FSE

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>With the windows rolled down a chilly morning breeze fills the interior of my car, white trimmed houses and trees bearing the last remnants of fall painting the edges of my vision

>It's Friday and I'm almost finished with the weekly drive down to Charlotte's place

>A weekly drive that I was starting to crave every time the week neared its end

>Usually a visit to her house would start with some pleasant conversation, a light lunch, then I would do a touch up on her fur and nails

>It was utterly unknown to me how many times I would have to give her house visits until I paid her back for the scratches on the shower door, but frankly I didn't care

>Partly because I didn't mind doing the work, my talent, experience, and her luxurious coat making the job both easy and rewarding

>Partly because her house was larger and more comfortable to stay the evening in than my cramped shoebox apartment

>Partly because what typically followed a grooming session isn't fit for polite conversation

>But to completely honest with myself, the biggest reason I didn't mind doing it was the genuine smile that graced Charlotte's muzzle every time she saw herself in the mirror

>She was happy with how she looked, I was happy making her happy, a win-win

>My car rolls into her driveway and I snatch the backpack containing all my grooming implements out of the passenger seat

>Time to get to work!

>I march up to the front door, ring the doorbell, and wait a few seconds

>Only to be met with silence

>No sounds of her walking up to the door, no movement through the window, absolutely nothing

>So I ring it again

>Only for a muffled “It's already unlocked!" to come from somewhere deep within the house

>Alrighty then, maybe her hibernation instincts really kicked in today and she's too lazy to walk up and open it for me

>Or maybe she's got something planned…

>A trail of rose petals starting at the front door perhaps?

>Or maybe she'll suddenly appear from behind a corner in skimpy lingerie?

>Or maybe she's got some new tricks up her sleeve

>I turn the knob, step inside, and close the door behind me

>It's faint, but I hear a conversation coming from somewhere on the other side of the house

>Interesting, this is the first time she's had company over while scheduled for a touch up

>Hopefully she isn't trying to turn today into a three way mutual grooming session, I can barely handle Charlotte when she's alone much less if she's got one of her furry friends joining in

>Regardless, she's no doubt heard me enter by now, might as well make myself known

>"Charlotte?" I shout into the house

>"We're in the backyard Anon! Come join us." Charlotte replies

>Ah, they be at the little outdoor table she has on her humble patio

>I saunter through the foyer, into the kitchen, then slide apart a couple glass doors to be met with her backyard

>It isn't very large, almost half it is taken up with just the wooden patio and beyond it is a humble yard and small flower garden

>And seated at opposite ends of a square wooden table is Charlotte and her guest, a squirrel woman who can't be taller than four feet

>Granted, squirrel folk aren't exactly blessed with height, but even for them she's awfully short

>Which just makes the contrast between her and Charlotte all the more amusing

>A vertically challenged puffy tailed herbivore and a seven foot tall claw and tooth equipped ursine at the same table, both sipping on tea while exchanging polite conversation

>Not exactly how I thought today was going to start

>Noticing my arrival, Charlotte turns to me with a smile

>"Anon! So glad you could have joined us. Please, have a seat and a cup of Mrs. Red's tea." She says, reaching over to fill an unused teacup from an ornate ceramic tea pot

>I comply, taking a seat at the table and stowing my grooming instruments next to my chair

>Charlotte finishes pouring the tea and places it on a small glass plate before handing it over to me

>"Thank you, Charlotte." I turn towards the squirrel. “And you must be Mrs. Red?"

>"That's right honey. I'm an old friend of Charlotte's, she's been telling me about how well you groom her fur and claws. Grooming is a rare skill to find in a man these days, too rare." She answers with a vaguely Texan accent

>She reaches her little paw out for a handshake and I cautiously return it, being as gentle as possible on her dainty hand

>"I'm flattered Charlotte thinks so highly of me. I've been doing house appointments for her for a few weeks now." I glance towards the bear. “Her coat is always a pleasure to work on, but her claws sometimes give me a little trouble."

>Charlotte gives me a subtle, but approving smile and sets down her teacup

>"But that isn't to say you do a bad job on them." Charlotte twirls her hand in the cool air, her shiny scarlet nails glittering in the morning sunlight. “You just don't sharpen them enough is all."

>Don't sharpen them enough? It's almost like I intentionally refrain from making them razor sharp since every time I do sharpen them she finds a new way to make me regret it…

>"That reminds me," says the squirrel, “did you know that back in the day it used to be customary for husbands of anthro wives to learn how to groom them? Brushing fur, trimming claws, cutting loose hairs, it was seen as a bonding exercise. A husbandly duty to pair with a wife's *AHEM* wifely duty, if you get my meaning. As far as I'm concerned it's a damn shame it went the way of the dodo. Do you have any idea how much money my daughters would save if their boyfriends would learn how to take care of them? Groomer's fees these days are outrageous!"

>Charlotte chuckles, and takes a sip of tea

>"Thankfully Anon here gives me a discounted rate. We're good friends, you see."

>Discounted rate? That's a funny way of saying free

>Mrs. Red raises an eyebrow

>"Ohhh, you think Anon could give me a touch up or two every now and then? My tail's got tangles and knots all over it." She says, grabbing her large bushy tail from behind her

>"Mrs. Red I wouldn't mind-

>Charlotte cuts me off

>"I'm afraid he's awfully busy lately, not much time for additional clients, isn't that right Anon?"

>I slowly shake my head in agreement, why didn't she want me to groom Mrs. Red?

>"Y-yeah, that's right, I'm afraid I'm all booked up for the time being Mrs. Red."

>The squirrel pouts

>"Dang it, well when you have a free spot open up be sure to let me know ya hear?"

>"Will do Mrs. Red."

>"Perfect." The squirrel gives a satisfied nod then sips her tea.

>Speaking of tea, I haven't even touched my cup

>Growing curious I bring the cup up to my mouth and take a sip

>It's earthy, nutty, and very bitter

>Personally I didn't care for drinks so bitter tasting, instead preferring things more on the sweet side

>Yet I feel obligated to not insult Charlotte's guest, and put on a fake smile as I set the cup down

>"Like it?" Asks Mrs. Red

>"It's delicious."

