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Unjust Love

A Shepherd’s Love: Part Six

By Roofles

Fully packed and ready to go, Tanner Colton and Bradley Nichols headed out of the big apple and down I-81 towards Tennessee. Bradley wasn’t used to taking his own car, let alone out of the city. Still, he enjoyed it as the hover vehicle got up onto the highway and connected to the road’s automated track, taking them there.

Like many of the new highways, the new hover vehicles could connect to a “roadway network” to drive and power the vehicle all the way to the designation. Everything would be regulated and taken care of. Insurance companies even offered reasonable discounts on their prices so long as the car did this.

With the course locked in, it’d be roughly a ten-hour drive depending on traffic. If everyone just followed the laws, connecting to the road like he did, then they could’ve shaven off several hours of the trip at least. Speed limits were assigned to cars that were being driven manually. The hover vehicles could go as fast as was safe, which, at times, was over a hundred miles an hour. However, there was always some old codger refusing to keep up with technology or some speedster that thought they could drive faster than computer driven cars. Or that family dad who just…

Bradley stopped the thought, remember his own father still didn’t connect to the road lines. How many trips did he and his family go on, bickering the whole time, while his father complained about the renovations being done around them?

“Waste of taxpayer dollars! That means our dollars, Brad!” His father would drone on and on, ranting and raving about the government new policies and how they were bending over backwards these days for corporations instead of the common everyday man.

“The infrastructure is, literally, falling apart, James.” His wife, and Bradley’s mother, Cassie, would try to play peacekeeper between their father and the family. Bradley always loved and respected his mother for that. She wasn’t afraid to play nice when needed, swallowing her own pride, or, if it came down to it and with his dad it usually did, she’d whack his father upside the head when James was getting particularly ornery.

The thought faded as soon as it had emerged.

The last time Bradley had seen his parents was when he had come down with his old partner Andrew. And now here he was bringing Tan Colt along. His new partner. His friend. His best friend? He wasn’t sure, what all, Tan Colt was to him these days. The German Shepherd was such a constant that he could hardly recall the days without his partner. Tan Colt was a rock in his life that kept him secure.

It was the stress, he was sure. That’s why he was getting all flustered thinking of his new partner and friend, Tan Colt. Bradley just didn’t like coming down here alone. Let alone knowing Charlie and Joseph were going to be there as his brother, Gregory, best men no less…

Stupid small towns. Everyone knowing everyone.

This was going to be such a shit show.

“Got plenty of time to relax.” Bradley pushed his seat back, the back of it lying down as he let the car take full control. Seat belts weren’t needed. If anything were to happen the whole car would dispense a safety foam in order protect them. Far safer than seatbelts that tended to leave nasty bruises lawsuits could use to sue with.

“Where exactly are we heading?” The German Shepherd asked as he checked over the GPS on the console above the radio. He could flip over to a show for the two to watch now that the car was in auto-mode.

“Knoxville. It’s where my brother is. The wedding is at a church there. We’ll be staying at a hotel, though. Not with family.” Bradley shuddered at the very idea. “They tried to get me too! To stay with them! I’m not about to stay at my old family home. Let alone with family! No matter how much they ask me too.” He shook his head with a laugh, resting back on his arms.

Tan Colt rested his chair back with him, scooting down it before lounging out with a stretch and a flop. “Sure.” He just said looking over at the human.

In the cramp car, even during September, he could smell the sweat coming off the human. The smell of the other man in the car with him. Just lying there, so close Tan Colt could’ve reached out to touch him if he so desired too. And he did.

Tan Colt licked his lips, swallowing the drool pooling on his slightly engorged grooved tongue.

“Oh, sorry… do you have a family… home? A place you grew up?” Bradley took a moment on that, hesitating not meaning to offend if he had. “Was there a place little puppy Tanner liked to play at?” Bradley ended up teasing, laughing at the idea of a small Tan Colt running around in diapers.

The thought made his cheeks turn a soft rose colors. The scent shifted with it, one of embarrassment Tan Colt knew. It was… adorable, seeing the human like this.

“The facility I grew up in was one of… several.” Tan Colt shrugged a large shoulder. “I hold no fond attachment to it. Lot of schooling. Lot of training. Place was cold all the time. The people weren’t bad. The doc and scientists were very friendly and communicative with us. They wanted to make sure we adapted to working with humans well.”

“What happens if you… didn’t? Acclimate to humanity, I mean.” Bradley dared to ask, turning on his side to look at Tan Colt. The K-9 didn’t talk often about who… or what he was. Let alone where he had come from or his life before Bradley.

As if he didn’t, Tan Colt could pretend to really be his partner.

A human partner, that is, like Andrew had once been for Bradley. Though the two couldn’t be more opposite from each other. While Andrew was a grouch, Tan Colt was a furry dose of fresh air that warmed Bradley’s heart and made him “hope for a brighter tomorrow.” The very slogan for Project Tomorrow.

