with his teeth. Taking it out, he was pleased to find it was non-lubricated; the lubed ones tasted nasty. Grudgingly letting go of the wolf's orbs, he pressed the tip of the condom to the top of Reis' cock and gently began to slide it down. He noted they were the 'custom' condoms, form fitted to the shape of a particular animal's private places; in this case, canid. The latex covered the flare of Reis' head, sliding down his shaft with ease and coming to rest about half an inch above the base of his cock. Apparently, Reis was bigger than the condom company had planned on.

"Now you're all ready," said Marcus, looking up at Reis with a smile. The wolf just looked back with eagerness in his eyes, waiting for the fennec to make his next move, and staring down at Marcus' now-erect cock.

Gripping the base of Reis' penis in a circle between his index finger and thumb, Marcus slowly, teasingly lapped at the wolf's head. Even through the prophylactic, he could feel the throb of pulse through his new partner's cockhead. Inwardly, he smiled, knowing he was probably driving the wolf crazy at the same time he was pleasuring him. All in good time, Marcus would give the wolf release, but the lupine was going to wait for it.

"Mmmf...Marcus...," breathed Reis. The wolf was clearly enjoying the attention he was receiving, and he knew Marcus wasn't even past his tip. The warmth of the fennec's muzzle on his head was absolutely fantastic, but he wished the fox would take all of him in.

As if hearing the wolf's request, Marcus dipped past the tip of Reis' maleness and took a few inches into his muzzle, wrapping his warm maw around it. He slipped down the latex easily, dragging his tongue along Reis' shaft. When he felt it flex beneath his tongue, Marcus knew he was doing something right. When he reached about six inches down, the fox slowly began to retract his head, releasing his prize from his muzzle to go back to the tip and slit, then dip right back down again. For the moment, his pace was unhurried, to still remind the wolf of his sexual places that he might have forgotten about.

Reis, however, was all too happy to be reminded what it was like to be with another male. As Marcus bobbed up and down on his maleness, the wolf's paws involuntarily bunched up the sheets on his bed in his paws. When he looked down, past Marcus' busy muzzle, he could see the fennec's penis and it sent a whole different wave of expectation through him. With Scott, he had been selfish, making it all about himself and letting Scott just pleasure himself. With Marcus, he wanted the fennec to get just as much out of this as himself.

When the fox pressed his tongue tightly to Reis' shaft, he could feel the wolf's pulse, even with the latex between them. His canine companion was squirming under the touch of the fennec, closing his eyes tight and breathing hard against the sensations between his legs. Too long it had been since he'd felt such intense pleasure. Even with Scott, it hadn't been this good. Every suck, bob, and stroke of the fennec's muzzle and tongue brought new of heights of pleasure to him.

Gently, Reis rest his paw against the back of Marcus' head, scritching behind the fox's ears. Marcus murred as best he could with his mouth full, and took a faster, yet still steady, pace to his attention on the wolf. Unconsciously, Reis pressed the fox's head forward, further sinking his cock into the warm, waiting maw. Taking in more of Reis' length, Marcus accommodated the long shaft pressing into his muzzle. Every inch only made him hornier, and Marcus was slowly becoming aware of his own urge for release. His left paw drifted downward to his crotch, and he stroked himself while working Reis over. The fennec rolled his paw over his own balls while retracting from the wolf's penis again. When he gently greeted Reis' with his muzzle again, Marcus took his member in his paw and stroked himself in time with his pleasuring of Reis.

"Just like that," whispered Reis. Every inch of him was in ecstasy, and looking down to see his shaft disappearing into Marcus' muzzle over and over just increased his wanton feelings. His own self-fulfillment could not even come close to what Marcus was doing for him. Gazing toward the fox's crotch again, he saw the fennec pawing himself off. A thin rope of precum was leaking from Marcus' slit and making its way to the ground. Watching the glistening strand fall to the floor, Reis idly wondered if his own member was slowly releasing fluids inside of the fennec's muzzle. Even with the condom trapping all of it, it was an appealing thought to him.

Coming at Reis with more vigor, Marcus sucked hungrily at Reis. His pawing sped up with the rampant pace of his muzzle. In the midst of their sex, Reis was now bucking his hips up into the fennec's muzzle. Marcus just held his head in place now and let the wolf use him to the lupine's contentment. Putting both paws on the back of Marcus' head, the wolf was humping in earnest, steadily working to his climax. With each drive forward, Reis was nearly getting his entire nine-inch length down inside of Marcus. Preparing for it, the fennec just relaxed and let the wolf go. Marcus closed his eyes and let the large canid cock slide in and out of him, each thrust only reminding him of his own sexuality in his paw.

Groaning a bit, Reis leaned forward to the edge of the bed and propelled himself into Marcus. The fennec was so eager, so willing, and that more than anything turned on Reis. The wolf had always seen himself as more dominant, and whereas he didn't really do anything overt about it, when another fur was willing to give their body over to him he always found it attractive. While he pleasured himself with the fox's mouth, he realized he could use this fennec in any way physical he wanted and the fox would only ever look back on him with gratitude and adoration for it.

Whimpering in pleasure a bit himself, Marcus could see the wolf's knot starting to come free from its sheath. It had been a bit since he'd seen one up close, besides his own, and being able to touch another's always seemed like a taboo excitement to him for some reason. When it was completely in sight, Marcus could see the wolf was quite gifted in everything; his knot was larger than most Marcus had seen. As Reis' cock continued to slip in and out of him, Marcus reached up with his free paw and caressed the bulbous formation at the base of Reis' penis. At the initial touch, it gave Reis a brief pause before he resumed his humping. Even as the wolf kept going, Marcus could tell the wolf was in a new degree of pleasure; in his halting thrusts, with the increased pulse through his maleness, and the breathy gasps now emanating from the lupine. Letting his paw roam all over the knot, Marcus loved the feeling of the wide portion of the base under his touch, and only propelled his own masturbating further forward. When he was done exploring the new area, the fennec settled his paw around the base of the knot, gently squeezing it. Immediately, he felt Reis' shaft expand outward and the pulse through that flesh quicken. Growling low in his throat with gratification, Reis' hips increased in their drive.

Reis clenched his jaw and let go a deep breath he was holding. The delight he was feeling from the fox between his legs was overwhelming. The wolf was also almost unable to believe that the fox could take all of his maleness with such ease. Clearly the fennec had some experience, but right now that didn't matter to him. Everything in his world centered around the muzzle he was propelling himself in and out of, and how amazing it felt. A small part of him never wanted to finish, and just stay here with Marcus to hold onto this moment of pure bliss. When Marcus' gripped the wolf behind the knot, Reis had nearly lost it right there. Often when he was pawing off, he liked to do that to himself; to have someone else do it was a whole different level of euphoria; especially when his cock was being so expertly pleasured.

As hard as Reis could try to hold his impending climax back, he knew he couldn't forever. His testes betrayed the rising culmination as they tingled and benumbed. Never before had he been so aware of an orgasm making its way through his body; from his balls, through the base of his shaft and upwards towards his tip. As his orgasm approached, Reis pressed against the back of Marcus' head hard, pushing the fennec's nose almost right into his pelvis. The fennec stopped his self-gratification when he felt the first twinge of Reis' cock. Swiftly, it was following by a warm feeling against the fox's tongue as the tip of the condom was filled with semen. Marcus closed his eyes and imagined what it looked like while the condom filled with the wolf's considerable orgasm. Every twitch and spasm up through the lupine's penis was another moment of excitement for the fennec, and he thrilled in the tactile sensation of the wolf's climax in his paw especially feeling the knot expand and contract.

"Oh...," managed out Reis, practically bending over the fox's head as his cum spilled from his body and into its latex prison. So badly did he want to know what it would have felt like to have been unloading himself directly into the fennec. At the moment, it still felt so good he could hardly really complain.

When the last quiver left the lupine's cock, Marcus gingerly took his muzzle from around the wolf's maleness and slowly removed the condom for Reis. The wolf's head was still covered in his sticky fluids, and Marcus fought back the urge to lick it clean. However, before he could think further of acting on that impulse, Reis reached down with his shirt and wiped it off.

