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Welcome back, my lovely reader~

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and doesn't pay the bills. I want to keep writing these stories for everyone to enjoy and your support on Patreon or Ko-Fi helps make that happen. Patrons even get to see stories a week early to avoid all that pesky waiting. I also appreciate non-financial support like faving, voting, and following me on Twitter. Thank you so much for your continued support! Please enjoy the episode.

And with that out of the way...

Hello, my lovely reader and I welcome you to Love & Lattes: Songs for a fox.

First and foremost, if you've not read L&L: A Bunny's bounty, STOP, go read it. This is a direct sequel, it assumes you've read the previous series. I can't make it more clear than that. You will NOT enjoy this story as much without reading the FIRST ONE! *Heavy breathing*

Did you think I was finished with this story after Karen and Isaac? Ho ho... not quite my lovely reader, there's more to tell and I'm eager to share it with you. I'll not drag things out, let's jump right in!

--*--

Episode 1:

I'm no bunny.

"I've got that black and the double whipped latte ready to go," The young fox called out from the serving counter.

"Cool, you got the matcha going?" The blonde called out from the register while counting out some change thinking to herself, 'Who pays with real money in this day and age? Neanderthals...'

"Of course I do, who do you take me for?" He huffed with a haughty tone in his voice, his red tail flicking playfully the tip black with fur to match his ears.

The catgirl cut her blue eyes back at him her brown and white ears flicking up at the boast. "Oh good, then you can handle the other three latte's... A dark chocolate, a white decaf, and a cinnamon. All with unsweetened soy milk, two extra shots of espresso and-"

"Whoa, whoa... give me a break!" The fox yelled out trying to pass the matcha off to the customer that ordered it while starting multiple latte's up and trying to juggle all the details.

"Where is that bravado now, fox?" She hummed and quickly moved from the counter to help him work since that was the last order currently.

The rush died off after another twenty minutes and the cat was thankful to slip out back to get a smoke break in.

"Fuck... that was rough..." She hissed, her multi-colored ears flicking in agitation while she took a drag from her cigarette and muttered to herself. She leaned against the wall of the coffee shop her tail flicking and snapping like a rope with a mind of its own. The apron she wore pushed out to accommodate her heavy full breasts, a little name badge pinned to it with the words 'Team Leader' with the name 'Ivory' beneath it.

Her blue eyes cast down towards the empty bench next to her and the cat let out a frustrated huff before flicking her cigarette butt into the smoking bucket, then withdrew her cell phone. She exhaled lightly blowing the last of the smoke from her lungs as she pecked out a text message on her phone that simply read, 'It's not the same without you here. What's up?'

A few seconds passed before her phone pinged with a response that read, 'Sorry, let's hang out tomorrow if you're free?'

Ivory gave a small smile before sending a response that she was down for hanging out. She slid the phone into her back pocket before reaching for another smoke. Her ears lifted up in a perk, she had smelled him coming well before the fox rounded the doorway to the smoking area.

"What's up Joe? I'm not giving you a smoke, you're still a minor," The cat cooed with a practiced tone, playfully grinning, flicking the cigarette end over end in her padded-fingertips. "Also should you be leaving the front unmanned?"

Joseph rolled his chestnut eyes at the cat before putting a handpaw on his hip. "Just came out to let you know Crystal is here, along with Suzanne." He turned to walk back in then stopped and looked back at her. "Also, I had a birthday two weeks ago."

"So you're almost in high school now? Good for you, Joe!" The cat playfully huffed the words while grinning at the young fox.

"That's not funny!" He spat out with a bit of edge in his voice, stepping out and glaring at the cat, his heavy red tail flicking about sharply. When her blue eyes snapped to his he quickly averted his gaze though, she was still his manager and boss.

"Fair..." The cat purred and walked over to the fox, looking him over, feeling his tension. "Okay Joseph, I won't tease you about your age anymore."

"Seriously?" He looked back to see the cat holding her pack of cigarettes up to his face with one of them sticking out. The fox blinked at her a few times in surprise before jerking his head away and muttering, "Gross..."

The cat gave the dog a hard glare and slid the pack of cigarettes back into her pocket. "Sorry I gross you out, Joseph... We can't all be cute bunnies," She hissed and side-stepped around him to go back inside.

"That's not what I mean! I don't-" He huffed and watched the cat walk back inside, her tail flicking about showing the signs of agitation from the encounter with him. Joseph looked back at the empty bench and let out a sigh before running his padded-fingertips through the bangs of his reddish-brown hair.

Ivory gave Crystal the shift details before handing the store off to her. Crystal was a feline like Ivory only with larger ears and a more fluffy tail, more like what you would expect from a Persian. Her hair and fur both matched, showcasing a bluish-grey color. She was taller than Ivory and had much wider hips along with a butt that deserved its own cheesy rap song.

Suzanne a small timid mouse of a girl was still in high school like Joseph but was still a few years from adulthood and still a Junior in her grade level. She had neat trimmed black hair and her ears tended to stay drooped along with her furless tail. She was especially nervous at first, taking the job and being the only non-predator on the staff, but the fox and two cats had treated her with nothing but kindness, so she had slowly grown more secure in her relationship with them.