“You didn’t pass.” The German Shepherd shrugged his boulder sized shoulders with a gruff laugh before looking over at Bradley. “Don’t get me wrong! They give you plenty of chances and opportunities and some K-9’s end up working in other fields than they originally applied for. I made sure too, to pass. So, I could meet my human. Didn’t want to leave ya’ alone cryin’ and snifflin’ all alone like.” He added with a painful wink as if his face spasmed. “Who’d go to the wedding with you then?”

“You still can’t wink? Are you sure you passed school?” Bradley laughed loudly. How many months had it been since the two knew each other? And he still couldn’t manage a less… creepy, wink? Or awkward. Like his face had spasmed for a second.

“Winking wasn’t on the test!” Tan Colt just huffed with a roll of his hazel eyes. The German Shepherd laid back, looking up at the ceiling. He had just a T-shirt and shorts on, not even bothering to put shoes on. He had all his nice things folded neatly in one of the suitcases he’d brought along. Along with the suppressants in a secured briefcase. “Hand to hand combat? Negotiating a hostage situation? Talking someone out of jumping? Passed. Each and every one of them with flying colors! No winking involved in any of those.” He growled at the end.

“I could wink my way out of a hostage negotiation.” Bradley just offered and got a loud snort in reply. Bradley laughed at that, lying back as Tan Colt was. He opted for a similar outfit as Tan Colt did. The two looked as if they were going to the gym instead of to his brother’s wedding out of state.

“I’ll buy it when I see it!” Tan Colt just gave him a cheeky smile at that, glancing over at the human. He was sure Bradley could convince him to do a lot of things with a wink or two…

“Thanks for coming, by the by.” Bradley wanted to make sure to get that out of the way. He covered his face with a hand. “I’m already stressed and we’re not even there yet!” He groaned between his fingers, letting the air out as if hoping the stress would go along with it.

“Stressed?” Tan Colt nose twitched. He already knew, he just wasn’t sure why his partner was. Just because you could smell something didn’t mean it explained why they felt the way they did. Plus, he was learning it was best not to point such things out to Bradley. Humans didn’t like it when you sniffed out their emotions like that.

“I know my parents. They’re going to try and talk to me about moving back, again. I’m sure of it.” Bradley let out a low groan as if he’d just been punched. “During this entire trip, they’ll be pestering me about it. And that’s just the start! I’m sure…”

“And… you were going to tell them during the wedding you were going to. To move back to Tennessee.” Tan Colt gave a single nod, recalling what Bradley had mentioned last week before their big trip together. “Before a big, buff, sexy distraction stole you away, that is.” He added with a toothy smirk. It was easier to smile than wink.

“Flatter yourself all you want… because you’re totally right!” Bradley ended up laughing covering his face with both hands. In the enclosed vehicle, Tan Colt could smell the human’s embarrassment wafting off him. As well as the sweet smell of him. The smell of a clean, if sweaty, man. It was hard not to just… nose him all over there in the car.

Tan Colt shook his head of such a thought. He’d been having a lot of those since his last appointment and rubbed the side of his neck. He’d need to take the portable shots when he got a chance too. Sooner the better before he ended up chasing Bradley down in the parking lot.

Bradley didn’t wear deodorant on their days off together and with the mugginess of the weather, the fall months starting up, there was just enough of that sweaty musk that Tan Colt was drooling thinking over his partner, again.

“I am rather incredible, thank you.” Tan Colt placed a hand on his chest with a smug smile, licking his lips. “Praise me. Love me. Worship me. I understand, the little people’s needs.”

“Is that a short joke?” Bradley sat up at that. “But you aren’t wrong. I do love ya’. I’d gladly worship you and, yes, you are incredible.” The human said honestly making the German Shepherd uncomfortable now. He tried not to whine from the praise. “And you’re also a terrible cock tease.” The human added, falling back and giving a dramatic pose, tossing an arm over his forehead and looking away. “Horatio, why? You cur, you untailored lout, you giant cock tease!”

“I can’t help who I am.” Tan Colt tried to just shrug off but didn’t look at Bradley. He swallowed again, hoping the human wasn’t as observant as the K-9 was. His tail was thumping loudly against the seat.

“Don’t change, then, Tanner. I like, n’ love, ya’ just the way you are!” Bradley smiled for the two of them. It was left at that. Bradley didn’t press it further as he sat up enough to turn the radio on, resting back and letting the car drive for them.

He did that a lot these days. Bringing it up maybe in conversation as a piece to joke off of but never running with it. Leaving it where it was between the two. Like offering Tan Colt an olive branch that the K-9 could take, or fetch in his case, and bring to the human if he ever changed his mind or if he’d be interested in the idea of being with the human. Until then, Bradley wouldn’t push it.

Because the human respected him.