>The squirrel giggles in delight

>"My family recipe never fails to satisfy! The secret is in the acorns the tea is steeped in, among a few other secret ingredients to give it its signature full bodied flavor." The squirrel reveals, taking another long sip

>Acorns huh? Somehow I'm not surprised

>I take another polite sip of tea and do my best to not grimace as the awful taste coats my tongue

>Charlotte looks to the sky and sighs, setting her cup down

>"Isn't it about time for you to leave?" She asks Mrs. Red.

>The squirrel retrieves her phone and nods in agreement

>"True, it's nearly ten already. If I'm not at the dentist's office by ten thirty sharp they may cancel my appointment and charge me a fee, the money grubbers."

>"You don't want to miss it, given your proclivity for chewing on things you shouldn't." Charlotte remarks with a smirk.

>"You try living with two giant buck teeth that grow quicker than a cactus in a rainstorm! You might just find the need to chew on the occasional pencil or arm of a loved one too!"

>"Thankfully bear teeth aren't so high maintenance, otherwise Anon here might have had to become my new chew toy."

>The ladies laugh as my cheeks flush red with embarrassment, then Mrs. Red begins setting her teacups and teapot on a small metal tray

>"Well you two have a wonderful rest of your day. When's the next time you'll be free Charlotte?"

>"Sometime next week probably, I'll call you when I have a better idea." She responds

>Mrs. Red begins walking to the house and waves

>"Well I'm off to have my front two teeth dealt with, see ya'll later!"

>We wave back as she closes the door to the house

>When she's gone I grab my bag of grooming supplies and turn to Charlotte

>"So, you want to do this inside or out here, on your patio?"

>"Let's do it right here. Being outside makes clean up so much easier, all those loose hairs are such a bother to clean up."

>I nod and set the bag on the table

>"Gotcha, just the usual touch up then?"

>"Head, ears, neck, and nails." She puts a finger up to her chin before adding to her list. “Oh, and can you do my eyes as well?"

>I pause, she's never wanted me to do her eyes before

>"What do you want done exactly? I didn't exactly bring a full groomer station with me."

>"Just, you know, maybe a little mascara to make my eyelashes pop and some eyeliner to really accentuate my seductive gaze?"

>After a quick check of my bag I find the requested makeups and pull them out, setting them on the table with all the other grooming implements

>"Looks like I have everything, pull your chair out and I can get started."

>She silently complies, scooting back from the table and placing her hands in her lap as I move behind her

>I decide to begin at the top, and start carefully trimming her ears to make them as well rounded and fuzzy as possible

>As I continue down her head a question pops into my mind

>"So Charlotte, why were you so reluctant to let me groom Mrs. Red? She seemed nice."

>"Honestly? I'd prefer to keep you all to myself Anon. I like the work you do on me and the time we spend together. If you're off giving personal grooming sessions to other clients then that means less time for us to be together. Just think about it, first you start grooming Mrs. Red, then she tells her friends about you, then bam! All of a sudden you have a dozen other clients demanding your attention and I'm left in the dust!"

>"Geez Charlotte, you're acting awfully possessive, thinking that I would sideline you for some other furry lady. Frankly I'm disappointed that you think I could do something so disloyal." I lean down and put my head beside hers, speaking in a low, intimate tone. “You know I wouldn't do something like that, right? As far as I'm concerned, you're my number one client. I enjoy the time we spend together just as much as you do. Especially the stuff that happens after I've finished grooming you."

>I end with a big wet kiss on the side of her muzzle

>She turns her head slightly, looking me in the eye with a shy smile

>"You'll have to forgive me for acting so paranoid. In my experience a good groomer is hard to find, a good groomer that does home visits is like finding gold in your backyard, but a groomer with benefits that's also good at their job? Priceless."

>"If I'm so priceless then why don't you ever tip me for all my hard work?" I fire back

>"I do tip you for all the hard work you do. I just don't use money."

>I can't help but chuckle, saucy fur filled memories bubbling up into my consciousness

>"True, but the birds and the bees don't help me pay rent Charlotte. My landlord only takes cold, hard cash and what my job pays me only goes so far."

>She huffs and looks away

>"Oh alright, I may give you some pocket change every now and then, if you insist. I would hate for my preferred groomer to end up a dirty bum."

>"Much appreciated." I say, and resume trimming her coat

>After finishing her ears I move down her head

>A few snips on some overgrown cheek fluff, a quick touch up to her muzzle, then I go down her neck making small cuts and adjustments the entire way

>With her fur now tidied up and looking beautiful I put away the scissors and comb and bring out the files and claw polish

>The color? An eye catching scarlet, her favorite

>She puts her paws on the table and I pull a chair up, surveying her claws

>The claw polish I put on last time is chipped and faded, she'll need a fresh coat before the end of today

>But before that I'll need to sharpen them again, much to my chagrin

>She must have felt my reluctance since she pipes up before I even set file to claw

>"Make them as sharp as you can please, a defenseless old lady like me needs every advantage she can get."

>I can't help but laugh

>"Ha! A man eater like you is far from defenseless, and you aren't old either."

>She shrugs

>"But what if I'm accosted by a big mean lion who wants my money? Or a tiger? Or a polar bear? And don't try to act like I'm some spring chicken Anon, I'm old enough to be your mother!"

>I take out a file and begin sharpening her claws

>"First of all, if you're really worried about that you should go buy a gun. Even though if you got into a melee with a half-ton beast of a purse snatcher I'd be placing my bets on you, there's no reason not to keep the odds in your favor with a few little lead friends. Second of all, my mother had me pretty late in life so it's more like you're old enough to be my mother's younger, sexier sister."

>This causes Charlotte to double over in laughter, I pause while she regains her bearings

>"Her younger sexier sister huh? I suppose that makes me feel a little better, knowing that I'm not quite at the withered up old hag stage of my life."

>"Quit being so self-deprecating." I chide her, lightly slapping her on the hand. “You don't even have any gray hairs yet. Trust me, I would know if you did."

>"Can't argue with that." She says with a tilt of the head. “But I still want you to make my claws extra sharp, as usual. If I can't cut clean through diamond by the time you're through with them I'll be sorely disappointed."

>"That's a tall order, but I'll do my best." I say, returning my focus to her claws

>She slumps down in her seat and enjoys the cool autumn air as I work claw by claw, gradually using finer and finer files to ensure she has only the sharpest of tips and edges

>Once the sharpening is finished I bring out the claw polish remover and begin wiping away what color remained on her claws from last week's touch up

>It's a slow process as I wait for the odorous concoction of chemicals to do their magic, so I decide to make some more conversation

>"So, is what Mrs. Red said earlier true?"