The mouse was the newest member of their staff and had only been here for a few months since the last manager, Karen a bunny, had stepped down from her position. Crystal took over Karen's position as the store manager and Ivory took Crystal's old position as the assistant manager.

Joseph had been crushing on the rabbit pretty heavily until she brought him down to earth about their age differences and how he didn't really know her to begin with. Since then the fox had been very cautious about developing feelings for someone. It wasn't that he was jaded, so much as Karen had taught him that you can't just like someone without getting to know them first. In his fervor to like the rabbit, he was afraid to approach her and get to know her to validate his feelings.

Ivory and Joseph left the small coffee shop stepping out into the city together since their shift's ended at the same time. The spring had grown late into the season and summer was going to be starting soon. It was mid-afternoon and the air was already getting that sticky-hot feeling.

The fox let out a huff of disapproval at the heat and Ivory just shot him a glare before walking past to move down the sidewalk. Joseph flicked his ears up at the cat's body language and growled to himself, "Damn..." He thought furiously to himself, 'I should say something, if I don't she is going to be pissed and make my life hell at work.'

He quickly caught up to the cat and Ivory cut her eyes to him, quirking an ear curiously as she kept walking. "Your house is the other direction, Joe."

"I'm sorry, okay?" Joseph just spat the words out and Ivory stopped, pausing on her footpaws before cutting her sharp blue eyes to his deep brown ones. The fox swallowed a lump in his throat, worried he may have just pissed her off more with the apology.

"Why... are you apologizing to me, Joseph?" The cat snatched one of her springy coils of curly blonde hair, tugging it and twirling her padded-forefinger through it while looking up at the fox. He was young but still a dog and a male at that. He had a good foot and some change on the smaller cat.

"I don't think you're gross, okay? I just don't like cigarettes. I wasn't trying to piss you off," He spoke while looking down at her, his chestnut eyes weren't leaving hers as he pleaded his case, but she could see he was nervous and wanted to pull them from hers.

The cat gave a grin as if toying with him now. "Why do you care what I think about you? I'm no bunny..."

He jerked his ears up and turned away letting out a frustrated growl, stomping several paces before moving back to her. Ivory was still just standing there a handpaw on her hip, amused by the display. "For fuck sake, that was almost a year ago!" He barked the words in frustration at her, she could hear his voice crack a little.

"Yes because everyone finds such profound spiritual growth in a year's time, eh Joseph?" Ivory purred, keeping that same cocky little grin on her face.

The dog wasn't having any of it, he snorted through his nose, put both paws on his hips, and jerked his gaze away shoving his nose into the air. "Whatever. What, the fuck, ever... I'm just trying to apologize and you're being a dick."

'I am being pretty cruel aren't I?' Ivory mulled the words over in her head before seeing the dog turn to walk away. Her ears shot up and she spoke out in her manager voice, "Heel boy!"

The fox stopped abruptly at the words, then drooped his ears and growled at the realization he followed her commands. Ivory slipped into his field of vision and gave him a grin. "Sorry... I wasn't trying to boss you around, it just kind of slipped out."

Joseph blinked at the apology and the anger in his chest quickly slipped away, he drooped his large red ears and shook his head. "Look, I just don't want you to hate me okay?"

Ivory seemed a little surprised by the sincere stare and his words, she blinked her bright blue eyes and looked into his deep brown ones, taking a good long look at the dog from another perspective. "Why... do you care what I think?" Her mind whirled for a moment in thought, 'Is he...'

"I just don't want you hating me and us having a bad work relationship you know?" The fox grumbled the words out and Ivory blinked a few times before stepping back half a pace.

'Ah, there it is... silly me!' She thought to herself. Ivory gave Joseph a grin and flicked her tail, letting out a purr. "I understand, and I don't hate you, Joe. Even if I was sore, I wouldn't take it out on you at work..."

"You wouldn't?" The dog exclaimed in surprise.

"Nah... I totally would. I would make your life hell little doggy." Ivory spoke casually and shrugged a shoulder.

The fox swallowed a lump in his throat and shook his head, "Ah... g-glad I worked this out then. If I ever upset you... I mean, let me know, don't just make my life hell, okay?"

Ivory frowned a little at the words, 'Wow, I was joking but he's legit scared of me, he thinks I'm some horrible bitch that-' The cat shook her head to dislodge the train of thought and smiled at the fox. "Okay, you let me know if I upset you too Joe, I don't want to hurt such a cute fox," She spoke gently then quickly turned and disengaged from the conversation, trying to shut out the thoughts in her heart.

Joseph blinked at the words a few times and watched the cat walk away quickly, her hips had a natural sway to them, showing off her perky rear. It wasn't as full as the rabbit's he had liked but it still looked great on her. The fox wasn't really processing her figure though, he was just confused and a little concerned at the look in her eyes.

--*--

Ivory kept focused as she walked in a straight line down the sidewalk trying to not think too hard. It was a short walk back to her apartment and she was there within ten minutes. Stepping inside she quickly slipped out of her work flats and laid her small bag down next to her shoes.

"That's me... just a monstrous cunt that scares guys off..." The cat spoke the words aloud to her empty apartment while moving over to her refrigerator and pulling out a beer. She cracked it open and took a swig of it before stepping over to the large glass doors leading to the balcony of her apartment overlooking the streets below.