And Tan Colt appreciated that. He had a lot of… confusing things, running through his mind. Ever since last Thursday in fact. It was like the filter for his brain, his emotions, had been removed and he was experiencing everything for the first time. Undiluted or strained.

Colors seemed brighter! Smells were stronger! He could hear birds outside their apartment window he didn’t even know had nested in the apartment’s roof. Everything was intense at first and Tan Colt had struggled to keep his cool throughout his shift. Then there was Bradley in that mix…

Smells, sounds, sights Tan Colt hadn’t noticed before became crystal clear now from the human. And the German Shepherd had been floored from it all. Literally, slumping to the apartment floor as he just tried to blink away the vivid colors that very morning. Bradley had been.

Bradley was always there for him… and the K-9 was truly beginning to see that. To appreciate that. To know the human… his human, was there.

The whole point of going in for his checkup was to quell these urges and feelings, to douse his instincts in cold water and suppress any desire he had that could jeopardize his job, his friendship and the law! Now… Tan Colt wasn’t fully sure what was real and what had just been the drugs talking.

Unconsciously, Tan Colt reached over to grab, to hold Bradley’s hand as he looked out the window. He knew Bradley. It grounded him, kept him from floating away as he took everything in as if for the first time.

The outstretching city, that had grown massively in the past couple of decades, began to fade away and buildings were replaced by suburbs that soon enough became replace by trees. And then large fields of farmland as the hours ticked by as the two talked, listened to the radio or when Tan Colt recalled they had a show to finish up.

“I can’t believe it was the police chief. That’s just so… cliché.” Tan Colt flicked the show off and rested back on an elbow, checking the time. He rolled one of the windows down to air the car out. The smell beginning to get to him. A lot of things were. Leaving him more confused than ever.

“If it’s not broke,” Bradley was about to say but Tan Colt suddenly cut him off.

“Are we dropping by the hotel first?” The German Shepherd asked not looking at him and scratching at his neck now. He felt… itchy. Twitchy even, and worried he had fleas. All the shampoos that he’d been given promised to prevent fleas. That itch just wouldn’t go away, no matter how many times he scratched.

“Well… I was going to stop by a place to grab dinner first but… we can swing by there, sure.” Bradley sat his chair up and Tan Colt followed suit, still itching at his neck as his partner glanced over at him. “Just really got to… pee?” Bradley voice had shifted, changed with concern that made the German Shepherd’s ear twitch.

“Something like that, yeah.” Tan Colt nodded with a huff and shake of his head. He pulled out a water bottle from the back seat and drained the whole thing in three large gulps.

“If you need to pee… drinking more water isn’t advisable.” Bradley tried to joke but it fell flat between them. It made him feel uncomfortable, awkward. Maybe he had said something wrong? Was it because he was talking while they watched the show? Was it something he did or…

“It’s me.” Tan Colt assured him, nose twitching. Able to smell the growing anxiety from the human. “Your perfect. You’re always perfect.” The German Shepherd winced slightly. “Sorry. I can smell your agitation…”

“Sorry.” Bradley just said in turn and the two drove the rest of the way to the hotel in silence, neither talking about nor addressing the tension that had settled in the car between them like a brick wall.

It was already eight o’clock by the time the two entered the Hampton inn on Main Street. Tan Colt dragged a briefcase behind him with one hand, a metal suitcase in the other he refused to let go of, as he quickly made his way inside. Bradley had a travel bag and a small one for toiletries and little else.

“My brother has my tux so we’ll need to go see him to make sure it all fits and there aren’t any last minute changes.” Bradley rubbed over his paunch, trying to pull the front of his shirt down a bit more and grumbled a bit. “I’m beginning to look like my dad…” He muttered pitifully to himself.

Tan Colt just grunted next to him, looking around the room. The two of them were getting plenty of looks, or rather, the six seven foot tall German Shepherd K-9 unit out of uniform was. Tan Colt fidgeted a bit, scratching his neck as he took in all the new smells. It hit him like a frying pan in the face. All these different scents in the air. From food to the people to perfumes to… He was suddenly starving, ravenous and he could smell the self-served dinner nearby above all else.

Tan Colt had to wipe his muzzle off several times as he faced towards the wide open archway leading into the dining room. He knew there was a buffet. It had chicken. He loved chicken. Did Bradley like chicken? He would have to ask. Maybe he should drag the human over so they could…

“One bed. Reserved it ahead of time. For the Nichols party.” Bradley explained to the clerk who was somewhat just dumbly staring at the German Shepherd behind him. Bradley snapped his fingers, bringing their attention back. “One room. For Bradley Nichols. For the Nichols wedding party.” He said again, slower, and louder just in case.

“Right. Yes. Yes, right.” The man stammered before handing him two keycards for the room. “The Nichols party should be having a complimentary dinner…” He paused as Tan Colt licked over his teeth, sniffing at the air before scratching his ass.

