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Going the Distance

Part 3, Afterglow and Beyond

By Ta'kom Ironhoof

Rushing back into his room, Jake fumbled his phone back and forth between his paws, nearly dropping it several times. Besides the mild headache he still had, his nerves were absolutely shot. With everything from last night and now attempting to make conversation with a stranger, Jake's entire world was flipping over on its head. Jake sat on his bed, thinking of how best to respond. What did you say to someone after that? His first time being intimate with another person and it was strange knowing the most intimate parts of a person before he even knew their name. That gave him an idea.

"Um hi. I'm Jake. Yeah, last night was amazong,"

Jake tapped the send button and immediately realized his spelling mistake. Just as Jake fretted, he panicked, maddeningly tapping at his screen to explain his mistake and apologize so he didn't appear to be illiterate. This conversation was off to a great start already. Just as he was about to hit send, a notification sounded, and he received a reply. Gazing at the screen, Jake held the backspace key, deleting the wall of text he had prepared to send.

"Hello Jake, I'm Ruby."

Sighing to calm his nerves, Jake responded, slowing down and making sure he spelled everything right this time. He'd already messed up once. He was determined to not do it again. His nerves simply wouldn't allow it or, perhaps, would cause any future mishaps.

"I've never done this before. I just bought my toy yesterday," Jake finally replied.

"Same. You took my virginity,"

"Yeah, same,"

After Jake's last text, there was a pause in the conversation, but Jake was so enraptured, he couldn't do anything but sit and stare at his phone. His palms were sweating and his heart raced almost violently in his chest. Through his phone, he attempted to maintain an air of coolness, but in person, he was a wreck. Ruby finally made the first move.

"How about we go out sometime? You've certainly tickled my fancy, if you know what I mean." A winking emoji and several hearts followed this.

Jake's face flushed with heat, not sure how he should react. That was a good pun, but the prospect of meeting up with Ruby made the butterflies in his stomach dance to the point of nausea. Being the epitome of smoothness and confidence, Jake replied the best way he knew how.

"Lol, I suppose I did. I'm a bit of a shut in besides classes so I don't know the town well. Any recommendations?"

Honesty: the awkward person's last resort.

After a moment, Ruby replied.

"Not off the top of my head. How about..."

Jake stared at his screen for a moment, waiting for the next message. Instead, what he got was a picture of Ruby's breasts. Jake's heart almost exploded as it skipped a beat, time standing still as his eyes drank in this delicious moment. Yes, they were smaller, but perfectly beautiful. Of course, he'd seen plenty through the internet, but those were porn stars and amateurs looking for fame. Before him now was a woman who willingly wanted to show off for him, seemingly out of desire.

"I want that tongue all over these."

Ruby's last statement was more than a confirmation of his previous thoughts and Jake's tipping point. He dropped his phone, rushed into the bathroom, and vomited. This was all too much for him to take, and it was the farthest thing that he'd ever imagined would come from getting a sex toy. One day, he was a nerd, spending all of his free time playing video games and jerking off and the next, he's got a beautiful woman lusting after him. At the moment, the porcelain god he now worshiped was the only comfort he could find.

From the bathroom, he could hear his phone calling out with the sounds of several notifications in rapid succession. Immediately, Jake worried Ruby was taking his silence as rejection. Nothing could be further from the truth. Besides praying to the porcelain gods, Ruby was all he could think about. Everything that she had allowed him to experience in a single night was nothing short of magical; a genuine turning point from which he could never return. Concentrating on his breathing to calm his nerves, he got up from his crumpled position, quickly threw some water on his face, and wiped the mess off as best he could. Rushing to retrieve his phone off the floor, his worries were absolutely right. Ruby was apologizing profusely for being too forward.

She had deleted the picture.

"No, no! Don't apologize. I just had to use the bathroom. Sat my phone down. I appreciate being able to get a better look at you."

After a few agonizingly long minutes, Ruby responded, "I overreacted. This is all new to me as well."

"No worries, you're a beautiful woman and last night was life changing. I absolutely think we should meet up. What kind of canine are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

Again, the message came slowly, but Ruby responded, "I'm an African Wild Dog, but I'm a little different."

Jake questioned. "I don't understand what you mean. How are you different?"

"I think it would be easier to see when we meet up instead of trying to explain." Ruby replied hastily.

"I can appreciate that, Ruby. I won't lie. I'm incredibly nervous about everything that has happened."

"Yeah, and that's exactly why I think we should meet sooner rather than later. Who knows? Maybe we'll actually hit it off and have a good time."

Jake answered, "You know, as nervous as I am, knowing that we've already done the sex, I'm a lot less nervous than I suppose I normally would be."

"Smooth Jake. Very smooth," he thought to himself.

"Hahaha, yeah, you're right. I feel comfortable talking to you. You seem like a good dude."

A twinge of confusion and disbelief set in. "A good dude?" his mind echoed.

"I'm glad I have your approval! Let's talk more about our 'date' we need to plan," Jake quickly responded.

Ruby sent a big smiling emoji, followed by, "I'd very much like that, Jake."

Jake sat staring at his phone for a few moments before asking a question that he'd been mulling over ever since he returned from the ceramic tiled throne room. Abandoning fear, he finally asked with shaky fingers and a complete lack of tact, "So, could I have that picture back?"

As if their minds were linked, the picture that Ruby had sent him from earlier of her chest was present almost immediately after he sent his last message.

Over the course of the day, and subsequent evening, the pair of star-crossed lovers first exchanged numbers so they could talk without the app. They debated a phone call but figured that being off the phone would allow them to do whatever they needed to without the pressure of instant responses, texting each other back and forth as they could. Besides, there needed to be some secrets kept, given they've already shared the most intimate parts of themselves. Jake spent the day cleaning and doing his best to make himself appear less like a slob. Ruby spent the day doing roughly the same but less to not appear like a slob but in the catching up on neglected chores type of cleaning. Ruby danced through her home, forgetting all about the awful hazing she received and her mother being gone. This was her home, and the crush of being alone was lifted. She was in bliss. All the pieces of her life that she had been missing were filled, and she felt on top of the world. Through her cell phone, she was talking to a man that genuinely seemed interested in her and the same could be said for her part as well. Where once before, Barrin filled her thoughts. Now it was an imagining of a mysterious Okapi suitor further stressed with the knowledge of what his manhood was like. Just not his face or his voice; two pieces of a puzzle that eluded her mind's eye. Oh, and the wonderful butterflies she was feeling. The mystery was driving her mad. By the end of the night, before the pair turned in for the evening, they had finally made their plans.