She stood there for a few minutes just sipping her beer and watching people move about before turning to her living room and walking over to the shelf where she kept various figures and pictures. She picked up a small frame and gazed upon it. It was her in a rose-colored dress, her hair done up in a fancy bun with sticks shoved through it, a few of her curls had slipped out though. She was flanking a slightly taller rabbit in a similar hairstyle, her dress was of similar color and she was holding a large flower bouquet, her arm linked with her husband's, a very large wolf.

Ivory stared at the picture before setting it gently down upon the shelf once more, "Still can't believe you went and did that shit, Karen... You really did go crazy when he entered your life." She spoke aloud and finished off her beer before tossing the can into the recycling bin and going to the fridge for another. "You seem happy though... so that makes me happy..." The cat continued her talk to the thin air as she cracked open another beer and moved over to flop down on the sofa.

She flipped it over to a baseball game but didn't really care about which teams were playing, just wanting some noise to drown out her own thoughts. The cat sipped her beer while zoning out watching the tv for several minutes until the beer was gone and her eyes felt heavy. She started to drift, the light amount of alcohol making it all the easier, then her phone buzzed in her pocket and jarred her awake.

The cat hissed as she dug it out of her back pocket awkwardly while shifting on the sofa. Once she got it out she flopped fully onto her back on the couch, her breasts bouncing in her top before holding the phone up to check it. She quirked a brow curiously. She had expected a response from Karen about hanging out, but it wasn't her. The message simply read, 'Are you okay?'

"The fuck is this?" The cat spoke aloud to herself before responding with, 'Who is this?'

'Um... it's Joseph from work.'

Ivory's ears perked up at that. "Hmm..." The cat quickly jotted down a response, 'Didn't I give you this number for work-related reasons only?'

There was a long delay by a few minutes, the cat twitched an ear and thought to herself, 'Damn... way to keep the mega-bitch vibe going, Ivory... No wonder guys fuck you and run.' Her ears twitched as the phone vibrated and she checked it again.

'Apologies, I was just worried. You didn't seem yourself.'

'I'm fine Joe, let's keep it work only, okay?' Ivory typed the words out but didn't send them, she hesitated before deleting the message and sighing. "Stupid fox..." The cat hissed out and shook her head before typing out a new message, 'I'm fine, sorry I was a bitch earlier. I didn't mean to worry you.'

'You weren't. I was being thoughtless, I'm flattered you offered to share.' The cat read the text and snickered, her tail flicking about. "Well aren't you a little gentlefox, Joseph... flattered over a damn cig."

'It was just a smoke, no big.'

'Sure but, well is that okay? Those things are so bad for you.'

'So is climbing across the counter and strangling a bitch to death with her own intestines because I'm overstressed from not getting my smoke!'

'Yikes...'

'Yep, kitty has claws!'

'It's still not very good for you.'

'Thanks, Dad!' Ivory grinned as she sent the text, then perked her ears as another one popped up on her phone.

'Yo! Sorry about running out the other night, it was a lot of fun. You wanna meet up and have another party?' Ivory felt her cheeks flush under her fur thinking back to a few nights back. He was a leopard with a hell of a six-pack, they met at the club and went home together, but he ran as soon as they were done. It wasn't a bad fuck but not the best she's had. Still, she was pretty pissed he just ran off like that.

"Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am... story of my fucking life. Can't get any play and now he wants more time..." The cat hissed the words before responding simply with 'Pass'

'Your loss babe' Ivory rolled her eyes at the text and just deleted the contact from her phone. "Yeah... I'm sure it is..." She dropped her head back to the pillow on the sofa and closed her eyes, starting to drift again before her phone buzzed. The cat snarled a curse and looked at it again.

'Apologies, I wasn't trying to get in your business. I was just worried.'

Ivory snorted at the text before sending a response, 'Why do you care, we are just co-workers.'

'I guess that's true, sorry for stepping out of line'

Ivory looked at the text history and let out a frustrated groan, "Fuck... this... this shit here is why, Ivory!" The cat hopped off the sofa and paced about whipping her tail around. "Stupid... What is wrong with me?" The cat sighed and wiped her eyes, feeling tears starting to form. Her whole adult life had been a series of failed relationships and one-night stands. Any good guy she found, she would always run off somehow or do something stupid to lose him.

Shaking her head she moved to the fridge for another beer but paused as her phone buzzed again, she stalked back over to the coffee table she had left it on and checked it. 'I apologize for upsetting you, Ivory. I will keep it work only in the future, have a good night.'

The cat's ears perked up and she shook her head a few times as her brain screamed at her, 'No... stop doing this... He's a nice guy and he is worried about you, stop being a bitch.' The cat huffed out and quickly responded.

'No, it's fine. You can talk to me.'

'Are you sure? I just seem to be upsetting you.'

'I said I'm fine you dumb dog!'

'Oh... okay, I'm glad.'

'So... what's up? Why the urge to text me?'

'Again, you seemed off today, your eyes looked like you were hurting'

'Are you in school to be a shrink, Joe? I'm fine, peachy, never been better!'

'Just checking. I was concerned.'

'You sure it's not that you're smitten with me now that the rabbit is gone?' Ivory gave a toothy grin feeling the urge to tease the dog resurface even over text messages. A few moments passed, then a few minutes, and the cat wondered if she had struck a nerve. The following text message affirmed the thought.