"How was that?" asked Marcus, with a grin.

Leaning back on the bed, Reis just breathed, "Fantastic." Looking down, Reis saw the fennec's still-hard cock, straining to be given its out. "Why don't you come here; I'll take care of that."

Blushing slightly, Marcus got up and came to the bed with Reis. The wolf lay back and motioned for the fox to straddle his chest. Acceding, the fox braced a leg on either side of Reis and rest his cock right in front of the wolf. Without a moment's hesitation, the wolf seized the vulpine shaft in his paw and gently moved up and down. Immediately, the fennec was taken in a grip of pleasure all his own. With his own stimulation earlier and sucking off Reis, he was already so excited that the new sensation of the wolf's paw on his own foxhood was sheer delight.

"Like it like this?" asked Reis, softly, gently taking the fox's shaft in his palm and stroking.

Marcus let a slow breath go, leaning back and bracing his paws on top of Reis' thighs. Very much did he like that, but he was now so enraptured by the touch and accompanying feeling that he could hardly think let alone speak. Reis smiled at the wordlessness of his partner, and continued to fondle and caress the rigid maleness in his paw. Small drops of precum formed on Marcus' head as Reis slowly pawed him. The wolf watched as they formed into a larger drop and slowly cascaded down the front of the fennec's cock, where they were met by Reis' paw and swept away.

"Reis...," said Marcus, quietly, taking the wolf's free paw in his and squeezing gently. Smiling in response, Reis picked up his pace a bit, and was rewarded with a brief cry of delight from the fox. Marcus' cock flexed and swelled in Reis' paw with each stroke and sweep, especially when the wolf strayed near the tip; apparently, the fennec really enjoyed that. By the feel of the surge with every pulse through the vulpine's penis, his own climax was not far off. Reis very much wanted to see the fox's fluids burst forth from his maleness, and all over the wolf's chest.

While he was being touched in his most sensual areas by Reis, he could now get a taste of the stimulation he had brought to the wolf. His head swam with the titillation of the pawjob, and he loved the swell and ebb of sexual waves through his entire body. Every stroke that went over his head and down his shaft was another ripple of gratification that reached into every bit of his being. So badly he wanted to cum, but at the same time, wanted to hang onto this feeing forever.

As Reis continued to pleasure the fox, he saw the fennec's knot starting to emerge into view. Marcus' was smaller than Reis', but like any canid knot still large enough. Changing his grip a bit, Reis now included the fennec's knot in each stroke, going all the way to the base of it and back to the tip. Gasping out, Marcus looked down to watch the wolf rub his knot and member, enthralled by the sight and the feeling. His cock stirred from bottom to top, and more of his clear pre dripped from his slit.

"I'd like to see you cum," whispered Reis, blushing despite himself.

A bit of red flushing under his eyes as well, Marcus murmured, "Soon...soon..." Judging by the tumescence of his cock, it really wouldn't be long. His testes were numbed, and a shot of sheer ecstasy shot up through his shaft, ending with a small eruption of white fluids. The second twinge of his cock brought on his full orgasm, pumping his semen from his maleness with an audible gasp from the fox. Marcus arched his back, getting his cock as straight as he could while he was cumming all over Reis' chest. While the fennec's semen pumped from his body and fell to his fur, Reis just smiled and kept stroking the fox gently. He enjoyed feeling the pulses that brought on the thick fluids from deep inside the vulpine.

When his orgasm subsided, Marcus was left panting, his chest rising and falling quickly in the wake of the ecstasy brought on by his climax. Looking down at Reis, he could still see the ropes of semen on the wolf's chest fur. Reis smiled up at him, and Marcus managed a weak smile return.

"That was...fantastic," breathed Marcus. Slowly, he slid from his position on his knees and lie next to Reis, putting his arm over the wolf's chest. "Thanks," he whispered, kissing the lupine on the cheek.

"For what?" asked Reis. "Just for sex?"

"No," answered Marcus. "For...I don't know, being here with me. For making sure I finished as well, not just yourself. I've never been with a male who was so giving during sex."

"Oh," was all Reis replied with.

Puzzled, Marcus asked, "Everything okay?"

Nodding, Reis said, "Everything's cool." For some reason, now he felt weird. When he was with Scott, it was with the understanding there wasn't a potential relationship here, just two males wanting to explore something new. Reis could see the look in Marcus' eyes, and it said that he was looking for more with Reis. Now that they were done with their physical lust, Reis honestly didn't know what else to do.

"Um...my mom could be home soon," muttered Reis, feeling like an ass.

"Oh...," said Marcus. He withdrew his arm from around Reis, feeling awkward. "Should I...go?"

Shrugging, the wolf just answered, "If you want."

Without another word, Marcus got off the bed. He grabbed his pants and shirt, pulling them back on. Reis grabbed a robe from over his chair and cinched it around his waist. Opening the door, Marcus slipped into the hallway, with Reis right behind him closing the door. The two of walked towards the front door, neither of them still saying anything. Reis wanted to tell the fennec to come back to bed with him, stay, and they explore every part of each other; but his nagging doubts and fears seized his mind, and none of the words came out, just more silence.

Reaching the front door, Reis waited for Marcus to get his jacket and scarf. When he was all re-dressed, Marcus stopped in front of Reis and kissed the wolf gently on the muzzle. With a smile, he just said, "I'll call later." With that, he opened the door and went out into the cold night. Absently, Reis put his paw over the spot that Marcus' muzzle that touched his, and another blush crept in around his eyes.

Suddenly, looking around the house, he wished he had not sent Marcus off in such a hurry. Now he was by himself, and where before he would have welcomed the silence, now he really desired to have another person in the house with him. The difference between being alone and lonely re-entered his mind; and right now, he was very definitely lonely. The change in himself lately was so subtle, he had hardly noticed it at all. Some of his defenses had come down since he first had begun to hang out with Marcus, even if it was forced.

With a sigh, the wolf trudged back to his room. Taking off his robe, he lie down, nude, on the bed. He glanced over the clock, and noted it was only just before ten; at the moment, he didn't care. Pulling the covers up over his shoulders, he was more than willing to resign himself to sleep.

***

Snow started to fall delicately to the ground while Marcus was walking home. The flakes were caught in the streetlights, and gave them a gentle golden tone. It wasn't bitingly cold, and there was no wind, so for a change the fennec found walking in the snow rather pleasant. It wasn't that he disliked winter in general, just the harsh cold that could accompany it.

His breath came in thin wisps, but in heavier clouds when he would sigh. Deep down, Marcus had been hoping to spend the night with the wolf. After their sexing, the fennec would have been perfectly content to curl up next to the lupine and spend the winter night with him. If Reis' mom was coming home shortly, he didn't want to explain why they were both in Reis' room unclothed.

Reaching his house, he walked up to the front door. Unlocking it, he stepped inside quickly, letting a handful of flakes in with him. Most of the lights were off, meaning his parents had already gone to bed. At the moment, it was just as well as far as he was concerned. Before he did anything else, he wanted to take a shower.

Putting his things away in the closet, he walked through the living room and back towards his room. There was a separate bath downstairs, and for all intents, it was his own private one. The fox made a quick stop by his room to grab clothing and then went into the bathroom. Closing the door behind himself, he stripped, tossing his clothes to the floor. For a moment, he admired his trim form in the mirror, running his paw over his hips and belly, and finally up to his chest. Always he had liked his lithe frame and slight appearance. He had gotten used to the 'girly-boy' remarks a long time ago. Cross-dressing was never his thing, he just felt this was what most other gay males, especially the dominating type, were looking for. To him, it was about looking his best and attractive.

Looking down, he could still see a few faint glistening drops of semen around his sheath. Rubbing it softly, he brought his paw to his nose and collected the faint scent of himself mixed with Reis. It was a good smell, reminding him of the events that evening; ones he hoped to repeat. He dared not to hope that the wolf was just as into him, and the fennec was to the lupine; perhaps, all in good time. For now, he started the shower, turning on the water. After a moment's hesitation he switched to the faucet and began to the fill the tub, adding a touch of bubble bath liquid to the rising water.