Tomorrow, Saturday, 5pm, at the mall food court, they would meet face to face.

Ruby's alarm went off at exactly 7am. The African Wild Dog turned her alarm off, flung the blanket off her body, swung her legs off the edge of the bed, and stared sleepily toward her bedroom door. As she wiped her eyes, her 'I just woke up' grimace was washed away by a toothy grin, spreading ear to ear. Her excitement and anticipation grew by leaps and bounds. Everything she did for the rest of her morning and afternoon was tinged with the rush of that exhilaration. A quick bowl of her favorite cereal, a jaunty, refreshing shower, and finally, deciding the perfect outfit to wear to blow the mind of her would-be suitor.

Juxtaposing this, Jake had hit the snooze button on his phone's alarm thirteen times; the alarm further sounding off every 30 minutes. By the time the Okapi finally sat his hooves upon the beige carpeting, it was noon and, while he was excited, his mind was sluggish to get going. It was as if he had a hangover, never fully waking up. After his normal post wake up bathroom rituals, he popped a frozen bean burrito into the microwave, carelessly tossing the wrapper toward the trash can but missing the plastic bin entirely. He'd pick it up later. Not like it was going anywhere. Sitting down with his now heated delicacy, Jake spent a few hours playing video games to calm his nerves and finish his reboot cycle. It was 3:30 pm when Jake's phone chimes; a new text message from Ruby.

"Hey, you've been quiet today. Just checking on you. We still on for today?"

The Okapi almost leaped out of his chair. He was now full awake.

"Dog dammit..." Jake said aloud, scolding himself for his loss of time. Quickly, he replied.

"Of course! Might be a few minutes late, just now getting a shower."

Ruby frowned at this. It was their first date, and he said he was going to be late. A spark of worry was quickly dashed as Jake's reply to his previous message came through.

"Don't worry, I'm going to be there, I promise. Just lost track of time."

"You promise?"

"My lady, I would never break a promise!"

Ruby's smile once again returned, and she twirled in front of her full-length mirror, looking over at herself to see if anything was out of place. When she was picking out clothes, she hadn't realized that she was wearing the same outfit that she wore to the stadium. An urge to change struck her, but she needed to get over the events from the other day, and no one or nothing was going to take away her newfound confidence.

"No. I like this outfit and I'm going to reclaim it. Barrin can kiss my ass."

She lifted her heel and posed, taking a picture and uploading it to her Facefox profile. Almost immediately, the image was liked and, seeing the notification, the like was from her mom. Ruby knew she had a bit of time before she needed to leave the house and now would be the perfect time to text her, catching her mother up on all the events since she had started her trip. At least, most of the events. Ruby worried, for only the briefest of time, that her parents might look down upon her choice of partners. After all, Jake wasn't an African Wild Dog but an Okapi. They could cross that bridge when they got there, however.

Jake had now went from sluggishly sauntering about in a haze to rushing with fiery purpose. How could he let time get away from him like that? With zeal, the Okapi showered, almost forgetting to use soap on his body fur. Now dripping, he skittered across the floor, almost doing the splits, to stand in front of his mirror, to comb and brush his fur. Not long afterwards, he lifted each arm to roll on some anti-pheromone before polishing his horns to a weak sheen. Completing his quest, Jake scrambled through his dresser to pick out something to wear. Apprehension set in on realizing that he had only one style of clothing; t-shirts and jeans. He also realized he only had a single pair of shoes, an old pair that he's had since he first started college. Jake could only sigh as he dug around, looking for the best wrinkled shirt and jeans he could find. He finally decided on a band t-shirt he got from a Fleabane concert he went to. Apparently, this shirt had gotten shoved into his drawer and forgotten about until this very moment. This was a disaster of his own making, but now was not the time to be worried about that. He'd have to correct it later when he had more time. For now, he needed to get to the mall as soon as possible. If he was lucky, he would only be a few minutes later.

A maelstrom of scents melded together in the air around Ruby. She sat as patiently as she could, bouncing her crossed leg at the ankle, staring intently at her phone, waiting for a text that would crush her. The anticipatory weight of disappointment hung above her, palpable in its presence. The sounds of frying foods and throngs of people milling about filled her ears. Ruby could even feel a slight vibration through her chair with the how loud the area was. It would seem Saturday wasn't the best day to meet up with a complete stranger, especially given they hadn't properly described each other besides their species.

Ruby growled softly to herself. The pangs of doubt crept into her mind as she noticed the time. It was 5:45pm, and she had not so much as received a whisper from Jake.

"He promised me he'd be here..." she ruminated to herself.

Ruby lifted her head to scan her surroundings, peering through the crowd trying to identify any Okapi just milling about. As if by happenstance, she looked up just in time to see, through the doors to the outside, a young male Okapi sprinting furiously toward the building. Her emotions finally calmed down. She knew beyond doubt that this had to be Jake. Standing up at her table, she prepared herself to wave him over once he caught his breath and collected himself.

The crash as the door opened caused almost everyone in the vicinity to turn to stare at the awkward Okapi, now bent over desperately trying to catch his breath. Jake paid it no attention as he pulled out his phone. His only thought was to let Ruby know he had arrived.

"Hey! Finally here. I'm so sorry I'm late. There was a huge crash right off campus."

Ruby, seeing his message, decided that instead of replying and trying to wave him down, she'd just walk over to him. The poor man looked like he was about to keel over. While she wasn't disappointed in what she saw of him physically, Jake wasn't like what she imagined. She spent the last week 'researching' his species to get a better mental image. Though they were a rather uncommon species, it surprised her to learn of Trevor Leafwind, an Okapi body builder and part-time movie actor. Jake, however, was neither of these things. If she had to describe him in the nicest way possible, it would be 'nerdy, geeky, and awkward.' In her mind's eye, she had imagined a fairly typical dude, probably more on the muscular side. This was based purely on their last intimate encounter, as she could feel the strength of his thrusts. None of that was important to Ruby, however. Besides the sex, she had really taken to his personality. He had tried to be sweet and thoughtful, while also being awkward in a way that she adored.