>"That she steeps her tea in acorns? The awful taste still in my mouth leads me to believe it is."

>"No, no." I say with a chuckle. “I meant that whole thing about grooming being a thing husbands did for their anthro wives a long time ago."

>She looks to the sky as she racks her memory

>"Yeah, that used to be a thing. Was well on the way out when I was growing up so I'm not surprised you've never even heard of it, but that old squirrel wasn't lying."

>"Why did it go away?"

>She shrugs

>"Cultural expectations change over the years, professional groomers became more commonplace, men decided learning how to brush fur and trim claws was unbecoming of them and women decided that they liked the specialized styles that only the pros could provide. It's just one of those things that fades with time, I wouldn't say the practice is totally gone but I'm guessing you didn't have to attend any 'how to take care of a fuzzy wife' classes when you were in high school, did you?"

>I shake my head

>"Nope, probably got replaced with typing classes at some point."

>"You have your answer then."

>I wipe a claw with a cotton ball and look up to Charlotte

>"So, do you get some sort of perverse pleasure out of making me do all this then?"

>She chuckles nervously before responding

>"Uh, what do you mean?"

>"Well I'm always the one taking care of your fur, making it look nice, painting your claws, it's almost like you enjoy having someone around to fulfill the husbandly duties of the past."

>"I have no idea what you're talking about." She says with a roll of her eyes

>"Okay, okay. But to make this all a little fairer, when I'm done do you think you could put on a polka dot dress and make me a casserole? Maybe offer me a shot of brandy and some gossip about the neighbors too?"

>She huffs and punches me in the shoulder with a laugh

>"I'm no housewife Anon, and don't try to guilt trip me into acting like one because you just so happen to perform an ancient husbandly function for me."

>I wipe another claw free of old polish and look up to her

>"Alright, fine. But I'm betting you could make a mean casserole if you wanted to, considering how good those steaks you cooked for me a few weeks ago were."

>She leans back in her chair, a self-satisfied smile on her face

>"Glad to see the years of honing my cooking skills have been paying off. Then again, when you have the appetite of a bear bad food gets tiresome quickly."

>I finish cleaning the last of her claws and get out the claw polish, coating all ten of her finger mounted razor blades in a nice even coat of scarlet red

>I work slowly, careful not to get any polish on her coffee colored fur

>Once done I scoot my chair back and lean over her paws, looking at them from all angles to ensure I got every square millimeter of claw

>Satisfied, I stand and cross my arms confidently

>"What do you think?"

>She takes her paws and turns them around in the air, the shiny scarlet glistening in the sun

>"Satisfactory." She says with an approving nod. “But you still need to do my eyes."

>"Oh, right. Turn your chair around so I can get an angle. You wanted something subtle right?"

>"Yes, use too much makeup and I go from looking seductive to looking whorish. I want to catch other people's eyes, but not give them the impression that I'll give up my dignity for a cash payment."

>She then picks up her chair and turns it to face me as I gather the required makeup

>I start with the eye liner, making dark highlights around the tops and bottoms of her eyelids, the thin strips of black acting to contrast the whites of her eyes with her light brown fur

>Satisfied, I take a step back

>My handiwork is subtle yet noticeable to the trained eye, her dark brown eyes are accented with fine lines of black giving her face a more striking, distinctive look

>Next up, the mascara

>The process for this one is more straightforward compared to everything else I've done to her today

>I take the bristly brush and gently stroke it across her eyelashes, each pass making them grow in volume and gain a slightly exaggerated curl

>Once done I put the brush back in the bottle

>Charlotte bats her eyelashes at me and takes on a sarcastic tone

>"Done already? I was just getting comfortable in this chair. Are you sure you aren't forgetting something?"

>"Head, neck, nails, ears, and eyes at your request." I respond, counting on my fingers. “I'm all done Charlotte. Do you want to check yourself in the mirror or shall we get straight to the part where you *AHEM* tip me for my work?"

>She stands and begins walking to the door

>"I'll check your work, make sure it's satisfactory so I can consider you one step closer to paying off my shower door."

>"Not my fault you get your claws out when you orgasm." I mumble under my breath

>"What?"

>"Nothing!" I quickly blurt out, stepping into the house with her

>The two of us walk to the master bathroom and Charlotte stops in front of the mirror, twisting and turning her body to inspect every strand of fur I touched on her today

>Apparently satisfied, she then twirls her claws around in the air again, admiring their vibrant red color in the light

>She then leans forward and bobs her head around, getting a good look at the work I did on her eyes

>After straightening her back she rests her hands on her hips, a stoic expression on her face

>"Well? Satisfied?" I ask, anxious about the answer

>"Not your best work, but it's satisfactory." She says, gauging the sharpness of one of her claws with a fingertip

>"And your eyes? Do you like them? I don't do eyes very often; most women prefer to do their own."

>She purses her lips and looks at herself in the mirror again

>"They're a little whorish, but otherwise fine."

>"Whorish?! I went as light as I could on the makeup!"

>She chuckles

>"Of course a man wouldn't understand the difference between whorish and seductive. It's a subtle line, and I'm afraid you crossed it. In any case I don't mind, it reminds me of the way I used to do my makeup when I was younger. Enough eye liner to give yourself panda bear eyes and excessive amounts of mascara were all the rage back then. At least Panda bear women could skip one of those steps of they wanted to, heh."

>I cross my arms with a grumble, of course she would find something to nitpick

>"Alright, fine. I still think I did a good job otherwise though. Now about my payment…" I say, raising my eyebrows up and down to get the point across

>She turns to me with a huff

>"Really now? Can't stand to spend any time with your supposed number one client other than what's strictly necessary? You just want to fuck me then leave me here all alone like you do every other week?"

>I put my arms up in surrender

>"Whoa-whoa-whoa, I didn't mean it like that. If you want to do something else today that's fine. I got the rest of today free so just tell me where we're going."

>"Good answer." She says, putting a hand up to her chin. “It's still mid-morning so it's still too early for lunch. How about some coffee? We can go into town and I can get some shopping done, then I can drive you back here and we can say our goodbyes."

>"Sounds like a plan. Any place you had in mind?"

>"Ever been to Catty's Coffee Company? They have some nice specialty drinks, but personally I prefer the simpler things."