CHAPTER FIVE

___________________

"Reis!" called Sara. "Phone!"

Sighing, the wolf called from his room, "Later!" He could hear his mother tell the caller that Reis would call them back later. Reis knew who the caller was; the same one it had been every day for the last week, since the two of them had shared the night together. Propped up on a pillow behind his back, reading his latest book, the wolf felt like he could just hide here in his room forever. Someday, he knew he would be back to school. For now, that felt like an eternity, and that was how he wanted it.

Returning to his book, he was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. "Yeah?" asked Reis.

The door opened slightly and his sister, Sierra, poked her head inside. "Hi, little brother."

He smiled slightly. "Come on in, sis." She and his mother had been back for a few days.

Swinging the door open the rest of the way, she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Sierra had always been in shape, and going off to college had not changed that. She had gone on a track scholarship, and it showed; in her convex belly and strong legs. Shapely and strong while still looking feminine, Reis knew she had a fair bit of male courters after her at college. Unknown to them, however, Sierra was less interested in a relationship than Reis had been.

"So," she started, sitting on the edge of the bed, "who's this mystery caller you seem so determined to avoid?"

Looking back down at his book, he just mumbled, "No one."

"Quite a lot of effort to avoid no one," she pressed. "Last time I had someone call like this all the time it was..." She paused for a moment, giving her brother a sideways look. "...a guy."

Closing his book with a sigh, Reis answered, "All right, since I see you're not going away without a proper answer, it is a guy. Happy?"

"My, oh my, my brother finally took his nose out of his own life and took an interest in someone else," said Sierra with a bemused smile. "Now you can take his heart and crush it."

"It's not like that," stated Reis matter-of-factly.

Leaning back on the bed, she asked, "Are you going to see him again?"

Shrugging, the male wolf just said, "I dunno. Gonna have to see him at school, I suppose. I just...don't want to deal with it right now."

Leaning in almost conspiratorially, she asked, "So did you do it?"

With a note of disgust, he just said, "Sierra..."

Giggling, his sister slapped the top of his thigh. "Oh, come on, little brother. Nothing to be ashamed of. Not like you're talking about this with mom."

"God forbid...," he muttered.

"So you guys fooled around a little, and now you don't want to talk to him," she summarized for him. "Can't say I haven't been there myself before."

"Okay, I definitely don't want to hear about this."?

"But," she went on, "I don't think your reasons are as simple as just needing a good roll in the hay, so to speak. Why aren't you talking to thus guy? You can just talk without doing anything else."

"Because...I'm scared," answered Reis, honestly. Crossing his arms against his chest, he went on, "I don't know if I can have a relationship. The mere idea makes me feel weird; being committed with someone like that. I've never even come close to it before."

"That's what happens when you're busy shutting the world out over one little upset," said Sierra, gently.

Reis frowned, wishing he'd hadn't been so candid with her last year about the whole Scott thing. Getting up, he paced restlessly around the room. "This guy was so...nice, I guess. I know I'm not his first." He could see hidden laughter behind his sister's eyes at that statement. "Just...don't. Anyway, I know he likes me, and I sort of like him..."

Rolling her eyes, Sierra asked, "So, what's the problem? You always make everything so complicated."

Shrugging, Reis answered, "I don't know if I'm ready to trust again, yet. Last time I did that...well, you know."

"Going to have to try again someday," remarked Sierra.

"You're one to talk; you don't even want to date," said Reis, sourly.

Standing herself now, she started, "I'm gifted with the grace of common sense; and not being above a quick fling." Reis snorted again at the blunt information. "Come on, I'll buy us lunch; you pick the spot."

Feigning resistance to the idea, Reis followed Sierra out of the bedroom with a heavy sigh. Deep down, he knew his sister was right; eventually, he was going to have to trust again, even if it meant the possibility of getting hurt. Maybe, especially if it meant potentially getting hurt.

***

Marcus hung the phone up again. For nearly a week now, he had been trying to get ahold of Reis. Every time, there was either no answer or Reis' mom picked up and said her son wasn't available. The fennec tried to convince himself that Reis really was just this busy, and not give way to the creeping sense inside that he was being avoided. He didn't know what Reis would be avoiding him over. They'd had a fantastic night together, and while it may have been a bit quick, Marcus didn't think he'd been improper over anything. For him, sex was the icebreaker; always had been for him. He'd never had a relationship of his own, never had a male that had been remotely worried about his gratification as well as their own. As closed off as Reis was, Marcus knew there was a kind heart under all of it, and that was what he was most attracted to.

Picking up the phone again, he dialed Tals' number. After a couple of rings, he heard a familiar voice ask, "Hello?"

"Hi, tiger," said Marcus, using his casual nickname. "What's up?"

"Nothing," answered Tal. "Haven't heard from you in a bit; since winter break started."

Shrugging, despite being on the phone, Marcus just explained, "Sorry. Been busy lately." Truthfully, most of his time had been spent around the house waiting by the phone. He didn't want to make Tal feel like Reis was already monopolizing his time without even being around.

"So what did you want?" asked the tiger.

"Oh, um...nothing. Just to say hi," answered Marcus, awkwardly. He rubbed the back of his neck, now feeling like an ass. Ever since the whole thing where Tal had said he wanted to date Marcus, the fennec had felt like any conversations the two of them would have in the future would just be uncomfortable, and to his dismay he was right. What he had really wanted to do was talk about Reis, and what Marcus should do. The tone of Tal's voice and the way they were halting with one another told him not to broach the subject.

Sighing, Tal said, "Did you want to do something?"

"I...guess?" replied Marcus.

"Okay. If you want to come over, that would be cool," the tiger went on flatly.

"Um...right," agreed the fox. "I'll be over in a bit, then."

"Bye," was all Tal said, and then dead air.

Hanging up himself, Marcus didn't know what to do anymore. Everything was just messed up now; his best friend was mad at him because they weren't dating, and the male he wanted to come after him wouldn't take his calls. More and more, everything just seemed wrong.

Marcus knew he should be getting going to Tal's place, but couldn't bring himself to go anywhere. Sitting down, he just put his head back against the chair and listened to the silence around him.

***

Christmas Eve was passing quietly. Reis was lounging in his room, Sierra was curled up in the living room with a book, while their mother made dinner. Snow fell silently outside, and Sierra pulled her sweater a little closer just at the sight of the flakes.

A knock at the door made Sierra look up from her book. Setting down the novel, she walked over to the door and opened it, seeing a fennec fox on the doorstep. "Um...hi," she said. "Can I help you?"

"Uh...," started the fox, "maybe. I'm looking for Reis?"

"Oh," she started, stepping aside and gesturing for him to come in. "I'll go get him," she said, closing the door after the fox. "Reis!" she yelled, walking a little closer to his room. "Someone here to see you!"

After a moment, the bedroom door opened and the male wolf stepped outside. "Who is i--?" he started, but cut himself off when he saw the fennec standing there. "Oh...hi, Marcus."

"Hi, Reis," murmured the fox. "I just thought I'd drop by to say hi; you hadn't returned my calls..."

"Ohhhhh," said Sierra, in a sing-song voice, "so you're the mysterious caller."

"Sierra...," started Reis.

Waving a hand dismissively, she went on, "Reis told me all about you."

Looking quizzical, Marcus just asked, "He did?"

"Well," she started, looking at her brother, "all the fun stuff."

Marcus blushed and looked down at the floor. "Oh." Bringing his gaze back up, he went on, "I didn't even know Reis had a sister..."

"I bet you didn't know he used to have braces and corrective lenses either," she stated matter-of-factly.

Marcus giggled a little, and Reis just sighed. "Yes, well, why don't we talk in my room?" suggested Reis, quickly, giving his sister a murderous look. Sierra merely looked away and feigned innocence. Marcus followed the wolf, giving one last smile to Reis' sister, who seemed very personable.

Leading Marcus into the bedroom, Reis closed the door, first making sure his sister actually went to sit down again. Turning back to Marcus, he said, "So, what brings you over here tonight?"