Her pondering had brought her to stand right next to Jake now, him still panting for breath and staring at his phone, the sweat of his exertions darkening his head and face fur. The poor soul didn't even realize she was standing there.

"You know, you could have sent me that text while you were in the Saddleback..." Ruby said as she tapped Jake's shoulder.

Jake whipped his head to his left, a look of shock and embarrassment plastered his face. "Ru...Ruby?" he questioned, still trying to calm his breath.

Ruby chuckled. While not an Adonis, there was something about him she found to be adorable. "That's me!" she replied, putting as much cuteness as she could into it.

Jake seemed to get his breathing under control as he stood up to his full height. While taller than Ruby, it wasn't too much of a difference. The two stood facing each other, mentally measuring, comparing, and drinking in each other. The Okapi broke the enchantment surrounding them at last.

"You're...just as beautiful as I had imagined." He froze for another moment before adding. "Um...I really like the bow."

Ruby could only grin. His words were so corny and saccharine, it could not be helped. She wasn't even wearing a bow at the moment, but recognized it as a line from a movie she had watched a few years ago. Wordlessly, she slipped her arms around Jake, pulling him in close for a hug. With the way their bodies merged, her muzzle sat elevated slightly on his shoulder. It was nice and comfortable, though, Ruby could feel the slight convulsions throughout his body. It took a few seconds, but Jake reciprocated with his own arms around her, both still in silence, the world seeming to wash away as the beams of the now setting sun illuminating them in a spotlight of its rays.

Ruby drew her head back and planted her lips on Jake's for a quick peck before pulling back again, their muzzles facing each other. Ruby felt Jake's whole body stiffen out of shock. "Now, would you stop being so nervous?"

Jake's eyes went wide as she spoke, replying, "Yeah...sure." The Okapi relaxed, at least, as much as expected, replying, "I guess you wouldn't have done that if you..."

"... didn't want to? You're right. I wouldn't have, cutey." Ruby said, finishing his sentence. "Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm starving!"

The pair, finally joined in the physical realm at last, made a quick round about the food court, discussing their food options. A myriad of food vendors surrounded them and everything seemed appealing; fried rice mixed with various meats, hoagie sandwiches, tacos, burritos, and even a place that sold nothing but holiday meals. It was a touch choice, but they finally decided on pizza-by-the-slice. And who could argue? Everyone loved pizza.

After getting their food, the pair made their way back over to the table that Ruby had originally been sitting. Ruby quipped, "You see? That's how I saw you coming in. I was sitting here and saw you crash into those doors."

Jake, by now, had composed himself back to a semblance of normal, replied, "Yeah, I see what you mean now. I must have looked like an idiot."

"Jake," Ruby giggled, "you looked like someone who was rushing for something very important."

Smiling now, Jake retorted, "You're right, this was incredibly important to me. I still feel sorry for not thinking to text you on the ride over. I was so wrapped up in my head, it just didn't occur to me."

As Jake spoke, Ruby had taken a large bite of her pizza. As she pulled her maw away, a string of cheese stretched to what seemed like an impossible length. The African Wild Dog pulled the slice this way and that while biting awkwardly to break the chain of cheese. Her face became mortified during her struggle, but Jake solved the issue.

"Here. I got it," he spoke, reaching up to break the sting of cheese.

With a mouth still half full of food, Ruby grumbled, "Fank yoo, Jakk."

For the next hour, the odd couple continued to eat and talk, comparing and contrasting various interests. Jake couldn't have known but Fleabane was one of Ruby's favorite band's, but once she noticed his shirt, it became much of their conversation. Jake then regaled her with his experience at the show, their set list, and all that a rock concert involves. It was one of the few times Jake forced himself out of the dorms. It would be more accurate to say that Lucas had dragged him out, but Jake wanted to appear less like a loser.

The topic then moved away from them personally and was more focused on their family and upbringing. Jake didn't really have anything special to say on that front; just your average herbivore house hold. Ruby, on the other hand, had plenty to say. She talked about her father, the military, and constant deployments. Then moved on to her mother, how she was always there for her, played both parental roles, and made sure she had everything that she needed. Ruby then finished up explaining how she was currently alone at home for the next couple of months and the reasons.

"Well, that certainly sounds like that has flipped your world upside down. How're you handling it?"

Ruby, a saddened expression now on her face, replied, "You have no idea. It's been tough."

Jake, showing sympathy, reached across the table and took one of Ruby's paws, "Things are going to be alright, Ruby. I don't want to be presumptuous, but maybe I could come over sometime."

Giggling, Ruby said, "This is the first date and you're already asking to come over? Seem an Okapi grew a pair."

"Hey! Just offering to help. I...didn't mean it like that," Jake grimaced toward Ruby, worrying he had overstepped his bounds.

"Oh, you're too wound up, Jake," Ruby quipped. "I'll consider it, depending on how this date goes. Speaking of which, let's not sit here all night," she said, grabbing Jake's hand and pulling him toward the stores inside the mall.

Just like the food court, they spent the next hour walking around to the various stores. Going into the music store, Jake purchased Ruby a copy of Fleabane's latest album, "Scratch N The Itch." In turn, Ruby bought Jake a new pair of shoes to replace the obviously worn-down pair Jake had on. Jake tried desperately to stop her from doing it, but Ruby would not take no for an answer. They were not the most expensive shoes, but they were certainly better than the ragged foot coverings Jake currently sported. The date was going swimmingly for the both of them, the pair seeming to fit together like peanut butter and jelly; a perfect match that tastefully matched. That was until the pair were leaving the shoe store. A voice called out, carrying over the noise of the crowds.

"Oh my god, it's her!"

Across the way, Ruby recognized Barrin and the three bitches in his entourage; Alicia, Paula, and Karen. As the group walked toward Jake and Ruby, the crowds easily moved around them, not impeding them in the slightest. The pair attempted to outmaneuver them, but it was a failed game.

Once the group was in front of Jake and Ruby, Barrin put his hands on his hips before saying, "Well, well, well. I wouldn't have expected you to show your face around town anymore." The jock African Wild Dog pushed a finger out and into the chest of Jake. "And who is this loser? He the man pushing in on my property?"

While Jake nearly froze in fear, Ruby growled, shouting, "FIRST of all, I don't BELONG to anyone! Second of all, he's not a loser. He's my BOYFRIEND!"