“Yes. He’s a K-9. We’re both from out of town.” Bradley rolled his eyes, taking the keys without a thanks and heading over to Tan Colt before he wandered off towards the buffet. “Let’s drop our things off first, T-dog.” Bradley tried to joke, using Tan Colt’s lame nickname.

Tan Colt just stood there sniffing the air with his ears turning and centering in at each new noise and smell and face that was in the busy hotel. He was twitching slightly, jumpy and he couldn’t stand still as he turned around as if aware someone was staring at his tail. Bradley knew Tan Colt was self-conscious about the thing that seemed to have a mind of its own.

“Tanner.” Bradley said a bit louder, touching his arm. Tan Colt jumped, growling at the intrusion into his personal space before seeing who it was.

“Brad.” Tan Colt blinked a couple of times as Bradley took a away from the K-9.

“You okay there… buddy?” Bradley asked slowly, carefully with his dad tone. Thankfully Tan Colt didn’t pick up on it.

“Oh, yeah. Yeah! Fine. Just new place. New people. New smells. So many smells, you know?” Tan Colt scratched at his broad neck as he looked around, nearly setting the metal briefcase down before jumping and pulling it back up into both his arms.

“Okay…? What’s in there?” Bradley dared to ask as the two moved out of the center of the room, towards the stairs. He eyed the case Tan Colt had come back with from his weekly checkup. It was locked and secured more than his apartment was.

“Home test kit,” Tan Colt shrugged a shoulder, instantly answering the question. It was a telltale sign for the police officer when questioning a suspect. Very defensive response. “I won’t be able to go into my next appointment next week, what with coming here with you. Not that that’ll be a problem!” Tan Colt quickly added on waving his other arm as if that would somehow reassure Bradley’s concerns. “I’m great… how are you?”

“Oh, right. Project Tomorrow doesn’t have facilities around the country, yet.” Bradley thought about it heading up the stairs first, ignoring Tan Colt’s strange behavior. The German Shepherd was open up to him when they were out of uniform… maybe Tan Colt was just a spazz?

Bradley felt his bag snagged from under his arm and turned around to see Tan Colt draping the strap over his neck and holding the other bag in his teeth. The German Shepherd gave him a smiling thumbs up, growling around the bag to show he couldn’t talk.

“Thanks,” Bradley rolled his eyes. It wasn’t like he had much to carry, he appreciated the sentiment behind it rather than the gesture. “Project Tomorrow started in Maine, right?” He glanced back and the German Shepherd was staring intently forward.

Tan Colt stopped when Bradley did and glanced up at him. “Mphf.” Tan Colt nodded in agreement.

“They have facilities all down the East Coast and up the West Coast with a few in Texas, right?” Bradley would need to investigate it. For having a partner who literally came from the place, he knew very little about Project Tomorrow. “Why is it even called that? To make a brighter tomorrow, right right I got that. But like…”

Tan Colt stopped behind him. Opening his jaws, the German Shepherd ended up dropping the small toiletry bag on the ground. The side pouch opened, and the contents spilled out. Mostly Q-tips. Bradley just rolled his eyes as he turned around and began to pick everything up.

“If you didn’t want to answer, you could’ve just said so.” Bradley laughed as he scooped up a handful and shoved it into the bag. “Lucky, I didn’t keep anything valuable any here. I keep all my important stuff in the trunk,” he thumbed over his shoulder, accidentally pointing at his ass.

Which Tan Colt was currently staring at.

Bradley had that thick, muscular dad bod going on with all the curves and weight that came along with it. Even with his shirt pulling up in the back, shorts dipping down Tan Colt could make out his hairy ass. Soft dark brown hair that curled slightly at the end and that Tan Colt wanted to nibble on. Bite that ass, slap the other cheek and just…

“Tanner?” Bradley said as the German Shepherd shook his head, jowls shaking with the motion. Spittle landed on Bradley arm, and he wiped it off. “You that hungry?” The human just asked. He didn’t mind if… Tan Colt drooled on him? What else would he not mind the German Shepherd doing to the, his, human…?

“Hungry for something…” Tan Colt licked his lips before following Bradley into their room. “Just give me a moment,” the German Shepherd pushed past Bradley somewhat roughly and headed towards the bathroom quickly.

Tan Colt dropped the heavier luggage in the middle of the room and only brought the suitcase into the bathroom with him, quickly shutting and locking the door behind. He trusted Bradley but there were certain things they weren’t allowed or supposed to tell their paired partner about. Sometimes the best kind of lie was what you didn’t say.

As much as that pained the German Shepherd, he did it for Bradley’s own good he reasoned out as he unlocked the case with a thumbprint scanner, passcode, and number lock. The three separate locks undid themselves slowly and nosily as he popped it open. Within dark gray polyethylene foam openings in the suitcase were several light gray pens. He snagged one, popping the top off to reveal a needle.