Shrugging, the fox just answered, "I wanted to hear you talk again, I guess. You've been avoiding me."

"Not avoiding...," muttered Reis.

"Yes, you have," said Marcus, firmly. "I know you have. I just...wanted to see you again. After we spent the night together, I thought we'd be doing things together."

"You mean going out," interjected Reis.

Rubbing at his arm, Marcus said, "I dunno...maybe. Would that be so bad?"

Looking away, Reis just quietly said, "I'm...not sure I'm ready for that. It's not you...it's me. I'm not that trusting...of anyone...yet."

"We'll take it slow," assured Marcus, coming to the wolf and putting his arms around Reis' shoulders and neck. "I really like you Reis; and I know you like me, too."

"I do," murmured Reis, looking down into the fox's eyes.

Marcus leaned up to kiss the wolf, loving the feel of touching their muzzles again. Putting a paw on the back of Reis' head, he held the wolf there as long as he could. To the fennec, he could see himself here forever, and finally being happy with a male to call his own.

As they pulled away, Marcus looked up at the wolf hopefully. He saw the sadness in Reis' eyes as the lupine began, "Marcus, I'm sorry...but I'm not what you're looking for...what you deserve."

"I think you are," whispered the fox, leaning his head against the wolf's chest. "Please..."

Letting go of the fox, Reis just mutely stepped away, not meeting the fennec's gaze any longer.

Sniffling a bit, Marcus muttered, "I think I need to get home..."

"Marcus...," started Reis.

"It's okay," said Marcus, as best he could without sobbing. He wiped his eyes and placed a paw on the doorknob. "It's..." With that last word, he tore the door opened and left as quickly as he could. Grabbing his coat from the front lobby, he didn't even bother to put it on as he left. Slowly, Reis came out of his room, seeing his sister looking up from her book and his mother standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Isn't Marcus staying for dinner?" asked Sara.

Silently, Reis shook his head. Looking at his sister, she raised an eyebrow, tacitly asking, 'Want to talk?' He shook his head, and went back into his room. He managed to screw what could have potentially at least been a good friendship with the first fur in a long time he was willing to take a chance on. Now, Marcus probably would never talk to him again. Sighing, he went to the window and looked out into the night, at the footprints left by Marcus as he had left.

***

The front door slammed open suddenly, Marcus closing it behind him. His parents looked up from the dining room, seeing their looking very distraught there. The fox tried to fight back his tears but couldn't anymore, letting them flow freely. He didn't know why he thought Reis was going to change; he knew the wolf had been ignoring him, but had hoped in the end it would work out. That was the way it went in the movies, not in reality.

"Marcus...honey, is everything okay?" asked his mother.

Trying to wipe the tears away quickly, he answered, "Yeah, mom, everything's fine." Taking off his jacket, the fox just let it drop to the floor and turned towards his room, more just so his folks couldn't see his face anymore.

"Dinner's ready," said his mother, softly.

Choking down another sob, he answered, "I'm not hungry. I'll just...be in my room." With that, he walked off before either of his parents could say anything else. The fox couldn't get to his room fast enough, slamming the door behind him and locking it. Once inside, everything just came out; all his pain and rejection, spilling on his pillow as he lay across the bed. He had given himself to plenty of guys before, but never been so attached to one. Now, it was more painful than ever to know he'd never see the wolf again, and that Reis probably didn't even care.

CHAPTER SIX

___________________

School had started uneventfully again. Sierra had gone back to college, and life went on as normal, with shuffling off to class and back home again. Reis had started in-door practice to get ready for the lacrosse season, and was getting back in shape again for it. It had been nearly three days before he'd seen Marcus in the halls. When Reis had been heading to his History class, he saw the fennec going the other direction. He knew the fox saw him as well, but made no effort to acknowledge the wolf, even when Reis gave a half-hearted wave. All through History, he'd felt horrible. He knew the fennec was probably going to be mad at him for awhile, maybe forever, but having it happen was even worse.

After a week of seeing Marcus on and off, and never getting a response, he'd just given up. Clearly the fennec wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Even as he walked down to his locker at the end of the day with Jeremy, he couldn't put it all from his head.

"Would you stop thinking about him?" chided Jeremy.

"Huh?" asked Reis, coming from his private lashing of himself.

Laughing good-naturedly, Jeremy said, "You're still thinking about that fennec, aren't you?"

"Yeah," answered the wolf, honestly. Arriving at his locker, he spun the combination in and opened it, putting his books away. "Every time I see him, he looks at me like I betrayed him. I was just honest with him."

"But you still feel bad," continued the roo.

Nodding, Reis added, "I've never been after a relationship before. He just...surprised me, I guess."

Smiling, Jeremy teased the wolf, "The great, mighty Reis, shaken by a little fox."

Half-grinning in return, Reis slammed his locker shut, resetting the locker. "Yeah, I guess."

"C'mon, let's get a move on," said Jeremy. "My mom said if you want to come over for dinner, you could."

"Sure, that sounds like--" Reis started, but was cut off when, from down the hall, he heard someone yell out his name.

***

Marcus was packing things up at his own locker, shoving things in wherever they would fit. He'd always had a messy locker, and these days just didn't care to clean it out. Since coming back to school, he'd just felt out of sorts. On Monday, he had tried to convince his mother that he was sick, but she wouldn't let him stay home. She had told him he could skip the day if he told her what was really wrong, but he'd decided it wasn't worth it and went.

Every time he saw Reis, his heart jumped a little; but he was also still hurt by the way the wolf had just turned him down. Even when he saw Reis waving to him, Marcus made himself keep going like he didn't see. Eventually, he told himself, he'd move on and find someone else again; not that he always believed it himself.

Packing up his backpack and grabbing his jacket, he closed his locker, getting ready to go home and spend another night by himself again. When he turned, he was met with the three familiar figures of the males from the football team.

"Hey, queer," sneered the leopard. Wasting no time with small talk this time, the big cat landed a punch square on Marcus' eye. Reeling from the hit, the fox stumbled backward, clutching at his face. It already felt swollen and tender, and a bit of blood came back when he looked at his paw. The lion and doberman advanced on him, parting around the leopard like a river around a rock.

"You made us get a week of suspension," growled the lion. "Time to finish what we started."

Whimpering, Marcus turned and ran, dropping all his stuff. Immediately, he heard the footfalls of the larger males on his tail. Where were all the teachers? Marcus thought desperately to himself. He couldn't believe no one was coming to his aid as he weaved in between other students and ran past classrooms.

Coming to the corner, he turned it sharply, going all out. The other males were yelling jives and threats at him. Unfortunately, he knew they would probably catch him eventually in these halls. Still hoping vainly for a teacher to show up, he kept going for as long as he could.

When he decided to head for the staircase down to the second floor, he saw Reis at the end of the hall at his locker with a kangaroo. Would the wolf help him? He'd been ignoring the lupine all week, he felt like an ass now to ask for help; but he was desperate.

"Reis!" he called out, waving a paw in the wolf's direction. He saw the lupine look up at him, running full tilt down the hall with the burly football players right behind him. The wolf was so close, but at the same time far away, since he could swear he could almost feel the males behind him breathing on his neck.

Watching as the fennec ran towards him, Reis was nearly bowled over when the fox ran into him. Reis looked surprised, as the fox threw his arms around the lupine and burrowed his head into the wolf's chest. "Please...," whimpered the fox, looking over his shoulders. His pursuers stood nearby, calling him every obscene name in the book.

"This your boyfriend, again, faggot?" called the leopard, laughing evilly.

"Why don't you just walk away?" the doberman suggested to Reis. "Make it easy on everyone here?"

Reis looked down at the fox cowering against him, while Marcus peered back with a plaintive, pleading gaze. Gently, Reis eased Marcus off himself, and for one brief moment, the fox looked horrified that the wolf really was that heartless. When Reis stepped between the fox and the other males, Marcus was relieved beyond words.

"Reis, man, what're you doing?" asked Jeremy.