Barrin and all three members of his clique began laughing loudly. All the while, Ruby fumed with anger as Jake attempted to pull her away.

"Come on Ruby. Let's just get out of here."

"No! I won't run away this time," Ruby shouting still, yanking her hand away.

Barrin composed himself again. "You two can't be serious. Bitch, you belong to me and he can't do anything to stop me from taking you."

At that, Jake got the upper hand, throwing a punch, attempting to catch Barrin completely off guard and, hopefully, resolving the situation. However, even though the blow landed directly on Barrin's chin, it only moved his head to one side. The rest of the large African Wild Dog didn't flinch.

Barrin spoke slowly and maliciously, a low growl growing behind his words. "That was your one free punch."

Without another word, Barrin picked Jake up by his shirt, lifting him completely off the floor and pushed him away, crashing into the wall between two stores. Ruby immediately ran over, trying to check on Jake, but Barrin grabbed her tail, preventing her from moving.

"I never said you could..."

Barrin could not finish his sentence as a force crashed into his back. Ruby continued forward now to Jake's side, but all Jake could focus on was what he saw happen. "Lucas? What the...?"

The mysterious force was Lucas, Jake's long-time friend and roommate. The ram had lowered his head and used his horns as a battering ram to slam Barrin directly into his back and, subsequently, into the floor. He finally lifted his head to speak. "You're the only loser here, Barrin. If you want to fuck with someone, don't be a coward. Fuck with someone who can go toe to toe with you."

Paula screamed, "Oh my Dog, you've killed him!"

Alicia stood in complete shock, unable to speak.

Karen backed away, turning to run, but was stopped by two police officers who no one had noticed.

"All of you freeze and put your hands in the air," the rhinoceros cops shouted, pointing his sidearm at the floor in front of him.

The other office, a lioness that Ruby recognized, also had her side armed drawn, speaking, "You there! Ram! Put your hands up and back away from him."

Everyone did as they were told, except for Barrin, who was unconscious at this point. The two police officers put everyone against the wall, doing a cursory search after calling paramedics for Barrin. They then asked each of them to give a statement. The three African Wild Dogs tried to lie to the cops, but each of them had a different version of events while Jake, Ruby, Lucas gave similar accounts. The paramedics finally brought Barrin back around and he immediately tried to attack Jake. With no further debate, they forced Barrin back to the ground and into handcuffs. He struggled and fought but wasn't able to do much besides scream.

"I'll kill you, bitch! You're mine dog dammit. I'll kill all three of you! Just you wait. I'm coming back for you!"

The rhinoceros cop took Barrin away through a service door, leaving his partner behind to resolve the rest of the situation. She turned to Barrin's entourage before saying, "You three have no more business here, so why don't you scram? Go do something productive with your lives instead of making everyone else's miserable." With that, Alicia, Paula, and Karen turned, quickly making their way away from the scene.

Now, turning the remaining three young adults, a spark of recognition went off between the officer and Ruby.

"Hey, you're that girl we found at the stadium a few weeks ago!"

Ruby responded pensively, "Yes ma'am."

The lioness put her arm around Ruby. "How've you been doing? Everything going alright?"

"It was," Ruby answered, "until those assholes showed up." Ruby's blood was still boiling mad, though she was trying to keep it under control. Then a thought raced across her mind. If any time was a good time to tell the truth, it was right now. "I've decided. I need to come clean about what happened at the stadium."

"Sugar, I told you we'd always..."

Ruby interrupted the lioness before she could finish her sentence. "It was them. They were the ones that hazed me."

The lioness cop paused for a moment before replying, "Are you absolutely sure? Don't pin that on them just because..."

Again, Ruby interrupted, shouting, "Yes, damn it. It was them. Barrin, Alicia, Paula, and Karen. They were the ones. Check their phones. The bitches recorded the whole thing while Barrin..." she paused, trying to find the strength to finish her sentence. "Barrin, tried to get me to give him a blow job as an initiation into his 'pack'." Ruby then turned her face away from everyone, shame blanketing her completely as tears ran down her cheeks.

The lioness pulled Ruby into a hug. "Come 'ere Ruby. It's alright. We got their information when we questioned everyone and we'll round them all up. Barrin is already in a ton of trouble, so you won't be seeing any more of him. I promise."

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner. Just didn't think I'd have to deal with them anymore," Ruby said, still trying to fight back her tears and anger.

Now letting go of Ruby, the officer held her by the shoulders. "Listen, it's going to be alright. You and your boyfriend should get out of here, though."

Lucas came up, interjecting. "I'll make sure they won't get bothered again. No telling what Barrin would have done had I not been walking by."

With that, the officer wished them a good night and left to go deal with Ruby and Jake's assailants. Lucas helped Jake off the floor, making sure he was alright. "So, Jake..."

"Yeah, I know, that was stupid. I didn't stand a chance."

Lucas chuckled lightly. "That's not what I was going to say, but yeah, that was pretty dumb."

Jake glared at Lucas, replying, "Gee, thanks Lucas." He paused a moment. "But thank you. I'm really glad to have a friend like you."

"No worries, bud. Speaking of friends..." Lucas brought his voice down to a low whisper. "How'd you manage to catch a babe like her?"

Ruby was facing away from the pair, looking down at her smart phone, oblivious to Jake and Lucas' conversation. Jake replied, "That toy? The birthday present? It's wild, dude. I'll explain more later."

Lucas shook his head knowingly before standing up, reaching out a paw to help Jake off the floor. "Alright man, I get it. Gotta get back to your date." He said this loud enough for Ruby to hear, and the African Wild Dog whirled around to face them.

"You're right! We really should get back to the date," Ruby quipped. She now looked as if she had already put everything behind her. "Think we should go see Rena and Darlene? The mall is getting boring."

Lucas looked puzzled but Jake responded, "Yeah...Might be able to catch them before they close the shop."

Lucas was left standing there as Ruby grabbed Jake's hand and pulled him away toward one of the mall's exits.

Jake could only wave and stumble as the pair scurried away, shouting, "Catch you later, Lucas!"

As they exited the mall, Ruby finally slowed down and allowed Jake to become steady on his feet. "Finally! Fresh air!" Ruby squealed as she stretched. In the streetlamps of the parking lot, Jake couldn't help but to stare at her. To him, the scene looked like something right from a movie poster, an unknown film starring Ruby and himself. Every time he looked at her, he was simply star-struck. Even more so, he was feeling grateful that they had gotten along so well, given the circumstances of the evening.