>"I wouldn't mind some coffee, let's go!"

>"Just a moment! Let me put on something a little nicer and then we'll go." She says, pointing me to the door. “And no peeking, you little scamp."

>A few minutes later she emerges from the bathroom outfitted in a knee length dress, two straps going across her shoulders and the color a uniform bright white

>She also put in some simple diamond earrings and a tasteful coat of red lip stick across her lips

>"How do I look?"

>Only one word comes to mind

>"Beautiful, as always Charlotte."

>"You're such a flatterer." She says with a dismissive wave of her paw. “Let's get a move on. We'll take my car, it's far more presentable than your rust bucket."

>I offer no resistance; her car was undoubtedly nicer than mine

>As I step inside it I can't help but ogle the interior

>Plush leather seats, a pristine paint job, modern infotainment system, not to mention that it was also far larger than the interior of my car, slightly upsized models being a common commodity for larger anthros like Charlotte

>She starts the car then we're off, soon weaving through traffic to our caffeine dealer of choice

****************************************************************

>Thankfully the place isn't very busy as we walk in, guess the morning rush has already passed

>I take in the intoxicating aroma of brewing java and take a place in line next to Charlotte

>"What are you getting Charlotte? Latte? Flat white? Caramel macchiato? One of those iced coffees?"

>She looks at me with a look of subtle amusement

>"I'm a little old school, I never fancied the sweeter drinks in the mornings, too much sugar. What are you getting?"

>I look up at the menu, eyes dancing across a litany of creatively titled drinks, half of which I had no idea what they even were

>"The…uhhh…orange mocha frappucino looks pretty good."

>She suppresses a chuckle

>"For some reason I had a feeling you would say something that."

>The two of us step forward in line until there was only one person in front of us, Charlotte bumps me with an elbow to get my attention

>"I'll be paying, this'll be my little treat."

>"I'm not that destitute Charlotte. I can pay for my own drink, no need to-“

>The person in front of me clears and Charlotte pushes me forward, right in front of the waiting cashier

>Flustered, I decide to just go with it

>"Umm, I'll have a large orange mocha frappucino." I say to the bored looking calico cashier

>"Anything else?" She replies

>I glance at Charlotte and she steps forward

>"And I'll have an extra-large americano, five extra shots of expresso, no cream, no sugar. Oh, and a slice of banana walnut bread, and that'll be it."

>The cashier rings us both up and hands her Charlotte her bread

>She pays, then the two of us loiter around the counter while our drinks are made

>"So, you like the stronger stuff huh? Five shots of expresso are no joke. I knew a guy in college that drank gallons of coffee for an all-night study session the day before finals week started. Ended up giving himself heart palpitations and going to the hospital. Ironically that also gave him a couple more days to study before they released him so I guess he got what he wanted, just not in the way he wanted it."

>"Funny, but I'm a brown bear in hibernation season Anon, you know that. I need something to ward off my instincts and keep my energy levels up." She says, taking a bite of her bread

>"But it's not even noon yet! I thought hibernation season just meant you needed to sleep a bit more each day, not guzzle down stimulants just to keep yourself from passing out."

>She shrugs and puts on a mischievous smile

>"Or maybe I just like the taste Anon. Were you under the impression that ladies are only allowed to like the sweeter things in life?"

>I lower my volume

>"I know you have a thing for strawberries and cream based on the last time we had desert together, so clearly you have something of a sweet tooth."

>She chuckles and leans forward, her voice equally low

>"That I do, Anon, that I do. But you know what?"

>"What?"

>"When we had desert that day, that sweetest thing there…was you."

>She leans in and pecks me on the cheek, I feel my cheeks redden and a big stupid grin come on

>"Aww, thanks Charlotte."

>"You're welcome." She replies

>"Anon? Charlotte?" Shouts a barista holding two coffee cups

>Charlotte approaches her and retrieves your drinks

>She hands one to me and takes a sip of her own

>She sighs dreamily, then licks her lips

>"Mine's good, really wakes up the taste buds. How's yours Anon?"

>I take a sip of mine and-what the hell?!

>This isn't an orange mocha frappucino!

>It's a pumpkin spice latte!

>I grimace and wipe my lips, looking at the receipt glued to the cup

>"This isn't what I ordered at all. They got me a pumpkin spice latte, says it right there on the receipt."

>She takes the cup from my hand and eyes the receipt with a vicious gaze

>"I'll take care of it, hold these." She calmly orders, handing me her coffee and the half eaten slice of bread

>I take her items then she turns sharply on her heel and marches up to the counter, lips curled just enough to show the bottoms of her teeth

>Foreseeing the verbal tirade that was about to follow I rush towards Charlotte but I'm too late

>"Manager! I need to speak to a manager!" She bellows across the store

>The baristas working behind the counter briefly pause at her sudden outburst, then lock eyes on the cheetah man making his way to the counter from a backroom

>He's dressed in a tie and dress shirt, he must be the man in charge

>He walks up to the counter and looks up at the angry seven foot tall bear woman leering down at him, his eyes wide with fright

>"W-what seems to be the problem ma'am?"

>Charlotte slams the drink on the counter and points at me

>"He ordered an orange mocha frappucino, but what he received was a pumpkin spice latte. He hates pumpkin spice lattes. What kind of operation do you run here? This is absolutely unacceptable service!" She shouts in his face

>The manager briefly looks at me and all I can offer is an apologetic smile for the scene I've inadvertently caused

>With a shaky hand he retrieves the cup

>"We're very sorry about this mix up ma'am, w-we'll get it fixed right away." He stammers back

>Charlotte leans forward with her arms crossed, her lips curled into a frown and eyes squinted in a hellish glare

>"Thank you." She replies, words laced with a malicious undertone

>The cheetah man then scurries off to another part of the coffee shop, safely hidden from Charlotte's vicious gaze

>A couple minutes later and a barista hands Charlotte another coffee cup, she inspects the receipt on it before handing it to me

>"One orange mocha frappucino for my favorite groomer. Tell me how it tastes, I want to make sure they didn't screw up again."

>I exchange items with her and take a sip

>The coffee tastes…not great

>The combination of coffee, chocolate, and orange is in retrospect, totally gross

>Still, I put on a fake smile and give her my assessment

>"Tastes great!"

>"Good, if I'm paying for something the least they can do is get it right. Now let's take a seat."