Reis frowned and growled at the three males before him. He'd had enough; of the gay-bashing, the over-the-top machismo, the constant tormenting of other males who just happened to have a different sexual preference.

"If you want him," started Reis, "you've got to deal with me."

"Pfft, you again? What're you going to do?" asked the leopard, stepping forward.

Balling up is fists, Reis snarled, "Whatever I have to."

The leopard made like he was going to take on Reis, but at the last moment took a step backward. "This little fag's not worth the time. We'll get the other one later." With that, the three of them turned to go, the leopard taking a glance back towards them now and then.

Turning back to Marcus, who was leaning against the locker and gently probing the swelling above his eyes, Reis asked, "You okay?"

"Yeah...," answered Marcus, feeling pathetic. He had to come to the one guy who he'd been avoiding all week. "Thank you...," he mumbled.

"It's okay," replied Reis. Gingerly, he looked at Marcus' eyebrow. "Looks like your eye itself is okay, just a lot of swelling around it." Pausing for a moment, Reis asked, "Do you need help getting home?"

"No," said Marcus, more harshly than he meant to. "I'm fine."

Sighing, Reis said, "Look, let me help you get home. You're not going to be able to see right. Let me help you."

"You didn't want anything to do with me before, why bother now?" retorted Marcus.

Reis couldn't answer right away. "I...I just want to help you, okay?" To Jeremy, he said, "Listen, I'll catch up with you later, okay?" Nodding, the kangaroo wandered off, leaving the two canids together. "Now, please, let me help?"

Nodding, Marcus said, "I borrowed my folks' car. They're not home tonight."

"So you were going to go home to an empty house?" asked Reis.

Shrugging, Marcus replied, "Not like you really care."

Trying to ignore the barb, Reis just queried, "Where are the keys?"

Reaching into his pocket, Marcus fished them out with a slight jingle. Handing them to Reis, he still enjoyed the brief touch where their paws met. "Can you take my paw? It's kinda hard to see," he requested to Reis. Agreeably, the wolf held paws with the fennec.

"Which way is your car?" asked Reis.

Pointing back the way he came, Marcus answered, "Out the back door by the parking lot."

"Okay," said Reis. Slowly, he lead the fox down the hall towards the other end of the school. Marcus was glad Reis had been here to help, but now he was also glad to have an excuse to hold the lupine's paw.

The two of them walked in silence, not looking at or talking to the other. Marcus was mostly content just to be holding the wolf's paw as they picked their way through the school. Really, he wasn't feeling off-balance or anything, he'd just wanted a reason to have Reis take his paw. Aside from that contact between them, the lupine was showing no other interest.

Walking past the fox's locker, Marcus bent down to grab his jacket and backpack. The two of them went down the staircase in the back and stepped out into the wintry afternoon. Dark clouds threw a pallor over the day, blotting out the sun and bringing with it the threat of snow. A bit of wind was starting to pick up and blow the already-fallen snow across the parking lot in gentle blankets of white.

"Over here," said Marcus, leading on ahead, grudgingly breaking the contact between them. Following close behind, Reis came to the fox's mother's BMW. Opening the doors with the electronic pad on the keys, the two of them got in and closing the doors against the growing winter onset. Reis started the car, flipped on the heater and windshield wipers, and slowly pulled out of the spot. By now, most of the students had left already, so pulling out of the lot wasn't horribly hard.

As the car got onto the main road, the first bit of the storm started. Bit by bit, the clouds gave up their flakes and sent the snow falling earthbound. It didn't take long for the storm to begin in earnest, with the wind growing stronger and blowing the snow harshly across the road. Reis slowed the car down considerably, not wanting to chance an accident with a car this posh that wasn't even his.

While looking out the side window over at the field on his right, he saw Marcus looking straight forward and looking miserable. Sighing, Reis asked gently, "How's your eye?"

Hesitating for a moment, the fox said, "Fine, I guess." The vulpine prodded it gently, and winced. "Kinda hurts a lot."

Nodding, Reis looked forward again. Nearly missing the turn for Marcus' street, Reis braked hard, drifted a bit on the swiftly-falling snow, and pulled onto the side street. Straightening the car, he drove onward to Marcus' street. "Sorry," he said.

"It's okay," whispered Marcus, looking out the window. The streetlights were already coming on, catching the falling snow in their beams; it reminded Marcus of the night he walked home after being with Reis for the first time.

As they reached the fox's house, the wind was now blowing the snow around in dense white streaks. Marcus could barely see across the street anymore, just seeing a solid sheet of white in front of him.

"Come on," urged Reis. He opened his door and the fox swiftly followed. Immediately, they were buffeted by the strong gales. Reis held his arm over his face against the gusts, with Marcus trudging to the door. The whiteness was already piling up quickly. Reis just wanted to get indoors; all he had was his varsity jacket, and at the moment it seemed woefully inadequate. Marcus was also squinting against the wind, fighting against the bluster. Walking next to the fennec, the wolf put his arms around the fennec's shoulders and helped him towards the door. Reaching the entrance, Reis handed Marcus his keys back and waited for the fox to open the door. The two of them ushered themselves in quickly, closing the door against the howling wind.

"That came out of nowhere," muttered the wolf, shaking the snow off of himself.

Taking his jacket off, the fox shook the coldness out of his headfur. "Thanks for driving."

"It's all right," said Reis, quietly. He took his own jacket off, draping it over a nearby chair. "Why don't we go into the kitchen, get some ice on that eye?"

Nodding, Marcus lead the way into the kitchen. Reis motioned to one of the chairs for Marcus to sit down, and the fox did as suggested. "Where do you keep small plastic bags?" asked Reis, rummaging around the drawers.

"Two drawers on your left," answered the fox.

Seizing his prize, the wolf went to the freezer and grabbed a fistful of ice. Dumping it into the bag, he wrapped it in a dishtowel. Reis leaned down next to Marcus, gingerly pressing the makeshift icepack against the fox's eye. Wincing a bit again, Marcus held it in place himself once it was in position.

"Leave that on for a bit, then we'll see if it needs bandaging or not," instructed Reis, sitting down next to the fox. They lapsed into silence again, with just the tick and tock of a nearby clock cutting through the air between them.

"When are your folks going to be home?" asked Reis, just for casual smalltalk.

"They were going to visit friiends a couple hours away," answered Marcus. Looking out the window, he added, "But now they'll probably just stay the night; at least I hope they do, instead of trying to drive in this."

Nodding, Reis sighed and leaned back in the chair. He felt unsettled and awkward to be sitting here talking with a male he had physical relations with. In the fox's eyes, he could also see the wandering and questioning; if there could be another chance for them. Looking away from the fox, he didn't want to have to re-open those thoughts.

"Why don't we go to the bathroom? See about taking a closer look at that," suggested Reis. The fox nodded, and they got up and headed for the other end of the house. Passing through the living room, they could see out the glass sliding doors into the backyard, and all that was visible was white. Even the deck that was right outside the glass vanished into nothing.

Continuing towards the hallway, they walked back to the bathroom. Marcus clicked on the light and went to sit on the edge of the tub. "All the medical stuff is under the sink," said Marcus, pointing.

Bending down on one knee, Reis opened the double doors and rooted around until he found a roll of gauze and disinfectant. Settling in on both his knees, he removed the ice pack from Marcus' eye; already the swelling was going down considerably.

"All right, this might sting a little," murmured Reis, dumping the alcohol onto the gauze and tenderly dabbing it against the fox's brow. Marcus hissed a bit at the touch and Reis gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry," whispered the wolf, finishing up. "I didn't mean to--"

The fox cut him off with a kiss when Reis leaned back in. At first, the wolf was surprised but didn't do anything to stop it. Stopped in mid-lean, they were locked to each other; and Reis found he liked it again. Putting a paw around the back of Marcus' head, the fox reciprocated by putting his arms around the lupine's neck. Marcus' tongue quested forward, pushing into the wolf's muzzle with lust like he'd never felt before. This had been what he'd missed when he was giving Reis a blowjob; real intimacy like this. Sharing their sexuality together was one thing, but there was a deeper connection than that; and as much as Marcus tried to deny it, he felt it with this wolf.