Ruby walked up to Jake, throwing her arms around him into a hug. "I wanted to say thank you for trying to defend me earlier."

Jake smiled, returning the hug. "It was nothing." At his words, he could feel the jitters that ran through Ruby's body.

"Nobody has ever done that for me before. Not even my parents. Yeah, mom talked to me and said I should learn to stand up to bullies, but you actually stood up and did something," Ruby said, fighting her own tears.

"Ruby, I..." Jake could again feel her body shiver and a bit of wetness soaking through his shirt, absorbing her tears. "I just did what I thought was right. I couldn't let them talk to my girlfriend like that."

"My...girlfriend? Ruby did say I was her boyfriend." Jake thought to himself. It was something he had never seriously imagined that he'd say, but here he was.

Ruby pulled her head back and up to Jake's muzzle. This time, the kiss turned into something more than just a peck. Their lips locked together, at first only pressing together before opening, and their tongues intertwined. The world beyond the cone of streetlamp light faded, and for a time, only Jake and Ruby existed.

Ruby pulled away, a sultry look in her eyes as she stared into Jakes. "I love that tongue of yours."

Jake felt a blush come over him, sputtering, "My...I..."

Ruby threw her head back in a loud, barking laugh. "You are just the cutest!" She grabbed Jake's hand once again, this time allowing him time to properly interlock his fingers. "Come on, Jake. Neighing Necessities is just across the parking lot. Least we can do is go say hey to Rena and Darlene. They're probably getting pretty close to closing."

The pair, hand in hand, walked across the parking lot. Jake had never felt such a sense of pride and he was displaying it prominently. His head was high, his chest was out, and his step was powerful. Ruby was equally radiant. She walked with purpose, prominently holding on to the man who she called "boyfriend" now. She had never felt so wanted and desired. It wasn't just lust or intimate imaginings. Jake had proven that he really wanted her, all of her. With little trouble, the pair had made their way across the way and now stood in front of their destination. Luckily, the "Open" sign was still lit up, cascading the pair of lovers in a red haze.

Jake grabbed the handle, pulling the door open wide. "Ladies first!"

Ruby performed a small curtsy. "Thank you, my good sir!" She entered and Jake followed right behind her.

The chime was still ringing when the door closed, but neither Jake nor Ruby saw anybody. Usually, Darlene would sit at the counter, but it was as if even the air had vacated the place. After a few moments of creeping silence, Ruby barked, "Rena? Darlene? Anyone in here?"

A box clattered from behind the beaded curtain that separated the store from the stockroom and the drawn out voice of the giraffe called out. "Just one moment y'all. Be with ya in a minute."

Darlene was the first to pass back into the store, followed shortly by Rena, the tall giraffe dressed like a southern gothic belle. The doe took her usual spot behind the countertop, quickly picking up a magazine and resuming her usual pose. Rena, however, really put on a show.

"OH MY GOODNESS!!!" Rena bellowed as she made her way through the aisle and lingerie racks. "I remember the two of you! Stripy boy, you're Jake. And, my precious canine lady, you're Ruby. I didn't think I'd be seeing either of you for a long time."

Ruby smiled and Jake looked abashed, both talking in unison, "Hey, Rena."

Rena beamed proudly, replying, "That's me! But enough with the introductions. What are you two doing..." Rena was suddenly hit by a thought mid-sentence. "Wait just a moment. Weren't you two single just the other day? You both came in here and bought one of those 'Going the Distance' toys."

Jake swallowed hard, saying, "Um...yeah, we kinda..."

Ruby interjected, finishing the sentence that Jake couldn't manage to get out, "Oh yeah, we met through the app and...did the thing."

Rena stood there for a moment, a puzzled look coming across her face before a realization dawned on her. "Oh, my goodness! Jake and Ruby kinda rolls off the tongue. You too already an item? How long you been going out?"

Jake felt uncomfortable being questioned by someone he'd only met one time, but answered, "It's our first date. Thought after getting intimate, we should get to know one another."

"Yeah, it was my idea. We both tried the fake stuff, but when we tried the 'local' option, we got paired up," Ruby proudly said.

Rena was thrilled beyond what Jake and Ruby thought was possible, yelling, "OH MY GOODNESS! You two are just adorable!" She then turned toward Darlene. "Honey, did you hear all that?" Rena was absolutely beaming with a smile, ear to ear.

Darlene, on the other hand, didn't appear to be as jovial, but a small grin appeared on her face. "Yeah, love, I heard. Young love is a beautiful thing."

Rena did a twirl, her black dress flowing out graciously, and the light twinkled in the black sequins. Then the giraffe clapped her hands together. "Yes, it is!" She leaned over and down toward the younger, shorter pair of lovers before her. "So, what really brings you two in here tonight? Looking for something else? Need something even spicer?" winking deeply toward them. Before they could reply, Rena continued, "It's usually the quiet one's that are really freaky," placing a hand on Jake's shoulder.

"Oh, no! Nothing like that," Ruby replied. "We both just kinda thought we should tell you guys about us and thank you once again for the toy."

Jake shuffled his feet, obviously uncomfortable with the implication of being 'freaky'. "Ye...yeah. If not for...your shop, we might not have ever met."

The southern belle giraffe kneeled down to Jake and Ruby's level, smiling lovingly, like a mother in her own right. "You two really are precious. Just make sure you guys don't take things too fast, OK?"

"Yeah! Of course, Rena," Ruby answered.

"Ok...," Jake said pensively.

Sagely, Rena added, "I don't want to be a bore, but communication is really what makes a good relationship. If you can't be open and honest with each other, it'll be hard to keep things running smoothly."

The two young adults shook their head in the affirmative, Ruby replying, "You're absolutely right, Rena. I'd probably be hearing this from my mom if she were here right now."

Jake only stayed quiet, but in complete agreement.

Darlene called out from the counter, sitting her magazine down. "Hey, don't forget the awesome sex! That's certainly a plus."

Both Jake and Ruby could feel the heat of blush rush up into their ears. Though they were comfortable with each other, openly talking about sex with near-strangers was a bit much. However, Rena chuckled, "Yeah, that certainly doesn't hurt. You two just be careful, ok? And if you need anything, come talk to us."