'Can you please stop? I know you think it's just a big joke but I really did have feelings for her. Yes it was just a crush and I've let it go, and I know she is married now, but I still have some feelings for her and I don't want you constantly throwing salt into the wound, okay?'

"Damn it... You really are a fuck up Ivory..." The cat drooped her ears and huffed, looking the message over multiple times before finally responding.

'I'm sorry Joseph, I've been very cruel to you over it. I will let it rest.'

Ivory was met with silence as a response, she kept checking her phone every few minutes but it was clear the fox was done talking. The cat flopped against the cushions of the couch once again and closed her eyes. She thought about the fox, thought about his deep chestnut eyes and how they looked earlier today. Then she thought about what he must be feeling right now, was he crying? was he angry? Would he even bother talking to her again?

The cat thought about it and him for several minutes while laying there. About him, Karen, and her own life, how it had turned out, and where it was going. Sleep eventually closed in upon her while she thought about it, and her mind calmed as it took her finally, whisking the worries of it all away and embracing her in the void of thoughtless slumber.

--*--

The buzzing of Ivory's phone stirred her followed by the obnoxious tone of her alarm going off. She fumbled at her coffee table to shut it off, blinking her blue eyes open slowly. The room was still fairly dark except for the glow of the television still running. It was still dark outside but the sun was starting to creep over the horizon giving a faint blue tint over the city skyline.

"Fuck... you have a bed for a reason, dumbass..." The cat groaned the words before sitting up and rubbing her neck which was stiff from the night on the couch.

A pot of coffee was brewed and the cat snatched up a mug worth with plenty of cream but no sugar. She took a sip of it, letting it jolt her senses, and made her way out onto the balcony of her apartment.

It was getting close to summer alright, the air was just barely cool despite it only being around five in the morning. The cat pulled out a smoke and flicked a match from a book that was sitting on the guardrail of her balcony. She puffed at the cigarette to get it burning and took in a deep draw before letting out a heavy huff of smoke that drifted into the clear morning air.

She stood there on her balcony enjoying her coffee and smoke, trying to just relax and take in the moment before beginning her workday. Her mind slowly jarred into gear and the first thing she thought about was that dumb fox. She snatched her phone up and looked at it curiously, there were no texts from him, just a few late-night ones from the leopard trying his luck again. Ivory rolled her eyes and blocked his number.

"Another beautiful day in paradise... Well, now that you probably made the poor fox cry himself to sleep, how about not being a worthless bitch all day?" The cat spoke the words aloud to the cool air of the morning before rubbing her cigarette butt out and setting it in an old beer can that was outside as a makeshift ashtray.

The cat moved back into her apartment drinking on what was left of her coffee and moved to her bedroom to plug her phone up for some charge since it had been on all night. She stripped out of her clothes for a shower and stopped in the mirror in the bathroom.

Ivory had snowy white fur, which would have suited her name, but she also sported patches of brown that dotted her figure. One such patch disappeared into her scalp, concealed by her blonde hair, but making one ear fully brown, while the other was white.

Her breasts were pretty large for her size, okay really large. Karen used to jokingly tell her she was a miracle of nature; a 'short girl with big tits', but they were more trouble than they were worth half the time. Ivory was always more envious of Karen and Crystal's backsides herself though, as hers didn't have nearly the size or curve theirs did, and she had been self-conscious that it might appear too 'flat'. The cat turned and looked at her hips and rear in the mirror a few times, flicking her patchy tail about, pouting gently before huffing to herself and moving into the shower.

Once cleaned up she picked out a set of black panties and bra for the day. The cat had always enjoyed the look of black underwear on her mostly white fur and felt it made a good contrast to her blonde hair. She went with a button-down green blouse to go along with the knee-length green skirt. Again, a color she enjoyed seeing against her hair color. She hummed to herself as she slid on some black stockings and slipped on her flats.

The cat moved to the mirror in the bathroom to look herself over again and brushed her padded-fingertips through her curly blonde hair before giving a satisfied nod. The locks of hair came down to the small of her back when wet, but once dried it bunched up closer to her shoulder blades in a wavy flow of yellows and browns.

"You're looking pretty cute today, Ivory... think a certain fox might take note?" She purred the words in a playful way and grinned, not even sure why she thought about him, then her look darkened and she sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "Yeah... because you were so nice to him last night, right?" The cat rolled her blue eyes at herself in the mirror and moved to the exit of her apartment to start her early morning shift.

The walk to the coffee shop was a quick one only about ten minutes. When Ivory got there to unlock the store, Joseph was already waiting for her to let him in so they could start their day. The cat's ears flicked up at the sight of him and she felt her heart sink as she thought to herself, 'Shit... should I say something? I already apologized, should I just act like it's all normal?'

"M-morning, Joe. Quick turn around shifts like this are the worst huh?" Ivory spoke out trying to sound normal, stopping in front of the building to speak to him as she reached for the keys.

The fox shrugged at her words before sipping on a to-go cup of coffee. "Uhuh..."