When their embrace parted, Reis whispered, "I should go."

"Stay," murmured Marcus, with his arms still thrown around the wolf's neck. "Please."

"I can't," said Reis. "You know I can't. We can't...do this again."

"I know you don't want a relationship, because it might hurt again," started Marcus, "but I'll be patient; it's okay." He traced one paw down over the wolf's chest and stomach. "I'll be here for you."

Taking the fox's paw in his own, Reis just sighed. He did like the touch, the feel, of the fox. To have another's body against his own, and not just in blind sex, but something more meaningful. The more he tried to push it away, the more he felt like this was what he'd been waiting for a very long time.

"So...stay?" asked Marcus, hopefully.

Sighing again, Reis just answered, "Sort of a dumb idea to try to get home in this weather, anyway."

With a smile, Marcus said, "Thank you." Squeezing the wolf's paw around his own, the fox went on, "Want to go into my room?"

His heart skipping a beat, Reis asked, "For what?"

Shrugging, the vulpine simply answered, "Just lay down."

Standing, Reis said, "Okay." Following suit, Marcus got up with his paw still in Reis' and lead the wolf out of the bathroom and next door, in to his own room. Closing the door behind them, Marcus went and lie down on the bed. Gently, he patted the mattress next to him, beckoning on the wolf. Still almost warily, Reis came and lay down next to the fox. It was an odd, yet still comforting, feeling to have someone next to him. Almost as soon as he was on the bed, the fox put his arm over the wolf's chest and hooked a leg on the lupine's hips.

"Comfortable?" asked Reis, with a slight smile.

"I am now," answered Marcus, nuzzling against the wolf. With Reis next to him, the events of the day were all but forgotten; even the throbbing of his eye had stopped. "Why don't you want to date?" asked Marcus, suddenly.

The question left Reis off-guard for a moment. "I...uh...it's complicated," stammered the wolf.

"I know you're afraid of getting hurt again," murmured Marcus. "But I can be patient. I'll be there for you."

"It's not just that," said Reis, quietly. "It's...I don't know if I'm ready to be quite that open with my sexuality. A relationship is a big step, and other furs might..."

"...Judge you?" finished the fox. Reis just nodded silently. "I know what it's like to be judged, and picked on, for who I like, and want to spend time with. Other furs can be cruel." While he spoke, he took the lupine's paw in his again. "But it would all be worth it to spend that time with you."

Smiling slightly again, the wolf just said, "I do like you, too, Marcus. As much as I didn't want to admit it to myself, I do. Not because I didn't want to be with you, but because the idea of a relationship...it scares me, sometimes."

"That's okay," assured Marcus, gently. "I've never had one either. But I like you...a lot. I at least want the chance to try."

"I can always try," said Reis, kissing the fennec again. Oddly, he felt more centered, and at peace now; like this was what he did always need. With the fennec curled up against him, it was agreeable to have a warm body against him while the storm raged outside.

"I'm a virgin," blurted out the fox.

Reis gave the fox a quizzical look while a blush crept in under the fennec's eyes. "Well, I am...I just didn't want you to think I'd been a slut a lot. I've been with a few guys, but always just blowjobs and pawing. I've never been...taken."

"Oh," Reis simply said. "I've just been with...one."

"You could make it two," urged the fox, sitting up a little to look into the wolf's eyes. "You know, if you want."

Reis appraised the fox for a moment, arching an eyebrow. "What happened to slow?"

Shrugging, the fennec just said, "I just want to be with you, in every way I can. Giving this part of myself over to you is what I want, more than anything. I've always wanted a male that cared about me enough to let take my virginity."

"But we've barely even started...dating?" countered the wolf.

Nuzzling against the lupine, Marcus whispered, "Please? I want to feel you again, inside me this time." He reached down, over the wolf's stomach and to his crotch, rubbing at the lupine's most private places through the fabric of his pants. Reis was, indeed, attracted to and turned on by the fennec. He would be lying to himself if he said he hadn't thought of Marcus this way before; even since they'd been laying next to one another. He didn't want to taint what could be possible between them by jumping ahead too fast. At the same time, he did want to share this with the fennec; to be with someone that wasn't interested purely in the physical, but the emotional connection that sex offered.

Sensing the wolf's willingness, the fennec kissing Reis on the muzzle again. "I'll make it good; I promise."

"I...," protested Reis, weakly. Marcus just kissed the wolf on the cheek and started to lift the lupine's shirt off. The wolf help wriggle out of his shirt, getting it over his chest and head. The fox tossed it off the bed, onto the floor. Grinning, Marcus took his own shirt off, the clothing following suit with Reis'.

Feeling emboldened now, and slightly aroused by the sight of the semi-nude fox, Reis rolled over on top of the fox, straddling the fennec and bracing himself up with his paws on either side of the fox's head. He leaned his muzzle down and met the fox's, closing his eyes and enjoying the contact again. Marcus' whole body felt flushed, like an all-over blush, from the wolf kissing him, and also from the anticipation of what could be happening next.

Separating from the fennec's muzzle, Reis gave his new lover's nose a quick lick. Marcus giggled and smiled up at the wolf. "You seem a bit more relaxed now," commented the fox.

Reis shrugged. "I guess...it's because of who I'm with."

Blushing a little, the fennec rubbed at the wolf's chest and shoulders, loving the feel of chords of muscle beneath the fur. Giving Marcus an alluring look, Reis quietly said, "My turn." He slipped lower, kissing the fox's chest and stomach as he sank downwards. The fennec looked up at the ceiling, closing his eyes and just enjoying the tactile sensation of the wolf brushing his muzzle over Marcus' body. When the lupine reached the fox's waist, Reis reached at Marcus' belt, deftly undoing it. His eyes springing open, Marcus felt another shiver of anticipation roam over his body.

"You okay?" asked Reis, momentarily distracted.

"It's all right, hun," whispered Marcus, running a paw through the wolf's headfur. "Go ahead."

Returning to his focus, Reis quickly unsnapped the button and pulled the zipper down. With the gentle rustle of fabric, the wolf began to tug Marcus' pants down from his waist, over his curved thighs and down to the fox's ankles. With a flick of his footpaws, the fox tossed his pants aside. Reis was left with the sight of Marcus in just his underwear, which was tight, thong-style, and pink. The fox blushed when his obvious bulge was outlined against his skintight clothing, tenting slightly away from his body. Reis smiled a bit at the fox's obvious embarrassment and gently fondled the spot where Marcus' testes evidently sat. At the touch, Marcus curled the blanket in his paws and his toes flexed a bit.

"All right," started Marcus, gently, and begrudgingly, pulling the wolf's paw from his bulge. Pulling his legs out from under the lupine, the fox sat on his knees in front of his partner and returned the favor of removing Reis' pants. With a jingle of metal and gentle swish of denim, Reis' pants were already half off. Obliging to help, the wolf lay on his back and let the fox pull his pants the rest of the way off, discarding them hastily. Without warning, his boxers closely followed, leaving the wolf completely nude. His pink tip was already protruding from his sheath slit, and despite having the wolf's erect cock in his mouth before, Marcus was still enticed by the sight of it.

"Like what you see...or see what you like?" asked Reis, seductively. Reaching down to his own crotch, the wolf rolled his sheath in his paws, slowly arousing himself.

"I see plenty of both," answered Marcus, gently moving the wolf's paw aside and rubbing Reis' sheath himself. The wolf murred deep in his throat and rest his paw atop of Marcus' while the fennec kept massaging the wolf's intimate places. While the fox touched Reis' growing cock, his own penis began to emerge further from its sleeve and strain against his thong.

"Mmf...okay, enough of that," murmured the wolf, sitting back up on his knees. "Turn around," he whispered to the fox. "On all fours."

Smiling playfully, the fox did as instructed. Facing away from the wolf, Marcus got on his hands and knees, his ass facing towards the lupine. Lifting his tail, he showed off his tight ass, and the curve of his balls in his thong. The thin fabric rode up between his cheeks, only barely covering the space between them. "What was that about seeing what you like?" asked the fennec, teasingly.