>We find a small table by a window and sit down

>Charlotte sips her coffee while I force mine down my gullet, pleasant small talk drifting between the two of us as the world outside goes about its business

>At some point I begin regaling her with the time I was nearly clawed to death by an ex-girlfriend

>"-and she's chasing me across campus right? Now remember that she's a lioness, and I'm no Olympic runner, so I know that eventually she's going to catch up to me and rip my face off. So as I'm dodging and weaving through throngs of other students and between buildings I finally see an opportunity to lose her for good."

>"And where was that?" Asks Charlotte, taking another sip of her coffee

>"Well there just so happened to be a small park in the center of campus, and in that park lay a small pond. It wasn't very big, they didn't even allow fishing for fear of students snatching up and frying every fish that swim in it. So as I hear that pissed off cat growling mere inches behind me I sprint over to it and leap in!"

>"Seriously?"

>"Seriously! I swam to the center of it and waited for her to leave. You should have seen it Charlotte, a growling pissed off queen of the jungle pacing around the edge of a pond no bigger than a kiddy pool, eyes locked onto me with lethal intent but at the same time completely powerless to actually do anything for fear of getting wet. She made a couple laps around the edge of the pond before getting tired and leaving. I had to take a couple showers afterward to wash all the pond scum off of me but I made it through the day with my skin intact, thank god."

>Charlotte chuckles and raises the cup to her mouth again

>Yet as she does the lid pops off and coffee spills all over her chest and legs

>"Damnit!" She mutters, scooting her chair back and setting the cup back on the table

>As she stands up I see that the front of her white dress is completely soaked with a massive brown coffee stain

>I take a handful of napkins off the table and hand them to her, she begins dabbing them on her dress but we both know it's a lost cause

>Eventually her gaze rises to the counter and I see her face contort into a scowl

>Doesn't take a genius to know what she's thinking

>"Do you think that-“

>"No Charlotte, the manager didn't do anything to cause this."

>She picks up her cup and inspects the lid, after finding no obvious signs of sabotage she sets it down with a grumble

>I sigh and look out the window

>There, across the parking lot, is a clothing store

>The words 'Pretty in Pink' glow in large letters above the entrance of the store, next to it is the stylized head of a flamingo woman

>"Hey Charlotte." She looks up from her ruined dress. “There's a clothing store just over there. How about we head inside and you can get something new to wear? I'll even help you pick something out if you want me to."

>"Well I do need a new dress, and it is just a short walk away. We can leave when you're done with your coffee."

>I throw my still half full coffee cup away then we're walking to the clothing store

>I hold the door open for her as she enters, it is the gentlemanly thing to do after all

>I aimlessly roam the place as Charlotte peruses the merchandise, casually staring at items I had no intention of buying and whose price tags made me die a little on the inside

>As I'm blankly staring at a belt rack I hear someone call out for me

>"Oh my gosh-oh my gosh-oh my gosh! Hey Anon!" Screeches a pitched voice a couple aisles over

>I look over to see one of my regular clients at work waving at me, her tongue lolling out of her mouth and eyes filled with excitement

>My heart sinks

>It's Vanessa

>I wave back as she approaches but internally I'm cringing

>Vanessa is, how do I put this, a little more handsy than most people are

>Especially when it comes to humans

>I'm not saying someone having a fondness for another species is out of the ordinary, we all have our own tastes, but Vanessa's attraction towards humans is a poorly disguised fetish verging on obsession

>When you combine that with the fact that she's known for being touchy, frequents an establishment where she can literally pay for a human to run their fingers through her fur, and just so happens to be a history buff but only when it comes to historical human/wolven relations, her real intentions become clear as day

>The wolfess practically skips up to me and stops just a little too close for comfort, I take a step back to gain some much needed space

>I can't help but notice the uniform she's got on complete with nametag and logo for the store, so this must be what she does when she's not watching documentaries on interspecies relations or jilling it to human/wolven porn

>"Hey Vanessa, I had no idea you worked here. How are you doing?" I start, keeping my tone as close to polite but as far from friendly as I can make it

>"Well now that my favorite groomer just so happened to walk in I'm doing great!" She beams. “I could smell your scent from the other side of the store so I just had to investigate, make sure it was really you. We don't get a lot of humans here so when one walks in I always take notice."

>"You've…memorized my scent?"

>She gives an obnoxious laugh in response

>"Uhh, well duh, humans have one of the most recognizable scents on the planet! You all smell so unique, not like any of the furred species. With no fur to trap your natural musk humans smell so fresh, so distinct, so…intoxicating."

>Her eyes go half lidded and a dreamy expression comes across her face as she takes in a deep breath

>I give a polite smile and try to change the subject before she soaks her panties

>Assuming she's even wearing panties, that is

>"So, uhh, you seen any good movies lately?"

>Her ears perk up and she straightens her back

>"Ya-ya-ya! I saw The Wolfess and the Woodsmen just a couple days ago! I even camped outside the theater so I could get into the first showing! It's a romantic historical drama that takes place in the medieval ages, it's easily one of my favorites. It's about a noble human woodsman who encounters an injured wolfess in the forest. He slowly nurses her back to health and a beautiful romance blossoms between them. Then an evil knight comes to take her away and the woodsman learns that the wolfess is actually the runaway princess of the lupine kingdom!"

>"Sounds very romantic, unfortunately I'm not really into those kinds of movies though."

>She puts her hands up

>"Just wait though! After the knight kidnaps her, the woodsman goes on a heroic journey to save the princess from an arranged marriage with a nasty porcine nobleman. He storms his castle and crashes the wedding just before she puts the ring on. He struts up to the priest and presents the side of his head to him, the priest takes a sniff, then calls the marriage off! You see, according to ancient lupine codes of honor a wolfess can take any unclaimed male by nibbling and licking his ear, just like what she did to the woodsman not long after he saved her. When the priest saw that the woodsman had her scent and marks from her teeth on him he knew the princess had already taken a mate. Then the woodsman punches the evil pig nobleman and whisks the princess away back to his cabin and the movie ends."

>I nod my head

>"Sounds a little cliché, but I suppose we all love a good storybook ending."

>"True, but unfortunately those prudes at the rating office wouldn't allow them to show the ten minute sex scene that followed. I have the blu-ray on preorder so hopefully it'll show up as a deleted scene on the bonus features, I'm not keeping my hopes up though. Human/wolven romance is simply too pure to be shown to the common person these days."