The portable suppressants had enough dose for one day. There were eight in the container. One spare, just in case. He’d missed his past two days just due to… he wasn’t sure why he hadn’t taken them. Just that, for some reason, he kept neglecting to do so.

Tan Colt looked the golden bronze needle over, licking his wet lips. Even in here, in a bathroom, he could smell Bradley in the other room. He knew the human took his shoes off. He knew he was sweating from the car ride. There was still a tinge of stress to his scent and… relief?

“When you’re ready, Tanner. We’ll head down and eat dinner together.” Bradley said from the other side of the door. “I hope you don’t mind we got one bed. It’s a lot cheaper,” he joked but Tan Colt knew how much money weighed on the human’s mind still. This trip would only put Bradley further into debt, all because his family demanded he come home for the wedding. “If you don’t mind, we could… on the bed, like we do in your bed. I mean if that’s okay. And cool…. Fuck, Bradley you’re screwing this up,” the human mumbled softly to himself, but Tan Colt could hear it all. Every word the human said. Every smell coming off him.

The German Shepherd turned back to the mirror looking at his reflection. He was far scruffier looking than he was when they first met. He got a trim from time to time to keep it in check, but Bradley really liked his fur like this. Long and scruffy, kind of wild… and untamed, like how Tan Colt was currently feeling. Bradley liked a lot of things about him. Just the other night he had told him how much he liked his eyes…

Those bright hazel eyes with flecks of gold in them. They seemed to glow in the bathroom as the German Shepherd looked at his whiskers muzzled face. He reached up a hand, touching his cheek. How could a human find this, him, attractive?

“I can get another room, if you need, Tanner…” Bradley voice was so soft that if he wasn’t a K-9 Tan Colt wouldn’t have heard him. “Shit, look what you did. He’s mad at you and-,” the bathroom door opened abruptly stopping the human’s pacing.

“Hey,” Tan Colt just said as he shut the briefcase and made sure it was locked with one hand. “Just using the restroom, dude.” The German Shepherd smiled. “You ready for dinner? I’m starving after what I did in there, I got plenty of room!” He crudely joked slapping his stomach with a hand.

“Ew, Tanner! I thought better of you.” Bradley rolled his eyes as he slipped his shoes back on and headed for the door.

Tan Colt made sure everything was locked before following after. He’d take the suppressant after he got back. Be better to take right before bed, before they cuddled in the same bed anyways, right? It’d be more efficient that way, he was sure. That’s how that works… like birth control. You take it the day of? Or was it the day after? During? Tan Colt wasn’t sure how any of that worked as he hurriedly caught up to Bradley and the two headed into the buffet.

His thoughts felt racing. Too many at once and it was harder to focus and concentrate.

“Sir, there are no… animals, allowed in the dining area.” One of the staff came over as the two entered. “Fur. You understand. Gets everywhere.”

“Right. Are you discriminating against my partner, bub?” Bradley gave him a look. “That’s a Class Five if I ever heard it.” He looked back at Tan Colt.

“Class Five, for sure.” Tan Colt just nodded along, the two lying their asses off. “Be able to bring him in and sue the entire hotel.”

“And then some.” Bradley turned back towards the staff member. “Does this hotel not do mandatory discrimination prevention seminars? I’m sure your manager would love to know that you just let that small, illegal, fact spill to two police officers.” It wasn’t like they had jurisdiction in Tennessee, but everyone already knew most of the K-9 were cops. Bradley just played into this guys stereotypes.

“Well… yes. But not for,” the staff member stammered now clearly flustered and not wanting to get in trouble as they looked around quickly as if expecting support from someone.

“The government has already approved of their integration into society,” Bradley didn’t expand on the limitations that involved. Every K-9 had been given a special visa allowing them to stay and work in the states. Within limits. “Are you saying you, Mr…”

“Hadley…” The man shifted uncomfortably.

“Mr. Hadley. Are you saying that the hotel condones this kind of behavior or is it just you?” Bradley did his dad voice, and it worked every time. If the perp was younger than he was, it only had a higher chance of succeeding. “I’d expected better from you, Hadley… really? I’m not mad, just… disappointed. If it was the hotel? Well, maybe then it wouldn’t be your fault, son.” Bradley was laying it on a little thick for the twenty something year old. “But if it was you… then, I’m not sure if I can help you.”

“Those are two very different charges.” Tan Colt pointed out, crossing his arms, and glaring at the man with folded ears. It was hard to stop his tail from wagging, the two-enjoying tormenting the staff member too much.

They really did make a great team, even out of uniform.

“No. I mean, no! The hotel doesn’t. And I don’t!” They stammered quickly.

“Then how about you just, step aside.” Bradley motioned for him too without ever touching them. “And my partner, officer Tanner Colton, and I can go get some dinner before they run out of chicken. And we’ll just forget this, ugly, scene ever happened.” And with that they got to the buffet.