Ruby opened her arms up and gave Rena a hug, while Jake shook Rena's hand afterward. The pair took each other's hands, saying in unison, "Bye guys!" leaving the store. Once outside, Jake got his phone out and scheduled a Saddleback to take them home. It was getting late, and the day had been rather eventful. This was in juxtaposition to the car ride back to Ruby's place. The African Wild Dog lay her head on the Okapi's shoulder, the pair holding hands the entire way. The events of the evening replayed in their minds as the buildings and other cars blurred by in the halos of streetlamp lights. If physical intimacy had brought them together, today had solidified their bonds to each other. It wasn't long before the driver pulled up to the townhouse in which Ruby resided. The pair got out, Jake asking the driver to hang on for just a moment. He walked her to the door.

"I had a great time today, Ruby. Though I'm sorry things didn't quite go as planned."

Ruby squeezed Jake's hand, saying, "Hey, we couldn't have known any of that was going to happen. Besides, I had fun, regardless."

Jake froze for a moment, mulling over a question he'd had on his mind ever since they left Neighing Necessities. His mouth felt dry and his nerves began to overcome him. However, the young adult Okapi forced his words out, stammering, "S...s...so...so Ruby? Thi...think...I can...come in?"

Ruby, with the blankest deadpan expression that she could possibly muster, answered. "No."

"What?" Confusion overcame Jake. He had expected the possibility of a negative answer, but she seemed so serious. "I...I mean, that's ok but...but you seem so...serious."

"It was what Rena said back at the store. She said not to rush," Ruby answered. "Like, maybe after our next date. And I promise, there will be a second one, stud." Ruby leaned in and pecked Jake on the cheek, shattering the confusion that held Jake in stasis.

"That makes sense." Jake answered, continuing, "Yeah, Rena is right. Let's not rush things. There'll be plenty of time. We're young!"

The pair laughed before pressing their lips together, a long passionate kiss proceeding. And just as their hands began to explore each other, the horn from the Saddleback driver sounded and the older Hedgehog yelled, "Come on! I got places to be! You staying or leaving?!"

The pair separated, except for their hands, Jake saying, "I guess I should be going. I'll let you know when I get home."

"Alright, Jake. I'm gonna head upstairs. Good night, handsome."

At that, Ruby turned, letting his hand free as she bounded up the stairs and entered beyond the door to her home. Jake could only stare at her in astonishment. Everything about her enraptured him. She was so...

The horn blew once again, jerking Jake back to reality. He turned quickly, jogging back to the vehicle, entered, and told the driver to take him home. Quickly, the driver pulled away, annoyed he had to wait for so long. However, part of the way there, the driver piped up.

"So, buddy, was that your girlfriend?"

Jake thought lovingly about Ruby and how proud he was to answer, "Yeah, my first girlfriend. She's amazing."

"Don't let her go, buddy. You too looked adorable together," the rougher sounding Hedgehog said, continuing, "It's a rare thing to find a love like that these days."

Jake looked at the driver in the rear-view mirror quizzically. "What do you mean?"

The hedgehog chuckled a bit. "Man, you too practically glowed while standing there. That's the only reason I didn't honk sooner. Reminded me of myself and my first love interest."

"Ah, ok," Jake answered, now thinking about potential futures. What if things didn't work out? What if something bad happened to either of them? His nerves were now in full force with worry and concern.

"Hey, I see that look on your face, bud. Ain't nothing to worry about. You'll be fine. Just treat her right and keep your head on straight," the drive called back, looking at Jake in the mirror between watching the road. Jake just nodded his head yes and settled in for the rest of the ride.

The moment the car stopped, Jake had already hopped out and was making his way to his dorm. It was apparent from the way the driver shouted; he had wanted to say something more to Jake. However, Jake had more important things on his mind. Besides, the driver would charge him for the ride through the app. Briefly, Jake hoped he had enough in his account to cover it, but that was only a fleeting thought.

Luckily for Jake, there were no further distractions. No students stopped him in the common rooms. Lucas, his roommate, wasn't around either. Jake was easily able to enter his dorm, shut the door, and let the weight of anxiety wash away at last. His nerves had been on edge all day, and the only relief he had felt was when he was alone with Ruby. In this moment, she filled his thought completely. He pulled out his phone and sent a text.

"Hey beautiful. Just made it home. Driver said we were cute together, just like Rena."

Jake tossed his phone on the bed and began undressing, getting out of his 'good clothes' and into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt he didn't care much about. Just as he pulled his ossicones through the head hole, his phone went off with a notification. The tone he had picked for Ruby played. Jake grabbed his phone, plopping down into his gamer chair to read the message.

"Glad you're home safe. You know, I really wanted you to come in but I hope you're not disappointed I said no."

Jake sent a text back, "Not at all, Ruby. I'll always respect your decisions. Not going to force myself on you."

Ruby responded, "No, it's not that. Didn't think you would," followed with a heart emoji. She continued, "I was seriously thinking of asking you to come up after the mall, but Rena made a good point and, well, maybe we can let our hormones be tempered a little."

However, it would seem that fate, or some sort of divine intervention, had other plans. Just as Jake was going to respond, another notification appeared on his phone and the message turned his hormones in another direction besides 'tempered'.

"Looking to try something 'different'. Have you recently hooked up with someone local? We're looking for partners to try out some new 'experimental' features! Sign up for our new beta program now!"

Ruby now stared down at her phone as well, receiving the same notification. While Jake began to respond, Ruby opened up the app to see what this was all about. She was already fighting the urge to ravish Jake, but now, the very thing that brought them together was asking for partners. Tapping the notification, the "Going The Distance" app opened and a wall of text appeared. Ignoring Jake's incoming text, she continued to read, taking in all the details, and Ruby was incredibly intrigued. She didn't even read his text message, simply replying, "I need you to come over now. Bring your toy."

Jake's mood went from relaxed to extremely concerned, and he rapidly texted Ruby and even attempted to call her. No answer. Not wanting to waste any more time and VERY confused, Jake grabbed his toy, raced downstairs and out to the sidewalk. He opened up the Saddleback app and attempted to get a ride. However, it was already after 1am and the app notified him it was trying to find a ride. Jake quickly thought to himself.

"I could try walking there. If I cut through some alleyways and the park..."