Chuckling a bit, Reis took the fox's balls in his paw again, rolling them back and forth gently. Marcus trembled at the close touch of the lupine, and in that moment, he knew he would let Reis do anything to him; not only because of their sexual attractions, but he trusted the wolf. He'd had sex flings with other males before, but this was the first time he felt a connection.

"Think it's your turn to show off," said Reis. The fennec nodded in assent, leaving the wolf to his devices. Displaying himself for his lover, he felt Reis hook his paws around the waistband of the skimpy garment and start to take it from the fennec's hips. Even though they'd already shared themselves with one another, the wolf felt a bit of excitement himself; this time, it was different. As Marcus' thong slipped lower, Reis enjoyed the viewed that was given to him. Despite the small areas that were covered, it was still enthralling to see the fennec's tailhole and furred curve of his testes presented for Reis to see. The wolf kept pulling the thong lower, past the fennec's thighs and under his knees, completely exposing the fox. Marcus blushed again while Reis appraised him. Rubbing a paw over Marcus' cheeks, the wolf enjoyed the feel of a tight ass under his touch. The fennec flicked his tail at the lupine while Reis let his paw drift wherever he wanted; down Marcus' ass, through the cleft of his legs, and to the fox's sheath, where Reis could feel the fennec's now-stiff cock.

"Feels like you're ready," whispered Marcus.

The fennec shivered with anticipation and delight at the touch of the wolf. He soundlessly nodded, looking over his shoulder at the lupine. With a glint of lust in his eyes, the wolf's muzzle drifted to the fennec's rear. Marcus was momentarily curious what Reis was going to do, but quickly received an answer when he felt the wolf's tongue dip between his cheeks and touch his tailhole. With a sharp intake of breath, the fennec's tongue lolled out of his mouth when the wolf was rimming him. Marcus had never had the opportunity for a rimjob, either to give or receive. The feeling was definitely different as Reis ran his tongue over Marcus' tailhole. The warmth of Reis' tongue was fantastic against Marcus' rear, and even better when Reis managed to slip it inside of the fox's tailhole a bit.

Marcus moaned quietly as Reis did his work. The wolf put his paws on both of the fennec's cheeks and spread them slightly to give himself better access. Always he had wanted to be able to do this with another fur, and the present seemed like as good a time as any. Pulling back for a moment, Reis resumed his play by starting at the front of Marcus' balls and licked back up to the fox's tailhole. Marcus' tail swished with the stimulation and he whined happily. While being rimmed, Marcus reached down and grasped his shaft in his paw, fondling himself lazily. In concert with the sensations at his tailhole, it was beyond any experience he had given himself before. Every lick and lap of Reis' tongue sent another shock of pleasure up to his cock, and enhanced his pawing.

While the fox jacked himself slowly, Reis was preparing for the next step. His own member was now ragingly hard, already begging for an out. Working his tongue into the fennec once more, he leaned his muzzle back. Noticing the fox was pleasuring himself, Reis smiled a little, and also noticed his increased arousal at the sight of the fox's masturbation.

"Not yet," said Reis, gently, prying the fox's paw from his shaft. Marcus feigned disappointment, but was really only wondering what was coming next. Rubbing the fennec's testes in his paw again, the wolf quietly asked, "Where's your lube?"

Breathily grunting with delight, Marcus motioned to the bedside table, where his other sex items had been. Leaning over and opening the drawer, Reis saw the bottle of ID Glide right near the top. He grabbed it quickly, leaving the drawer open in his haste. Marcus saw the wolf with the bottle of lube, and the expectation was almost too much to bear. The idea of Reis' nine inches inside of him was a wonderful fantasy becoming reality.

Kneeling behind the fox, Reis put his paws on the fox's hips. Leaning forward, his cock pressed between Marcus' thighs, pushing up against the vulpine's sac. "You all right?" asked Reis, softly. "You're trembling."

Nodding again, the fox murmured, "I'm fine...just....excited, I guess," he explained, with a half-smile. The sensation of the wolf's hard cock pressing up against him was wonderful for the moment; that alone made his own sex strain for more touch.

"We don't have to," said Reis, quietly.

"No," started Marcus, with a quick shake of his head. "I want to...really."

"Okay," whispered Reis. "Want to hand me a condom?"

Hesitating for a moment, Marcus just quietly said, "It's all right. I want...just you." Pausing, Marcus continued, "Can I just request something?" asked Marcus.

"Anything," answered Reis, nuzzling into the back the fox's neck.

Giggling a little, Marcus went on, "Can I get on my back? I want to...see you."

With a smile, Reis said, "Of course."

Reis leaned back to give the fennec a bit of room to move, while Marcus rolled over onto his back. The fox's cock stuck up away from his body, and small beads of precum were collecting on his slit and drifting slowly towards his sheath. He blushed again now that he was displaying himself again in front of Reis. The wolf leaned himself back towards Marcus and lay atop him, the fox able to feel the lupine's member against him; a touch he never tired of.

"Are you ready?" asked Reis, looking into the fennec's eyes.

Nodding again, the fox whispered, "Yes."

Without another word, Reis sat up a bit more and took the fox's legs, lifting them up and exposing Marcus' pink tailhole again. The fennec murred at the wolf as he showed his tailhole; this time knowing it would get more than a licking.

Putting his knees on either side of Marcus' hips, Reis brought his crotch a bit closer to the fox's rear. Taking the bottle of lube in his paw, he put a generous amount on Marcus tailhole, with the fennec jumping a bit at the cold fluid. Smiling apologetically, Reis put a liberal bit on his shaft before capping the bottle and tossing it aside on the bed. Angling his hips towards Marcus' rear, his own excitement and expectation was coursing through his body. He'd not had a partner since Scott, and now that he was on the verge of being with someone who wasn't going to turn on him afterward, a fur he could truly connect with, it was a prospect that thrilled him. Even as his tip touched the pucker of the fennec's tailhole, it felt like his first time all over again. With the wolf on the verge of taking him, and his virginity, Marcus just closed his eyes and waited.

Slowly, persistently, Reis pushed his cock against Marcus' opening. There was slight resistance as the wolf pressed his tip in, steadily spreading the fox wider. Once he got past his head, his full girth was slipping inside the fennec. With each inch by inch, the fox was grunting a bit when he was taken for the first time. As Reis first entered him, there was a slight pinch, and a bit of pain. Marcus often liked to use dildos, and other such toys, so he was not completely without practice. To have the real thing inside of him now was incredible, and so much better than any piece of latex could be. Reis was also a bit wider than most of the toys he'd had, so his rear was still adjusting a bit. Gradually, he could feel himself adapting to the circumference of the lupine's shaft.

"Reis...," he breathed out.

Working himself further into Marcus' insides, the wolf looked up at the fox when Marcus whispered out his name. The wolf was only about halfway in, and Marcus already appeared to be in ecstasy. Smiling to himself, Marcus sank a bit deeper, not wanting to hurt Marcus or give the fennec more than he could handle. Marcus was so incredibly tight; his warm walls cloistered around Reis' shaft, and only motivated the wolf to want to get as much of himself within the fox as he could. When he was up to six inches, he leaned back over the fox, with Marcus' ankles resting on the wolf's shoulders and keeping the fox's ass spread wide.

"How are you doing?" asked Reis.

"Wonderful," answered Marcus, opening his eyes to look up at his lover. "Are you all in?"

"Not yet," said Reis, still pushing his hips closer to Marcus' butt.

"You can just go all the way," encouraged the fox.

Not needing to be told twice, Reis steadily thrust the remainder of his maleness inside the fur beneath him. Marcus gasped as he was filled by the wolf's cock, loving the feeling of complete fulness that came with it. Often, he had fantasized what the first time would be like, but this was beyond anything he could have ever imagined. The wolf long erection stroked Marcus' prostate on the way through, making the fox's entire body shudder and his maleness twitch. Bunching up the sheets in his paws, the fox breathed deep and released his breath slowly, concentrating all of his focus on feeling Reis' shaft inside him.

"Now I'm all in," whispered the wolf, kissing the end of the fennec's muzzle.