>Ten minute sex scene? A romance too pure? The fuck is a blu-ray? My brain enters a state of lockup as I attempt to process what she just said

>Feeling an awkward silence growing I end up giving her a default response

>"Cool."

>A massive grin comes across her face and she leans in closer to me

>"Oh my gosh you really think it's cool? Then you should check out all the fanfiction I've been writing! It's mostly smut about what happens in the deleted scenes but I'd be happy to have a beta reader to help me out. Maybe even, you know, help me see how realistic my sex scenes are. Do a little…real world testing."

>She suddenly leans in closer and I can feel the unhinged horniness radiating off of her, in addition to the smell of 'wet' dog

>She puts both paws on my shoulders and brings her muzzle right next my ear, her warm breath tickling my skin

>"I would really, really, really, appreciate it if you come over to my place sometime after I get off from work. We can watch some movies involving fur and skin, I have terabytes of good shit on my laptop. Then we can exchange notes…and…fluids."

>Paralyzed with shock, I feel her begin to gently lick and nibble on my ear

>Just before I shove her away I hear heavy footsteps coming from behind me and Vanessa suddenly retreats from my head

>A heavy arm is draped across my shoulders and I look to the left to see Charlotte standing beside me, a bundle of clothing held across her forearm

>"Am I disturbing something?" She says, giving both of us the evil eye

>"N-no ma'am!" Stammers Vanessa, hiding her embarrassment with a disarming smile and her arms behind her back

>Charlotte begins to sniff the air, her nose eventually finding its way to my ear

>As soon as she picks up the scent of wolf slobber her ears perk up and eyes go wide

>"Did this mangy bitch try to get her scent on you, Anon?" She says, voice low and intense

>Before I can respond Vanessa puts her paws on her hips with a scowl

>"Who the hell are you? His mother? Anon was totally unmarked by anyone's scent when he walked in and I put mine on him first, therefore he's mine! Screw off lady! Your little cub's been claimed!"

>"He's yours?" Charlotte says with a laugh. “According to who?"

>"According to the old lupine chivalric codes! Every wolfess knows that when an unclaimed male is scent marked by a woman who's not of his immediate family he's therefore claimed by her through marital right. I read all about it online."

>Vanessa crosses her arms with a smug smile, her claim over me through the use of some outdated laws that haven't mattered in centuries apparently securing her dominion

>Guess it must make sense to her in her head

>Charlotte brings me just a little closer to her body

>"Oh? Really? Then tell me, what happens when a woman replaces another woman's scent marking with one of her own?"

>"You can't do that, goes against the chivalric code. It's strictly forbidden. Not like it would matter since you're his moth-“

>Before she can finish Charlotte turns my head towards her own and leans down, her lips touching mine as her tongue snakes its way past my lips and into my mouth

>I can taste the remnants of bitter coffee on her tongue as it slides its way around my gums and teeth

>Two paws keep my face close to hers as moans of ecstasy and wet, lewd sounds emerge as she continues to invade my mouth

>After what feels like an eternity Charlotte finally breaks the kiss and plants a long lick along the entire left side of my face with her wet tongue

>She then moves her muzzle to my ear and coats it in yet more saliva, even giving it a little nibble for good measure

>She wipes her mouth and we both look to Vanessa

>Her jaw hangs open and an expression equal parts disgust and shock is plastered onto the poor wolfess' face

>"But-but-but you're his…"

>Charlotte chuckles at the baffled canine

>"Oh please! I'm too young and too sexy to be his mother. Now run off little doggy, go find someone else's leg to hump. This one's mine."

>"I-I-I-I" Vanessa stammers before shaking her head and regaining her bearings. “I've got to, uhh, restock some shirts."

>Vanessa then runs off with her tail between her legs

>Charlotte pats me on the shoulder

>"I don't think she'll be trying to hit on you again any time soon."

>"I have a feeling you're right."

>"While I was gone I picked out a few outfits to try on. Follow me to the dressing room and let me know which ones look the best. I think you're going to like some of these!"

>I follow to her the dressing rooms and sit down on a bench just outside the entrance

>Charlotte continues into the ladies dressing room and I wait for her to change

>It doesn't take long before the door opens and she comes waltzing out, this time dressed in a loose, white blouse paired with a light blue ankle length skirt

>She does a little twirl as I look over her outfit

>"What do you think?"

>"Looks nice, but are you sure you want to be buying more white clothing considering what happened this morning?"

>She looks down and wiggles her hips

>"I suppose I could go for something a little less bright, my fur is on the darker side after all. Let me put something else on."

>She retreats back to the dressing room and a few minutes later emerges in a new outfit

>This time she's wearing a cream colored dress shirt under an unbuttoned black blazer paired with an equally dark knee length skirt

>"I can wear this one to work!" She says, doing another twirl

>"Business casual, very nice. You really look the part of a grizzled office lady, ready to tackle every paper jam and unrealistic deadline that comes her way."

>"And if I simply undo a few of these…" She says, unbuttoning the first few buttons of her dress shirt putting her sizable bust on display. “I'm sure the promotions will really start flowing in."

>"Refined, but devious, I like it."

>She gives an approving nod

>"Let me try one more outfit on, I'm sure you'll really like this one."

>She goes back into the dressing room and I sit in silent anticipation, eager to see what she picked out

>I soon have my answer

>She emerges from the dressing room in a knee length polka dot dress, white background with small dark blue dots

>A strap goes across each shoulder and the material is tight around her midsection but loose from the waist down

>Perfect to show off her womanly curves without restricting movement

>She does another twirl and bats her eyelashes at me

>"Oh Anon, I hope work wasn't too rough today. I baked you a meat loaf and clipped a few coupons for us to use the next time we go to the store." She lowers her tone and puts a hand up to her mouth. “Don't tell the neighbors this, but last night I saw their daughter get into some strange boy's car and drive off into the night. They were up to no good I tell you."

>I can't help but laugh

>"Charlotte! I thought you said you weren't a housewife!"

>She laughs with me and puts her hands on her hips

>"I'm not, but, it's amusing to pretend sometimes. Now tell me what you think!"

>I run my eyes up and down her body, a tightness growing in my pants

>"Charlotte, I think you already know my answer. You look beautiful in it."