No one else wanted to interfere, or get close, after the scene the two had caused and Bradley was already laughing about it as they sat down in one of the corner tables a good ten minutes later after raiding the buffet. Tan Colt preferred to have the wall to his back. It just made him feel more comfortable able to keep an eye out on things.

“What even is a Class Five?” Bradley just shook his head.

“Aggravated assault, distribution conspiracy of drugs, conspiracy to distribute, trespassing with intent…” Tan Colt counted them off on one hand before going to the other. Listing all the separate crimes that were on the classification.

“Okay, okay. I got it. Sheesh. What? Did you eat the book or something? You ate your own homework?” Bradley said picking at his salad he’d gotten, trying to eat healthy… right before a wedding instead of months in advance.

Tan Colt rolled his eyes, tipping his plate and pushing several Chinese style chicken breasts on top of his salad. Tan Colt had taken the whole thing practically for himself, being one of the few meat dishes on the menu that night left. The chicken breasts were small and slathered in some mix of honey glaze sauce that was both tinted yellow and orange somehow at the same time.

“Sesame honey chicken with pineapple.” Tan Colt just nodded.

“I don’t see any sesame…” Bradley turned the chicken over as if it was somehow hiding it all from him. “Or pineapple…”

“It’s a hotel buffet, the hell are you expecting?” The German Shepherd nudged his side playfully. Tan Colt didn’t pull back, sitting close to his partner. Their knees were touching, and Bradley felt Tan Colt’s bare paw step over his foot, toes curling as he continued his dinner.

“You’re in a far better mood than earlier.” Bradley smiled though, nudging him back before shredding some of the chicken up with two fork to mix into his salad. “Cranberry salad with pecans and… blue cheese.” He noted down at the greens.

“I distinctly don’t see cranberries. Pecans. Or,” Tan Colt sniffed. “Blue cheese on that plate.”

“Yeah. I don’t think they know what food is.” Bradley just laughed and Tan Colt join in as the two hurried through their dinner to crash in their hotel room for the rest of the night. Tan Colt still went back up to the buffet two more times after loading up the first plate with food.

With dinner taken care of the two retreated back to their single bed hotel room. Bradley was already stripping his shirt off by the time he entered the room and Tan Colt was soon to follow.

“I’ll take the right side,” the German Shepherd ran past Bradley, jumping up onto the bed. It squeaked and protested as his weight landed on top of it. He patted his side, at the very edge. “You can join me. If you like.”

“I don’t think my fat gut will fit,” Bradley gave it a shake looking down at his hairy belly. “Am I stereotype?” He frowned. “I’m a hairy gay, fat cop that’s only real friend is the dog he took in.”

“Dog? Whoa, buddy, those are fighting words!” Tan Colt jumped back to his feet, marching on over and pushed Bradley up against the wall. The German Shepherd placed his hands against the wall, looking down at the human he’d pinned against it, shoving his furry chest against Bradley’s face. “I might have to frisk ya’. Got a 10-66 in the hotel room on main street.” Tan Colt said into an invisible radio he mock held.

“A suspicious person? Oh no, officer. I swear. I would never have contraband on my person. I hope you don’t give me a cavity search,” Bradley just looked away. He wasn’t expecting the K-9’s hand to slip down, then up over his ass, groping it firmly in those strong meaty hands making him jump. “Ah! Hey! You really are in a good mood! Damn, Tanner.” He laughed hitting Tan Colt’s chest. “You usually don’t… play along…”

Tan Colt just smiled down at him, resting his forehead against the wall as he did so. He was breathing heavily, and his black bumpy nose was twitching, smiling down at the human he had pinned against the wall now with his fluffy chest alone. Tan Colt flexed his thick arms getting up close and personal like this.

“Just thought I’d… try, this time, to play along. Is all.” Tan Colt eased off, taking a small half-step backwards. He was still looking down at Bradley, ears perked and centered in on the human as he picked at the fur around his fingers idly, nervously. “It was fun. You were fun. This… was fun.” Tan Colt licked over his teeth, glancing away from the human. His tail was wagging quickly behind him.

Tan Colt’s shorts were slipping down in the back from the motion showing the curly dark fur around his groin.

“I’ll have you know, I’m a lot of fun!” Bradley rolled his eyes, pushing past Tan Colt to head over to the bed. “Fuck, I even sound like my dad!” Bradley joked about, sitting down as he took off his socks and tossed them there on the floor. He’d clean up later as he pulled his shorts off, resting back in a pair of underwear and nothing else. “Damn ankle. I can’t run up that many flights of stairs without pulling something these days.”

Tan Colt just rolled his eyes, walking over. “I told you to let me take care of it. Junkies, man. They got speed that make even us, K-9’s, struggle to keep up with. Slippery little fucks. Let alone if they’re on something.”