He didn't consider it any longer. It would take him about 45 minutes to walk there, but he didn't want to wait on a ride. Ruby wasn't answering his text messages. What had happened? This was exactly the kind of thing that he worried about earlier, losing Ruby no sooner than he had gotten together with her. Jake began running, first down the road, before turning into the alleyway. While he wasn't absolutely positive, he knew all he had to do was make it to the other side of the park. She lived in the row of townhouses just to the other side. Things seemed easy at first, but as luck would have it, Jake smelled petrichor only seconds before he felt drops. Not just a light rain, but a torrential downpour. He hadn't even considered what the weather might be like overnight, and now he was caught right in the middle of it, relatively lost within the maze of alleyways.

Almost an hour later, he finally made it to the park, the rain not letting up for a single instant. Jake was drenched from head to hoof. However, across the way, he could see a single light on in the row of townhomes. That must be Ruby's house. He ran, sprinting as fast as his legs could take him. Across the sand of the baseball field, through the mulch of the kids' playground, and over the manicured grass of the practice soccer field.

Finally, he made it to the road in front of her house, completely out of breath but not able to stop, his hooves sliding loudly across the asphalt, and stopping at the opposite sidewalk. He stumbled up the sidewalk as the water cascaded around him and up the stairs.

Jake wildly pounded on Ruby's door, yelling, "RUBY! RUBY, I'M HERE. YOU OK!"

As the rain continued to fall heavily from the sky, further dousing Jake's fur and soaking him completely, the door slowly opened, revealing a hallway and a set of stairs. Jake was now completely dumbfounded at the scene that his eyes took in.

Ruby, wearing nothing but a set of black lingerie, held up her hand and, with a single finger, motioned for him to come in. The dripping Okapi did as he was commanded, not concerned in the least about the water pouring out of his fur and onto the floor. He was completely entranced by the supermodel commanding his every move.

"Well, big boy. Looks like someone needs to hand me that toy and strip."

Without thoughts or words, Jake held out the toy. As ruby took it, Jake ripped the shirt from his body, the fabric sticking to his soaked fur for only a moment before quickly peeling off his shorts and underwear. He dropped all the sopping wet fabric and stood still, waiting for Ruby's next command.

"We'll worry about those in the morning. Follow me." Ruby turned now, heading up the stairs. As if being pulled by her scent alone, Jake followed Ruby up, staring at her pert ass the entire way. Ruby was intentionally swaying her hips extra wide as she climbed each stair, knowing her boyfriend was entranced.

At the top of the stairs, Ruby took Jake's hand, leading the Okapi toward and into her bedroom. "Now. Sit down," she said as she pointed toward a half-circle shaped thing on the floor with a rectangle on the top of it. At first, Jake sat on it cross way, but Ruby quickly corrected him. "Straddle it." Jake did as he was told, waiting for what she would tell him to do next.

Ruby sauntered over to her chair, sitting down. "Now, did you get the same notification I did from the 'Going the Distance' app?"

Jake shook his head yes before answering, "I did, but I didn't have a chance to look at it."

Ruby smiled. "Where's you're phone, handsome?"

"Um...downstairs."

Ruby sighed, not considering that he would have left it in his pockets. "Quickly, go downstairs, get your phone, and get back up here."

In the most awkward way possible, Jake rolled off the bench, stood, and quickly left the room. Less than a minute later, Jake was back in the room, already straddling the bench, now looking at the notification. Jake's eyes went wider and wider with each passing paragraph.

"You...you want to try...this?"

Ruby was now grinning from ear to ear. "More than you can imagine, Jake. You've got to be curious as well."

Jake audibly gulped before gently nodding his head. While he had considered it in the past, the reality of being able to actually do it was...

"Jake, I want to fuck you," Ruby said in sultry tones.

With the pair in agreement, they started the process after each accepted the terms and conditions of the experimental features for the "Going the Distance" line of sex toys. As far as what Jake and Ruby needed to do, it was pretty simple. Once the pair had linked their toys, much like they had done in the past, each had their own set of instructions.

For Jake, it was fairly simple. Once the portal opened on the bench, all he needed to do was make sure his cock and balls were fully engulfed inside of the rectangle and lean forward, hold in place for three minutes and the process will be complete and he could enjoy his new features. However, for Ruby, it was slightly more complicated. According to her instruction set, she needed to line up the top of the portal on the male masturbator slightly above her clit. Then she needed to press it into herself while rolling it downward to eventually cover her labia. Once that was done, she needed to wait until, as the instructions said, "had a feeling a weight in the area," and to "hold it in place for at least 3 minutes." Continuing with her instructions, after holding the device at the pubic mound for three minutes, "pull the device away and be amazed at your new anatomy."

In this position, Jake's tailhole was completely exposed to the cool air of the room and the sensation was driving his erection. With the green swirling portal under him, he could feel his dick getting hard by the second, his cock almost completely out of his sheath at this point. For Ruby, the pressure of the toy on her clit and pubic mound was swirling her into an aroused frenzy. She could feel her desire rising. Each passing second, her core felt warmer.

Soon, three minutes had passed.

Ruby slowly pulled the hand-held version of the "Going the Distance" toy away from her body. At first, she just thought that her fur had stuck to the toy, but after another inch, she noticed the fur, while still white, was coarser. It then dawned on her just what she was seeing; this was Jake's sheath, now firmly attached to her pubic area. As Ruby continued pulling it away from her body, inch after inch, she saw the shiny crimson and pink flesh of Jake's exposed cock, still slick from the natural lubricant of his sheath.

Jake had a similar experience, except it was a much faster revelation, or lack thereof. At first, Jake sat up, not feeling any different, but as he began to stand up, he noticed the cool air in a new area that he'd never felt before. Looking down, where his sheath and balls used to be, all he saw was a softly furred pubic mound, accentuated with a little tip of flesh sticking out that he could see. He placed his hand, cupping his new genitals. In his hands, he felt what he could only describe as a canine vulva and he knew exactly who it's owner was; this belonged to Ruby and her vulva was attached to him.

The two lovers looked at each in shocked silence. Jake's cock, attached to Ruby, was now swinging gently right in front of Jake's face, a drop of pre-cum hanging off the tip. He lowered his head to focus on his own cock, the Okapi then noticed his own balls hanging underneath Ruby.

Jake was dumbfounded, flabbergasted, and utterly discombobulated.