>"Oh Anon, now you've got me blushing!" She replies with a saccharine tone

>"And I would have loved to see your rosy cheeks if they weren't obscured with fur. Did you have anything else to try on or was that it?"

>"This was the final outfit. I'll change back into my coffee stained rags and we can check out."

>"Sounds good."

>Charlotte once again goes back into the ladies dressing room and I wait outside

>That is until I hear a muffled “Anon? Can you come here for a second? I'm having some trouble undoing the zipper on the back of this dress." come from beyond the door

>I get up, briefly consider the faux pas I'm about to commit by going into the ladies dressing room, then decide to go in anyway

>After all, I'm simply entering to help a good friend out, not trying to be some kind of pervert

>She must have heard the door open since I hear her voice come from one of the stalls

>"Over here Anon, I think this damned zipper may be jammed."

>I approach the stall she's in then-

>The stall door shoots open and a scarlet tipped paw grabs me by the shirt, pulling me inside!

>I'm tossed onto the bench inside and Charlotte towers over me, still clothed in her polka dot dress

>She licks her lips and leans down to my level

>"Hey, you ever done anything dirty in a dressing room before?" She asks, a lusty look in her eye

>"No, and I have no inclination to. If you want to get dirty we can do it after we're back at your house, where we have all the privacy we could want. I'm no exhibitionist."

>She cocks her head with a needy whine

>"Ohhhh come on, it's kind of hot, don't you think? A dressing room is private, but also public in a way. We're surrounded by people that have no idea what we're getting up to in here yet the only thing that separates us, from them, is a thin plywood wall." She holds a finger up to her lips and lowers into a whisper. “We'll have to be quiet so no one else hears us, I think the stall next to us is occupied."

>"No Charlotte, this can wait. If we get caught they'll ban us. No one wants a couple of perverts creeping around their store." I whisper back

>"Don't worry I'll make this quick and quiet. No one will know a thing. Besides, you deserve a little pick me up after grooming me this morning. And didn't Mrs. Red mention a certain wifely duty that was supposed to be paired with the husbandly one? I would be doing a disservice to the housewives of old if I didn't do my part."

>She starts to undo my belt buckle and I try to stand up and resist her advances, yet as I get up she puts two paws on my shoulders and shoves me downward back onto the bench

>I hit with a loud thud and suddenly the dressing room goes so quiet you could hear a pin drop

>"Oops, clumsy old me." Charlotte says just loud enough for everyone to hear her

>The shuffling of clothes resumes and she puts her finger up to her lips again, this time a commanding look on her face

>She doesn't need to say anything for me to get the point

>I nod back and allow her to undo my belt buckle and pants

>I help her pull them down my legs as my cock springs free

>A satisfied grin comes upon her lips and she gets down onto her knees

>"Well-well-well, what do we have here? You're already hard and I haven't even started yet. Did watching a ravishing ursine woman like myself twirl around in beautiful clothing turn you on? Or were you thinking about what I looked like when I was in the dressing room?" She asks with a sly smile

>I feel her hot breath wash over my cock and it twitches in response

>"Clothed or naked, you're hot enough to get me hard either way Charlotte."

>"Good answer." She says with a satisfied smile

>She then puts put her paws on either side of my hips, moving her head towards the underside of my cock and giving it one long, wet, tantalizing lick across its entire length

>It takes all my willpower not to moan from the sensation, my manhood is practically on fire by the time she's up to my glans

>When her tongue leaves my skin she scoots a little closer and angles her head to take in my full length

>Now in position, she opens her mouth and-

>That's a lot of pointy enamel

>"Hey Charlotte?"

>"Hmm?" She sounds, a clear look of annoyance on her face

>"Watch the teeth, please."

>She rolls her eyes in response and shoves her muzzle forward, engulfing my cock from head to base in moist breath and soft lips as her wet nose impacts my crotch

>Her lips form a tight seal around my manhood and she slowly pulls her head back, two rows of teeth ever so slightly grazing my sensitive skin as she moves

>The sensation is heavenly, but also a little alarming with how close her razor sharp teeth are to my precious organ

>When she reaches the tip she once again shoves her head forward, slippery bear tongue stroking and playing with me as a mixture of her saliva and my own precum dribbles down my upper thighs

>She then starts a steady rhythm, going up and down my shaft with lusty vigor as my orgasm steadily approaches

>Sometimes during a pass she'll graze me with her teeth, sometimes she'll use her tongue, other times she'll simply let her lips and suction do the work

>Her ministrations keep me on edge, not that I minded

>I let my back hit the rear of the stall and my hands grab the sides of her head, not to guide or influence her, she was utterly unstoppable as she worked, but instead to simply let her know she was doing a good job as I run my fingers through her well-groomed fur

>I'm not sure how long she was at it, but eventually I feel that familiar pressure build up in my crotch as my orgasm comes screaming in

>"C-Charlotte, I'm close." I breathily warn her

>She gives an affirmative grunt and increases her pace

>Moments later my grip on her head grows tight and buck my hips forward, my eyes closing as my body reaches its orgasmic crescendo

>I pump load after load into her waiting maw, Charlotte doing her part as her pace slows and she swallows each batch of baby batter as it arrives

>My breathing slows as I come down from my peak, Charlotte's mouth still massaging my penis as it slowly softens

>Bathed in bliss, I open my eyes and-

>Fuck!

>The door to the stall, it's wide open!

>And standing right in front of me is none other than Vanessa herself

>She's got her arms on her hips and a hateful glare in her eyes

>Charlotte's still sucking so I pat her on the cheek

>"Hey, stop, look." I whisper

>She removes her muzzle from my crotch with a pop and licks her lips, then turns to face the fuming wolfess

>"Oops."

**************************************************************

>Buildings rush by as we drive back to Charlotte's house

>I'm sitting in the passenger seat with my arms crossed, my cheeks still flush red with a combination of anger and embarrassment

>Anger at Charlotte for coming up with the brilliant idea to have sex in a dressing room, and embarrassment from the chewing out and ban that followed

>Charlotte, however, is taking her ban in stride

>She's currently seated next to me with a wide grin on her face

>They kicked us out of the store so quickly she's still wearing her polka dot dress, guess it's free now

>She looks over and notices my foul mood

>"What? Getting banned from a clothing store isn't the end of the world Anon. You'll live."