Ivory could feel the tension in the air and easily picked up on the irritation from him. She looked away awkwardly while thinking, 'So... joke, be silly, that will work, yeah?' The cat grinned showing her sharp teeth and looked the fox over while flicking her tail. "Really Joseph? Getting coffee from the competition before we open?"

His brown eyes cut to her blue ones, he wasn't amused. "I brought it from home... Shouldn't you be opening the store, Boss?"

Ivory flinched at the edge to his voice and quickly averted her eyes before turning away. Joseph saw that look of pain in them and immediately regretted his attitude but said nothing. The cat unlocked the shop and slipped inside disarming the alarm. He moved in with her once the alarm was down and Ivory locked the door back behind them so they could begin setting up for the morning.

Joseph moved towards the back of the shop while Ivory lingered at the door she had just locked. The cat perked her multi-colored ears and spoke out, "H-hey."

The fox stopped walking and looked back at her out of the corner of his eye but said nothing.

She shook her head and sighed before walking over to him and looking up at him, her eyes looking slightly wet. "Can we not do this, please?"

He blinked in surprise at her look, at her tearing eyes. "W-what are you talking about, Ivory?" He felt that lump return to his throat seeing the cat look like she was on the verge of tears, looking so weak and fragile before him.

"This... I mean..." She clenched her teeth and hissed before turning away so he couldn't see her face. "I'm a jerk, okay?! I say things I don't mean, I make jokes that are too personal... The only friend I had is off being a wife, I hardly ever see her, a-and..."

Joseph stood there dumbfounded by the display, the cat had never been this open or talkative on such a personal level with him. He could see her shoulders trembling as she whispered the words out. She looked very small and vulnerable for the first time in over the almost two years he had worked with her.

"I'm just... I'm sorry okay?! I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't mean to rub Karen in your face. Everyone... I chase everyone off... I just..." Ivory just blurted out without thinking and the dog's ears lifted up at the words, he realized it wasn't just about him, this was a lot more, he was just a catalyst for it.

"I'm just stupid and insensitive and-" Ivory let out a sharp gasp her words cutting off. She felt warmth on her back and felt arms wrap around her shoulders. The fox just drew her into a hug from behind and held her. Her heart rate cranked up for some reason, his scent was on her, his warmth against her body, "J-Joseph! W-what the hell are you doing!?" The cat snapped out her voice cracking in one part panic, one part confusion.

"The only thing I can think to do... Slap or punch me after you're done crying... I deserve it if you do..." The fox huffed down into her rapidly flicking ears while hugging her close, his words calm and adamant as he embraced her.

"S-stupid! I'm not crying, a-and this is sexual harassment, L-let me go..." Ivory snapped the words out but made no effort to struggle, she could hear her voice cracking and warmth on her cheeks but the fox just kept her held gently in an embrace she could easily step out of.

"Then fire me if you want, I won't stand here and let you cry or hate on yourself without doing something... I'm not good with words Ivory... I just know a hug makes me feel better sometimes," The fox kept speaking in a gentle strong tone of voice.

"S-stupid..." The cat felt her tension ease and slumped against his chest, closing her eyes and letting him hold her, saying nothing more, just letting his strong arms embrace her, making her feel secure and warm in them.

She flicked her ears, hearing the fox's strong thumping heart in his chest while she leaned against him. He wasn't making any efforts to do anything, not trying to cop a feel on her chest or shove his crotch into her backside. He was just holding her and trying to help in the only way he knew how.

After a few minutes of silence, Ivory let out a sigh and wiped her cheeks before forcing herself out of his arms. She took a moment to compose herself before turning to Joseph and looking into his eyes, she wanted to see the lewd look he had, but they were just gentle and concerned. Ivory looked away instantly and felt her cheeks warm. "You're an idiot..."

"So I've been told." The fox shrugged and moved to collect his coffee cup that was sitting on the counter. "Are you okay?"

"I am... sorry you had to see that," Ivory spoke the words softly before slowly putting her footpads into motion and moving into the shop.

"I didn't mind, I just hope I helped..." The fox sipped his coffee and looked at Ivory who was now looking back at him once more.

"Joe... I really am sorry for digging those wounds open over and over again," She spoke while rubbing at her own arm looking away from him once more.

"It's fine, Ivory. I'm sorry for being so cold to you this morning too." The young fox gave her a small smile.

Ivory grinned at him and flicked her tail. "So we good?"

"Yes ma'am," The fox huffed out and walked away flicking his tail as he grinned at her.

"Okay little fox, don't talk to me like I'm THAT much older than you!" Ivory spoke the words playfully as they both made to get ready to open the store.

--*--

The morning shift started with a roar like it always did. Ivory and Joseph were busy the first few hours while all the morning goers came in to get their fix for the day. Once the noon hour rolled around things had calmed down and Crystal had come in, giving the two their lunch break.

Ivory as per usual opted to spend her lunch break outside smoking. She had just finished one cigarette and pulled another out when she smelled the scent of dog. Sure enough, Joseph rounded the corner and looked at her while she leaned against the wall.

"What's up Joe?" Ivory spoke as she started to light her second smoke, then paused as she saw the fox approaching her. He was holding a cup of coffee in his handpaw and took a seat on the bench beside where she was standing. "Eh? The hell are you doing?"

The fox sipped his coffee and looked over at Ivory. "Taking my lunch?"