However, this didn't stop his hand from exploring his newly gained sex. While he was admiring his own cock, he pressed a finger into the canine cunt attached to him. A slick fluid coated his finger as it entered the folds and his single finger easily slid around.

Ruby was equally entranced. The turgid length of Jake's shaft stood before her. She shook her hips, watching with amazement as the cock followed her body, though slightly delayed as the movement reached the end. With a hand, she reached under her girth and felt a pair of balls hanging there. They weren't as big as Ruby had imagined them to be, but never having had a pair of nuts, she was absolutely enchanted with her new equipment. Ruby grinned from ear to ear, now looking down at Jake, who had moved from the bench to the bed.

Jake was both excited and confused, looking at Ruby for her input. "Ruby...this...what happened? How are we...I can't believe it!"

Ruby looked at Jake's puzzled face, plastered a giant smile upon her own, and excitedly shouted, "I'VE GOT A COCK!!!"

Jake's face, confused still as he was, dropped to a deadpan before replying, "And I've got YOUR vagina..."

Ruby wrapped her hand around the shaft and slowly stroked down it's length. To her amazement, she could feel every inch, not only in her paw, but through the member itself. The unfamiliar feeling was pleasant, but so incredibly foreign. Her lust for this forbidden knowledge grew.

"Jake, lay back...so I can see it for myself."

Hesitantly, the Okapi got onto the bed and laid back flat, lifting his hooves to rest on the bed to fully expose his groin. He lifted his head to look at Ruby as she walked up to the bed. The bounce of her step caused a string of pre-cum to fall off the tip of his once attached dick. Ruby was staring intently at his crotch, allowing her tongue to run across her exposed teeth. Jake sighed as he dropped his head back to the mattress. The strangeness of the cool air against _his_cunt caused his mind to reel.

"Ruby, this is insane. I don't know if we sho..."

But it was too late for Jake to finish his thought. He was going to announce his hesitance at what they were about to do, but the words hung in his throat as he felt a warm, wet, and flat pressure against his most intimate spaces. His body seized, causing him to flex the new cunt that was a part of his body. She was eating her own pussy, attached to him!

"Ru...Ruby...that feels...mmmmmmmmm...good." On the one hand, Jake wanted her to stop, but he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling. Also, his own curiosity wanted to be sated with answers he hadn't even come up with questions to.

Ruby traced and licked Jake's folds, fully knowing that this was her own. This was just masturbation, but it was someone else that she was pleasing. It was a strange thought, but Jake tasted good. Maybe she wasn't straight after all, but bisexual. Pan maybe? She couldn't be bothered to think about it in depth right now. The churning she felt from her cock and balls couldn't be ignored. She shoved her tongue into Jake's pussy, rolling her tongue up and around to fully explore this new space. She could feel the ripple of the surrounding muscle against her strong canine tongue. The taste and musk was driving her wild. She needed more.

"Jake, I need to know," Ruby seductively called out from between his thighs.

Jake, lifting his head once again to look at her, replied, "You need to know...what?"

The lithe African Wild Dog stood proud and tall, legs slightly spread a bit, and hands on her hips; the smile still spread ear to ear. "I'm going to fuck you, Jake."

"Um, I don't know..." Jake tried to say, but the words were cut short as Ruby pushed her cock down and placed the head of the shaft at the precipice of Jake's pussy; the pre-cum mixing with his own juices, causing the light to reflect lightly.

Ruby began pushing her hips forward, causing the head of her cock to push into Jake, as she said, "I need to know what it's like to be inside you." Jake grunted and moaned from the unfamiliar stretching he felt in his loins as each inch passed further into him. Ruby similarly moaned lightly, even having to take a few small steps forward to keep the pressure on. "Jake, this is wonderful. You're so warm and tight."

Jake could only look at Ruby, a pleasurable grimace now on his face. The stretch was almost too much, especially as the cock was buried all the way to the hilt, their fur now meeting once again. Inside of him, Jake could feel Ruby purposefully flexing her muscles. It caused a wave of lust to move through him in a way he'd never experienced before. As he was coping with these new feelings, he lowered his head back. Just as quickly, he felt Ruby pull back on her hips and push back in, slowly at first.

Ruby moaned as each inch passed in and out. This was just as foreign to her, but it was in such an exciting way. All she'd ever known, even though her experience was brief, was being filled or having her womanhood fingered or licked. This was as if that filling of fullness had been reversed and instead of full, it was now wrapped in slick warmness. With each pump of her hips, she sped up, the need to reach her climax growing by leaps and bounds. With each thrust, she needed to push harder. It was so difficult to control. She wanted to pleasure Jake, but it was so difficult...

"I'M COMING!" Ruby screamed.

Jake could only moan in delight as he too had reached the peak as well, his hips coming off the bed, attempting to match the thrusts and force the cock even deeper than Ruby could manage. With a last thrust, the two lovers' pair of hips pushed into one another as hard as each could manage, Ruby's cum spraying inside of Jake in thick ropes while Jake's muscles clenched and quivered with each passing wave of pleasure. The two remained motionless, locked in place as they shared the monsoon.

Finally, Ruby could feel her cock softening and Jake could feel her body relaxing. The two separated and quickly followed the last of the instructions provided to them from the phone app: Be sure to use the toys to be restored after any sexual activity.

After just a few more minutes, Jake and Ruby were both restored to their former selves. After a brief clean up session, the pair climbed into bed together, wrapping their arms around each other, kissing and cuddling as they talked about the experience and everything that they had discovered. It was the dream of people for as long as sex had been had. They had answers that only a handful of people at this point had ever truly experienced, and they were closer for it. It didn't take long before the pair fell asleep, still embracing as the night washed over them.

Jake woke up first, Ruby now sprawled out face down on the bed with her hair messy. He couldn't help but smile, looking at his sleeping beauty. He appreciated her so much and couldn't believe the luck he had experienced. Jake reached over, gently rubbing his lover's back, unintentionally waking Ruby up.

"Mmmm, what time is it?" Ruby questioned sleepily.

Jake replied, "I don't know and don't care."

Ruby rolled, sitting up on her elbow groggily. "Yeah, I feel that."

Jake smiled, still staring at the naked beauty next to him, joked, "So, have you ever had breakfast in bed?"

Ruby's eyes opened fully, and a smile appeared. "I'm the only breakfast that you're going to need."

She pounced on Jake, and the pair didn't leave the bed until well past noon.