“Got to go fast!” Bradley just chuckled before tensing as the German Shepherd crouched down before him. Tan Colt nosed at his foot before reaching out to grab one of Bradley’s feet and rub over it with those strong paw padded fingers. It felt good. It always felt good when Tan Colt touched him.

The German Shepherd had a strength to him. Something he clearly restrained and kept in check whenever he was around the human. Those fingers rubbed and massaged his foot. Tan Colt continued to crouch down before the human on his digitigrade paws, rubbing over one foot then the other. He was nearly the same height as Bradley was sitting down on the bed. Tan Colt’s nose twitched as he looked at the human. Watching him intently with those bright hazel eyes.

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?” Tan Colt moved his ankle slowly, testing it as he watched Bradley’s face.

“I’m just overweight.” Bradley just rolled his eyes, blushing once more as that soft fur brushed over his leg.

“For your height and sex, your within weight limits.” Tan Colt just pointed out clinically as if trying to be helpful.

“Thanks.” Bradley rolled his eyes at that, wincing slightly as Tan Colt found the spot. He rubbed at it gently, pressing those warm leathery paw pads against the skin. “For… just thanks, Tanner.”

“Why’d you try to do that? We both know you’re uh… not the most active, of police officers. You do the talking! I do the chasing!” Tan Colt just smiled at him. “We make the perfect team. Why you trying to steal my job?” He gave that awkward wink again.

“I was just trying to impress you…” Bradley mumbled, not meeting those eyes as he looked away.

“By trying to keep up with a K-9?” Tan Colt snorted a laugh, nose twitching. He let go and took a seat next to Bradley on the bed. “You know that isn’t advisable.” Tan Colt said using Bradley’s own words against him.

“Ah, shut up.” He laughed though, pushing the K-9 before scooting back in the bed and sliding his legs underneath the covers.

“Cold?” Tan Colt was watching him intently as the human turned the TV across from the bed on. Turning on an all-night series of Law and Order.

“It’s the middle of September, at night. Not all of us are covered in fur, Tanner!” Bradley rolled his eyes as he tucked in further, wiggling his ass under the sheets.

“You know, you get this small… dimple, in your cheek when you’re trying to hide your smile.” Tan Colt poked his own face as if he could show the human on it where it was at.

“Oh, go fetch a stick.” Bradley threw a pillow at him as he turned back towards the TV. Tan Colt caught it with his teeth and jerked his muzzle, tossing it back at him. Bradley took it to the face and just pretended nothing had happened, stealing the pillow away from the K-9. Something that did not slip past Tan Colt.

The German Shepherd jumped up onto the bed, landing on all fours and laid his front over Bradley’s legs and stuck his butt up into the air, wagging his tail.

“Play?” Tan Colt growled shaking the whole bed practically with his wagging butt.

“It’s the middle of the night!”

“Play?” The German Shepherd tilted his head to one side, pawing at the covers as his tail flagged high. His eyes had locked onto the pillow Bradley had hid behind his back that belonged to Tan Colt’s side of the bed.

“Damn, Tanner. What’s going on?” Bradley laughed though as Tan Colt’s body blocked the TV screen. He got the pillow throw at him and the K-9 caught it in his muzzle again. “You’ve been acting strange all day…” Tan Colt bite down on the pillow before letting it drop back to the bed.

“I’m just feeling so… good?” Tan Colt shrugged as he rolled over and laid out, looking up at the ceiling as he hugged the pillow against his chest. “Things are just… clearer, now? I guess? Like a fog has been lifted over my eyes, my ears, my nose… everything just seems… sharper, now. Unclogged… if that makes sense?”

“Tanner,” Bradley placed a hand on Tan Colt’s shoulder and the German Shepherd tilted his muzzle up to look at him. “You didn’t… take, anything, did you?”

“Take something?” The German Shepherd tilted his head once more quizzically.

“You just seem, like, really happy.” Bradley brought up. “Like… really, happy.”

“Of course, I’m happy. I’m with you.” Tan Colt just grinned, turning over and sitting up a bit to look at Bradley. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You didn’t… take,” but Bradley couldn’t finish the thought. He heard about the affects of Bright, the newest street drug. A drug that could literally brighten one’s outlook on life. He had, at one time, even thought to try it himself…

That was before Tan Colt had come into his life.

“No. Nothing like that.” Tan Colt scooted up in the bed, tucking his legs underneath the blanket to join Bradley. Even for the king size bed, the K-9 was crowding into Bradley’s side of the bed. “I’m just feeling really… good. After my last checkup. Like. Really good.”

“You promise? You’re not, like, taking anything?” Bradley insisted though, getting concern and using his dad voice as if questioning his son about drugs after school.

“I promise, Brad. I’m not taking anything.” Tan Colt tail wagged against the bed as he rested back watching the TV now. “I’m just glad you invited me. Is all.” And Tan Colt looped his muscular arm around the human and pulled him closer.