"You don't like smoking, why are you out here?" Ivory calmly spoke out lighting her cigarette up before taking a pull of it before blowing the smoke up into the air away from the fox.

Joseph shrugged and swirled his coffee in his cup. "Maybe I was getting lonely and wanted to hang out with you. Maybe I'm willing to put up with the smoke."

Ivory felt a twinge of anger spark in her for some reason at the thought of it, was this fox trying to replace Karen, was he trying to take pity on her? "Look fox, I don't need your sympathy company..." The cat huffed out in a bitter little tone of voice.

"Then tell me to fuck off and leave you alone Ivory," He snapped back before standing from the bench and facing her, leaving his coffee cup sitting.

The cat took a draw off her cigarette and huffed out, smoke pushing out of her muzzle right into the fox's face. His ears flicked in irritation but he stayed there staring at her. "You're an idiot..." She hissed the words, her cheeks feeling warm as he stared at her so intently, she once again felt her heart rate going up while looking into his chestnut eyes.

"Yeah, and you're acting like a bitch again! Do you really hate me that much Ivory?!" Joseph barked the words, a snarl in his voice now.

"Of course I don't!" Ivory snapped back throwing her half-smoked cigarette on the ground and stomping it out before glaring up at the fox showing her teeth.

"Then why the attitude because I wanted to hang out?! Why the attitude when I was worried?" His voice got more frustrated and she could hear it shaking a little as he huffed down into her face.

"Because!" Ivory snarled, her mind racing, 'You're a nice guy, you shouldn't go near a tramp like me, you're also gonna hurt me if I get close like everyone else. You're gonna use me and drop me!'

"Because fucking why?! I can't read your damn mind Ivory!" The fox growled his face only a few inches from her own, he could plainly smell her now, her shampoo and perfume blending with the scent of smoke. It made his stomach twist in a knot to be so close to her and made his own mind whirl with thoughts, 'Damn... she still smells good even after the smoking...'

The cat clenched her teeth seeing him so close to her and tried to back up but she was right against the wall. She could smell him straight on now, he smelled feral and a little scary, but also with a heady strong musk, it made her heart leap into her throat before she swallowed it down to respond. "Because I'm not Karen, Joseph!"

The dog shot his ears up at the words and snarled out, "No shit! I don't like you as a Karen substitute, I like you as you, Ivory!"

"I like you too you stupid dog but that doesn't me- W-what the fuck did you just say?!" The cat spat out in shock and felt her whole body warm at the words.

"I... I said I like you for you..." He stammered before shaking his head and refocusing on those blazing blue eyes of hers. "I've liked you for ages now, but I never said anything because I knew you would think it was like Karen all over again!"

Ivory bit her lower lip her ears drooping while she replayed the days in fast forward in her mind, the fox had been making an effort to get to know her and hang out with her little by little for weeks, no months. He had been probing her with little questions day in and day out getting to know her.

"S-stupid... what are you saying?! I'm not worth liking, you can do a thousand times better than someone like me!" Ivory spat the words back into Joseph's face feeling her heart pound as the dog slammed his palm to the wall next to her and leaned in on her.

"I think you're great! I think you're strong and amazing! I... wait a sec! You just said you liked me too back there!" The dog flicked his ears up, the rest of the conversation catching up to his brain his cheeks growing hot under his own fur, his heart starting to race.

"Joe! Fucking look at me!" The cat hissed out at him in a tone of authority and the fox's ears shot up, his tail fluffed out as he refocused on her. "If you're fucking with me, I will kill you!" She hissed the words at him, her whole face feeling hot, half glaring but also her eyes looking nervous and scared from his proximity.

The dog bit his lower lip hard, showing his sharp canine, his heart pounding violently in his ears while looking into those icy blue pools of her eyes as his mind raced, 'Dear gods those eyes of hers, they're gorgeous... fine... then if I'm going down, I'm going in flames this time... I will show her rather than explain!'

Joseph growled and pushed forward his muzzle shoving against Ivory's in a sudden kiss. The cat's ears perked as the fox's mouth pushed to her own, her bright blue eyes going wide. Her heart stopped for a breath and her mind flushed of all thoughts before she returned the kiss, pushing back against him with just as much force and desire. She felt the fox growling against her muzzle and she parted her maw slightly while turning her head, pressing her tongue out to taste his own.

The young fox slightly parted his own jaws and tilted his head the other way, his movements awkward as his tongue pushed against hers, her mouth tasted of smoke, coffee, and the cherry lip balm she had on. His tongue was clumsy against her own showing his inexperience but the cat was happy to keep the kiss going for several moments.

Ivory's padded-fingers moved up to grasp the fox's shirt collar and she jerked him closer, pulling his larger body against hers before she broke the kiss slowly, leaving her lips lingering near his own while speaking to him, "Why... why me?"

"I could ask you the same thing... you said you like me too, Ivory..." Joseph huffed the words against her lips and pushed forward for more. Ivory obliged him and pushed her body to his own, her heavy breasts squeezing against his chest while their tongues rolled against one another. The fox was a quick study and was already matching her pace, his movements mimicking her own while they kissed. She felt his paw strong against her hip now, pulling her closer instinctively.

Again Ivory broke the kiss to speak, "Stupid... I'm just a whore, I like anything with a cock..."