>I turn to face her

>"Isn't the end of the world?! Charlotte, I'm a groomer, the anthros that I service care about their appearance and that probably extends to their clothing. That clothing store is going to spread all sorts of rumors about me now that they saw you sucking my cock in one of their dressing rooms. Word may reach some of my regulars, Vanessa is probably going to start spreading rumors of her own, who knows what might happen."

>Charlotte rubs my shoulder in an attempt to improve my mood

>"Anon, the chances of all your clients refusing to come in because of a bunch of rumors are minimal at best. There are clothing stores all around this town and only a small percentage even shop at Pretty in Pink, even fewer stick around to hear rumors spread by the employees. And Vanessa? She's practically a loony. I wouldn't worry about anything she tries to do. Like I said, you'll be fine."

>I take a deep calming breath and try to convince myself she's right

>"I don't know Charlotte. I guess we'll just have to see how this all plays out."

>"Would it help you feel better if we kept going at it after we reach my place? I'll even let you take the lead this time, just name the act or position and I'll be game. We can even turn the lights off, close the doors, cover the windows, and do it under the covers if it helps. No one will see us, not even the almighty."

>I cross my arms and face the window with a grumble

>"No Charlotte, I'm not in the mood right now."

>"Okay, just let me know if there's anything I can do to make you feel better."

>"Sure."

>We slip into her driveway and I get out of the car, walking with Charlotte to the front door

>She unlocks it and I make a beeline for the patio, quickly packing up my grooming tools and heading right back to the front door

>Seeing my haste Charlotte pipes up as I'm walking through the foyer

>"Slow down there Anon, no need to be in such a hurry to leave."

>"I already told you I'm not in the mood. I'll see you next week. Bye."

>"Now just hold on!" She shouts, marching up to me. “I refuse to allow a guest of my house to leave in such a bad mood. Are you sure there's nothing I can do? You want some spending money? A batch of homemade cookies? A quick shower? I'll even sing a little song and do a little dance for you, though I'm not very good at either."

>I can't help it as a smile comes across my lips, my mood slightly improved

>"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good right now."

>She pouts and looks downward

>"Anon, I've never been very good at apologies, but…come here." She says, motioning for me to follow her. “I won't keep you long."

>She begins walking to the backyard and I follow behind her, curious as to what she was getting at

>We stop right next to her flower garden

>Composed of a single bed, several varieties of colorful flowers grew within it

>Daisies with their yellow centers, vibrant roses, lilies in various shades, radiant violets, in addition to several other species I don't recognize

>"This garden," Charlotte starts. “is my pride and joy. Every day I come out here to keep it watered, fertilized, and protected from weeds and pests. Every flower here has a little bit of me in it, and I'll allow you to take one home today. Consider it a living symbol of my apology for getting you into that little debacle at the store." She sweeps her arms across it. “Any flower you want, just tell me which one."

>I look across the colorful patch of plants before deciding on one flower in particular

>"That one." I say, pointing to it

>"A rose? It's a good choice. They're colorful, aromatic, and a well known symbol for all things romantic throughout the ages. Just watch the thorns, they'll prick you when you least expect it."

>"After having to deal with your claws a rose's thorns are no big deal, trust me."

>She shoots me a knowing smile, then walks back to the house

>She returns with a pot and shovel, quickly transferring the rose from its earthy bed to the pot with a practiced hand

>She fills the pot with soil and pats it down before handing it to me

>I move to take it, but she suddenly pulls it back towards her

>"Now you need to promise me you'll take care of it. Water it regularly and make sure it receives plenty of sunlight. I wasn't joking when I said there's a little bit of me in these flowers and I'd hate to see one of them die."

>"Don't worry, I'll make sure it lives a long and healthy life. My stuffy apartment needs a little beauty anyway." She presents it to me again and I gingerly receive it. "Thank you."

>We walk back to the foyer and stop to say our goodbyes

>"So, I guess I'll see you next week?" Charlotte asks

>"Yep, same as always. Speaking of which, you have any idea how many more visits it'll take before your shower door is considered paid for?"

>She puts a claw up to her chin in thought

>"Oh, you know, it's probably a number greater than one and less than one hundred. Somewhere in there."

>"Very funny Charlotte." I flatly respond. “But I guess that just means I'll have more opportunities to admire another one of your *AHEM* beautiful flowers in the future, with its pleasing warm colors and delicate, sensitive petals."

>"That you will, lover boy." She says with a smirk. “Now off you go, back to your shoebox. We can pick up where we left off next week."

>She opens the front door and I walk outside to my car

>I throw my backpack of grooming implements onto the backseat before gently placing my new rose in the passenger seat and securing it with a seatbelt

>I hop into the driver's seat and turn the key, the engine starts with a noisy racket before settling into its usual idle purr, I really ought to get this thing checked out at some point

>I look to Charlotte standing on the porch and wave

>She raises her arm for a wave before apparently remembering something and stepping off the patio

>"Anon wait!" She shouts, walking over to the car

>I roll down the window as she gets closer

>"What's up? Did I forget something?"

>"No, but I did."

>"Huh?"

>She leans in and our lips meet in a kiss

>It's not lewd and wet like last time, nor is it quick and emotionless enough to be considered part of some routine

>It's lasts just long enough for her to get her intent across without overstaying its welcome

>I'll miss you

>She breaks the kiss and leans back up, glancing downward

>"I'm still in this silly dress so it seemed out of place for me to not give my dashing groomer a goodbye kiss before he left."

>"Aww, that's real sweet of you Charlotte."

>"I try to be sweet when the situation calls for it, believe it or not. Now go ahead and head home, and if any more of those mangy mutts try to put a paw on you just let me know and I'll put the fear of god into them real quick, you're mine, and mine alone."

>“Good, I'd much rather spend my afternoons at your house as opposed to the basement of some kooky canine watching 'Cookie Muncher 87: Man's Best Friend with Benefits' as she prepares the costumes for our eight hour long historical roleplay session."

>"Good thing you'll always have me around then. Take good care of my rose, and I'll see you next Friday!"

>"See you!"

>We wave goodbye to each other and I begin to pull out of her driveway, yet just as I begin to roll down her street I hear her voice from afar

>"And be sure to clean all of my lipstick off of you Anon! It went kind of went everywhere back in the store! And I do mean everywhere! Check all your cracks and crevices!"

>I laugh and look back giving her a final wave

>She waves back then I speed out of her neighborhood, her rose secure beside me