“Just had to check.” Bradley could feel the K-9’s heartbeat. Smell his musk and couldn’t stop his hand from running through Tan Colt’s chest fur. It was so thick and soft, luxurious between his fingers. He gripped it, pulling it lightly and got a playful growl from Tan Colt who squirmed next to him.

“Had to check if my fur is attached too!” The German Shepherd growled, nosing at him. “Maybe I should pull your fur!”

“Hair, Tanner. I have hair, not- ow!” Bradley jumped as the K-9 nipped at his chest fuzz and pulled it lightly. “You-,” and before he could grab it the German Shepherd was already hitting him with his pillow. Hard enough to nearly knock Bradley out of the bed.

“You had that coming!” Tan Colt just pounced, tackling Bradley against the bed as he nosed and nuzzled all over the squirming human who ended up giggling from those whiskers scratching and tickling over his sides.

“I yield, I yield! You are the bigger man!” Bradley forfeited.

Tan Colt just gave him a look before grabbing Bradley’s belly with a full hand. “I think, we both know, who the bigger of the two of us-,” and it was Tan Colt’s turn to take a pillow to the face. He bit at it again.

“I always knew you’d be a pillow biter!” Bradley was already jumping out of the bed as the K-9 jumped at him. The human wasn’t fast enough, and Tan Colt snagged his leg.

“Your ankle, Brad!” Tan Colt just said, lifting the leg as Bradley slumped over the bed. “I got it. Safe and secured!”

“Thanks.” Bradley grumbled, rubbing his head as he glared up at the K-9 looking down at him. “Drop, Tanner. Drop it.” Bradley tried to pull his leg free and Tan Colt only tightened his grip, blunt nails digging into his leg slightly.

“Think you’re a funny guy, huh?” Tan Colt just gave him a look.

“Don’t you do it.” Bradley tried to pull his leg free, kicking out with the other. “Tanner! Don’t do it!”

Before Bradley could say or do anything more, the German Shepherd slurped over the whole foot before gagging. “Ew.”

“That’s what you get!” Bradley gagged as he wiggled his saliva covered toes. “Not exactly what they meant by give a dog a bone…”

“That’s not even…” Tan Colt shook his head, offering a hand and easily pulling Bradley up back into bed after he took it. “I know you’re, like, trying with these but you really got to stop. For everyone’s sake.”

“What? Lie with a dog, get fleas?” Bradley just gave him a knowing look.

“Brad,” Tan Colt grabbed a pillow and pressed it over the human’s face holding him down with it. “This is for the good of mankind!” He pressed the pillow against him before laughing it off as Bradley swatted at his face.

“I got so many more though!” Bradley rested back with the K-9 at his side, breathing heavily. Not exactly the physical exertion he had planned with Tan Colt, but he couldn’t lie. It did make him feel far younger than he was.

“I know you do. That’s why I needed to stop you before it was too late.” Tan Colt just said as he rolled over the human, standing up on all four. “Just know. I do this out of love.” And then the German Shepherd pulled Bradley’s face against his chest, burying the human’s face in the fuzz. “Stop fighting me, this is for your own good.” Bradley muffled voice vibrated the K-9’s chest. “No, Stabler isn’t in this episode.” Bradley slacked. “I know. He’s my favorite character too…”

Tapping his hand twice on Tan Colt’s arm, the K-9 let him go. It wasn’t like the human could reasonably match the K-9’s strength. Bradley ended up just resting against his side as the TV show marathon continued.

“McCoy was always my favorite lawyer.” Bradley brought up, the K-9’s arm holding him securely to his side. His fur was warm to the touch, with a tinge of musky maleness to it. A smell Bradley had long known belonged solely to Tan Colt.

“Yeah?” Tan Colt said absentmindedly as he adjusted himself with a hand. He brought it up, sniffing it before glancing over at the human. “Hey. Brad?” The human gave him a look and got a bap to the face. “My smell is worse than my bite.”

“What?” Bradley asked before his nose wrinkled. “Ah, fuck. Tanner!” He shoved the K-9 who refused to let him go, the two wrestling before, once more, Bradley had to tap out as Tanner pulled him close once more. “Sheesh, you really are in a playful mood tonight…”

“I’ve never been happier.” Tan Colt only smiled, tail thumping against the bed as he cuddled up to the human. His human. The feel of him, in his arms like this, resting on his chest as the two just… things only seemed to be getting better, together.

And the two stayed up late, talking about the episodes, the cast and how terrible the new seasons were as Tan colt scooted closer, still. Practically crawling up and onto the human’s lap, crushing and trapping Bradley against the bed near the end of the night as Tan Colt lazed out over him. Wanting to feel him like this, securely and safely under him.

Tan Colt had told the truth. He hadn’t taken a single thing that day, the case in the other room was still fully stocked and he had never felt happier.