"Bullshit..." The fox fired back with a surprisingly confident tone before shoving his mouth to hers again for a third helping of her mouth.

This time the cat let out a soft eager moan against his mouth, her nails digging into his chest, letting his tongue push in all on its own. The fox explored her mouth eagerly, brushing his tongue along her sharp little canines and flicking it along her own playfully. Ivory let him go for several more moments before finally pulling from him, both their tongues lolled out slightly a mixture of their saliva hanging from the tips before the strand broke.

Ivory gave him a hungry grin, shoving her palms hard against his shoulders and pushing him off her slowly. Joseph stepped back from the wall a few paces, panting and feeling his pulse racing in his ears.

"So... you like me?" Ivory purred the words with a lustful gleam in her eyes.

The dog nodded in response, his large reddish-brown tail furiously wagging as a puppy's would. "I-I do... I have for a long time..."

"Let's play a game, Joe..." The blonde purred, a paw moving to circle a padded-finger at his chest, "I will ask you questions... we will see if you were paying attention in class... if you get enough of them right, you can come home with teacher after work..."

The fox's cheeks burned a heavy crimson under his fur at the words and he shook his head quickly, "D-don't think I just want that! I- I really do like you Ivory!"

She laughed out softly then shook her head. "You are such a gentlefox, but I can smell your musk now, dog... you're already thinking about it. Thinking about me."

The cat was playing with him again and he knew it but he huffed and nodded. "O-okay... What are the questions?"

Ivory's demeanor shifted on the spot and her eyes snapped to a serious look as she leaned against the wall and folded her arms. "I'm not Karen, let's see if you learned from her. What's my favorite band?"

Mentioning the rabbit frazzled him for a few seconds and he felt his mind go blank, his heart pacing up once more in a slight panic, he knew the answer but couldn't think. "Ah... I know... I just..."

"Nervous fox? I thought you liked me, thought you knew me... are you just chasing fantasies again?" The cat hissed the words and tapped her footpaw impatiently.

"I'm just nervous, damn it! I didn't expect to be put on the spot right after kissing you for the first time!" Joseph barked out his ears flicking about as he thought furiously to himself.

Ivory grinned at the dog in a panic and just kept her arms crossed purposely pushing them under her chest to make her breasts push out more heavily before him. "Mhm... sure..." She purred the words, enjoying watching him squirm and panic.

His large red and black ears perked up at the view, getting a good look at her heavy breasts in the button-down top she wore today. "Tch... C-can I come back to this one?" The dog huffed shyly, trying to look away from the cat's figure, the view just draining his thoughts even more and placing them squarely in the gutter.

"Mmm... Nope. Sink or swim, Joe!" The cat cooed out with a grin, she was enjoying watching him be so cute and panic. Of course, she would give him another chance, but he was being so cute right now, why not have some fun with him.

"L-look I can't think right now okay? Just another question, please!" The dog started barking out in a huff, as if desperate to prove she wasn't another Karen. "Green is your favorite color! Your birthday is May twenty-third, your favorite food is chili burgers. Uh... you prefer smoking llama brand, your favorite drink is scotch with a splash of tonic..."

The cat blinked several times, just letting him go. He sat there rattling off things she liked, places she wanted to see. He even recalled her lamenting about a pet she lost as a child. Finally Ivory pushed her paw to the fox's muzzle shushing him. He let out a huff through his nose and she smiled feeling his warm breath on her padded-fingers. "Good boy... that was pretty impressive. You know me pretty well it seems."

Joseph blushed at the words and wagged his tail, grinning at the approval and Ivory gave the dog an amused smile, placing a handpaw to her own cheek and huffing softly, "I never told you my favorite band, because I don't have one..."

The fox's jaw slacked slightly before he glared at her with a huff, "Y-you... bitch..."

Ivory grinned and flicked her tail tracing a padded-finger along his lips, "Guilty as charged..."

Joseph perked his ears up and huffed out, "W-well... you said you liked me, so wha-"

"It's red." Ivory purred gently, trailing her handpaw off his lips and down his throat.

He felt her paw slide along his throat to his chest as he swallowed, "O-okay well my bir-"

"June second, you're a Gemini like me." The cat spoke confidently as she gripped his shirt collar and pulled him down to her slowly.

"Ha... y-yeah... well my favorite mus-" The dog huffed as the cat moved in for his mouth once more

"You like old ska bands you dork... now shut up..." The cat hummed and shoved her muzzle to his, hungry for the fox's mouth. Her tongue pushed into his own mouth this time, flicking at his tongue which seemed to flick in panic at her aggression.

Joseph eased into the kiss after a few heartbeats and wrapped his arms around the cat, drawing her into him possessively, her heavy breasts squeezing into his chest, his padded-fingers sliding into her brownish-gold hair. She felt the fox slide his paws over her ears which jerked and twitched in response to his touch.

Ivory let out a soft groan against his lips before breaking away from them and giving him a hungry grin. "You can ask me all the questions you please after work at my place tonight..." She purred the words and leaned in giving the fox a quick peck on the snout before slipping down and out of his arms.

Joseph wiped a bit of saliva from his jaw and panted gently, his tongue showing slightly. His tail wagged in a slow lazy motion as he watched the cat whom he had been adoring for so long casually rake her padded-fingertips through her hair to even it back out, then adjusted her mussed up top.