Smiling slightly, the fox replied, "I can tell." Clenching his opening around the lupine's cock a bit, Marcus liked seeing Reis' eyes light up with pleasure.

With the gentle confinement of Marcus' rear around his cock, Reis could no longer merely let himself sit. Gingerly, he withdrew himself, almost as achingly slowly as the initial penetration. The fox was still so tight that it was as if he didn't want to let the wolf go. Just as he was about to fulling pull out, Reis propelled himself forward and let his member be engulfed by Marcus' insides again. Repeating the action again, Reis started thrusting in earnest, sliding back and forth, in and out. Every thrust and counter-thrust was a fantastic spark, and with every propulsion, he couldn't wait for another.

Murring gently, the fox tried to relax himself, letting the wolf use him. His breath came in ragged gasps, and every push of the lupine inside of him brought him to new heights. Never before had he been sexually aroused like this before; another fur's paws, muzzle, or a toy couldn't begin to compare to this feeling. The fox was so excited his cock was already giving off a couple drops of precum. Almost unconsciously, Marcus reached between his own legs and stroked himself gently.

"Little horny?" asked Reis, breathily, between his thrusts.

"Uh-huh...," breathed Marcus, now completely gripping his shaft and pumping up and down.

With a grin of satisfaction, Reis made sure that every thrust he made was as good as the last. Just as his head was about to slip, the wolf swept himself back in all the way to the base. The wolf's knot wasn't yet visible, but Reis could feel it coming on soon. He wondered idly if the fennec would want, or let him, tie them together.

Beneath the large lupine, Marcus had begun to paw himself in time to his lover's advances. It was like his cock was being stimulated from the inside out; and it in a way, it was. So badly did he want to feel himself cum, and have fill him with his seed, but at the same time never wanted this moment, this feeling, to end.

"Here," said the wolf, softly, moving the fox's paw aside. Reis replaced Marcus' paw with his own, stroking the vulpine with every thrust he made into Marcus' rear. If Marcus touching himself while Reis took him was fantastic, then having Reis paw him at the same time was the best experience of his life. His head swam with the stimulation, and everything below his waist was in the grip of pure elation. For both of them, the electric feeling of sex coursed through their body, from head to toe.

While bringing himself into Marcus repeatedly, Reis felt his sheath begin to loosen and give way to his knot. Slowly, the bulbous base of his penis revealed itself. With each propulsion of his cock, his knot now touched Marcus' tailhole. When he was with Scott, he hadn't been to tie; Scott hadn't been able to handle it. With Marcus, he wanted to knot the fox so badly, not only because of the sexuality of it, but because he wanted to be as close to the vulpine as he could, and be a part of his new lover.

"Are you going to tie me?" asked Marcus.

"If you want me to," answered Reis, starting to thrust a bit faster, and in turn pawing off Marcus more rapidly.

Nodding, Marcus said, "I do." Putting his arms around Reis neck, he whispered again, "I do."

With anticipation of tying with Marcus, Reis slid himself in and out of Marcus, now feeling that the vulpine was loosened since they first began. His tests had begun to tingle, giving the portent of his coming orgasm. The tingle encompassed his balls and swiftly moved to the base of his cock, before graduating up near his head.

"I'm close," murmured Reis, breathing hard.

"So tie me," susurrated Marcus. "Please."

Before he reached his climax, Reis made one final thrust towards Marcus' tailhole. When his knot made contact, the wolf kept the pressure on, beginning to wedge his large knot inside of the fox. Marcus took a deep breath and relaxed his entire body, letting himself go nearly completely limp. Reis had let go of the fox's shaft, and was pushing Marcus' knees up to nearly touching the fox's shoulders. Marcus was surprisingly flexible, just going with the force. Reis was braced up nearly perpendicular to the vulpine now, with Marcus' tailhole spread wide. Slowly, yet inevitably, the wolf's knot began to sink inside the fox. Marcus cried out a bit as he was spread wider than he had ever been before.

"Are you okay?" asked Reis, stopping for a moment.

Nodding, Marcus bit his tongue for a moment to get past the initial pinching before going on, "I'm fine. Really."

Knowing he would cum soon, Reis pushed the rest of his knot into Marcus. The tight tailhole gripping his base and his bulbous knot surrounded by Marcus' heat was unbelievable in the euphoria it brought to the wolf. Barely even needing to do anything else, his cock started to twitch and pulse, letting his semen go. Beneath him, Marcus' member also released his pent up sex, letting it go across his chest. Marcus hadn't even needed to touch his cock, just the sheer feeling of the wolf's knot deep inside of him, and the lupine filling the fox with his orgasm. The pleasure of Marcus' orgasm swept his body, and obliterated any pain he had felt from being tied with Reis.

While the vulpine's penis gave up its seed, Reis released his ropes of semen inside of Marcus. Closing his eyes tight and growling deep in his throat, Reis let the waves of elation from his orgasm wash over his body. His maleness swelled and contracted, seemingly endless in the amount of cum he was liberating from his body.

But his orgasm did subside, ebbing at the same time as Marcus. Bodily fluids painted Marcus' inside and out, and the fox had never been so content. Reis was still inside him, holding the wolf's semen inside of Marcus. Gently moving himself, Reis eased himself back so Marcus could let his legs back down a bit.

"Sorry if I pushed too hard," breathed Reis.

"You didn't, hun," assured Marcus. "That was great." Taking Reis paw in his, he rubbed the back of the wolf's paw with his thumb. "I always wanted my first time to be memorable, and you didn't disappoint."

Smiling a bit, Reis said, "I wish you were my first." Squeezing Reis' paw, Marcus just lay back and relaxed. "So...what now?" asked the wolf.

"What do you mean?" asked Marcus, perplexed.

Shrugging, Reis just went on, "I mean...we're dating, right? What do you...want to do?"

Amused a bit by the wolf's awkwardness, Marcus said, "Well, whatever we want, really."

"Like...dinner?" asked Reis.

"Uh-huh," agreed Marcus. "And I'll come by your games if you want."

Grinning, the wolf murmured, "I'd like that." Leaning in as best he could, he kissed Marcus on the nose. "And more of this."

Happily, Marcus replied in return, "For sure."

While they kissed and talk, the snow continued to fall gently and quietly outside. While they kept each other warm, the world was cold outside, but to them, it didn't matter.

***

Leaning against one of the lockers, with his arms folded across his chest, Reis heard the class bell ring. Students filed out of classrooms, passing by with no regard to him. One of them in particular he had eyes for. The fennec amongst the crowd, who waved to him. With a slight grin, he waved back. The fox mingled his way through the crowd to Reis, who greeted him with a kiss on the muzzle.

"Are you sure that's okay?" asked Marcus, looking around them nervously.

Kissing the fennec again, Reis said, "I'm sure."

Blushing, Marcus asked, "Usual spot?"

"Of course."

The two of them walked down the hall, going to the last door on the left. Reis opened it and let the fennec past him, following right behind. They climbed the stairs to the top, opening the door and stepping onto the roof. It was a sunny day, and enough snow had melted that they could open the door. Reis was hoping for the spring thaw soon, so the two of them could do this more often. Bracing a chock between the door and the frame, Reis took his boyfriend's paw and they walked to the edge of the roof, looking down over the field and local area.

"Our spot," said Marcus, with a smile.

"Our spot," echoed Reis. Encircling his arms around the fox from behind, he squeezed Marcus gently and kissed the vulpine on the neck. It had been a few weeks since they had spent the evening together, and every minute Reis got to spend with his new boyfriend was amazing. At this point, he didn't care what anyone else thought of them. No one had bothered Marcus anymore, and Reis generally never had a problem, never mind what anyone might say behind his back; but none of that mattered.

Putting his paws on top of Reis', Marcus asked, "Did you want to do anything after school?"

Shrugging, the wolf answered, "Hadn't thought that far ahead." He kissed the fox's neck again. "Just enjoying the moment."

Swishing his tail a bit, Marcus murmured, "Okay." Marcus was in no hurry. The two of them had plenty of time.

FIN