"Lunch break is almost over Joe, don't be late clocking back in..." Ivory turned on a heel and made sure to put a little sway in her hips while walking back to the door, trying to show her backside off for him, her patch-colored tail lazily rolling and coiling while her hips shifted under the skirt she wore.

Joseph watched her disappear around the corner back inside. He slumped down on the bench and huffed out, feeling drained emotionally. His heart was throbbing in his chest and his mind reeled with thoughts. Almost a year ago in this very spot, he had his heart broken, and yet now here he was again with a very different scenario unfolding.

"Sometimes not getting what we want... can be a very good thing later on... " The fox muttered the words she spoke to him, feeling a chill run down his spine as he thought about that day with her and shook his head. Joseph stood up and composed himself, setting his jaw while flicking his tail sharply a few times before moving back into the shop to get back to work.

--*--

The last few hours of the shift trickled by slowly for both the cat and the fox. Finally, quitting time arrived and they both clocked out. Joseph felt a shiver of excitement and nervousness move down his spine. Ivory had acted normal through the whole shift after their encounter outside, and the fox wondered if she had changed her mind.

"Why standing here looking so sullen fox? Having second thoughts?" The blonde cat spoke the words with a playful grin as she slipped over to him and clocked out. She cut her blue eyes up towards his and gave him a hungry look. "Are you scared of me?"

"N-no... of course not!" He shook his head and huffed out trying to look confident for Ivory who just gave him an amused smile like that of an older adult humoring a child for accomplishing some minor task they were proud of.

"I will be outside then, see you there..." Ivory purred and bumped the fox with her hip before slipping out of the break room and leaving the building to stand out front.

He quickly made his way outside to join her, Crystal giving him a curious look at his demeanor and scent while he passed by. Once outside they began walking in the direction Ivory lead them. She looked up at the large fox beside her, staring at his features for several moments before breaking the silence, "Did you let your parents know you weren't going to be home tonight?"

The dog snorted through his nose in a huff, "I'm an adult now Ivory, you don't have to treat me like a kid!"

The cat smiled and flicked her tail, "I'm sorry I forgot... once you legally turn an adult an apartment magically appears for you with all your stuff in it," The cat cooed the words playfully and huffed in a serious tone, "Seriously, did you tell them? I don't want them worrying or thinking you've been kidnapped."

"Yes... I said I was going to be out late," The fox huffed then looked back at the cat. "But seriously, you don't have to keep worrying about me like I'm a kid."

"I'm not. I just don't want you to be an asshole to your parents now that you're an adult." Ivory purred as she pushed up against the dog huffing softly, "I have no intention of treating you like a child in any shape or form tonight..."

Joseph felt his heart begin pounding as the older female pushed up against him while they walked back to her place. His mind was filled with the promises of the night and the anxiety they brought with them.

"You know... I was supposed to meet Karen tonight, but she had a job come up," Ivory spoke the words casually while pushed up against him.

The fox felt his heart sink a little at the name but shook it off and focused, "Yeah? That's a shame... That happens a lot?"

"Seems to more than it should, yeah.... It's okay though, she is married now and works with Isaac. I can't be too bitchy about it, she is happy after all." Ivory spoke the words, looking up at Joseph to see his response to the next question, "Would you like to see her too sometime?"

The dog pauses in his tracks as if the question froze his footpaw's to the ground for a moment. A cocktail of thoughts rolled through his head before he shook his head to clear it and looked down at Ivory curiously. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because I want to know." The cat spoke pointedly as she looked into his eyes.

"Sure I guess... I mean... I still had to work with her even after things went down... It's been several months. I wouldn't mind it..." Joseph shrugged and began to walk once more.

"Could you handle it?" Ivory prodded at him, curious to see how he handled the question.

"I... I think I could. She is married now and I've moved on... I've still got a place in my heart for her, but that's how it is with lots of people and love I think..." The fox spoke out quickly not seeming to think about them while they walk.

"Ha... love eh? Pretty strong word, that one..." Ivory purred as she spoke and pushed closer to the fox, enjoying his warmth and company on the walk home.

"Have you ever been in love, Ivory?" Joseph asked curiously.

The cat grew silent for several moments before answering him, "Sure, I think anyway... It's complicated..."

"Sorry for prying." He huffed and moved his arm around her pulling her more securely to him. Ivory grinned, enjoying the dominant move the fox made and rewarded him by hugging tighter.

"Just warning you now... you start dropping the love word around me, I'm tossing you out, fox." The cat purred as if she were speaking a loving sweet poem to him, but something told the fox she was dead serious.

"D-don't be silly... I said I liked you... I'm not that crazy to start dropping the love word on our first date!" He barked defensively, feeling his cheeks heat up under his muzzle-fur.

"You think this is a date, Joseph?" Ivory purred the words softly while holding close to him.

"I-isn't it?" he asked, seeming to be confused by the statement.

"Hmm... yes... I guess since you're thinking of it that way, yes it is." Ivory gave the fox a hungry grin as they got to her apartment building.

Joseph looked into the cat's sparkling blue eyes and swallowed hard, wondering if he had bitten off more than he could chew with this situation.

---

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