Chapter Seven:

One...Two...Three...

A cool breeze passed through giving a momentary relief from the heat. It did little to cool the burning heat in Judy's blushing ears. The kiss parted with an audible smacking sound, the moist feeling of her lips grew cold against the breeze. When she licked them, she could taste him lingering there.

They stood there looking at each other in silences, Nick's hands resting at her hips, while her's rested against his chest. She could feel his heart pounding, but his face was cool as always. The seconds crawled into minutes. In the back of her mind Judy was concerned, had she overstepped her bounds? Spontaneous kisses were romantic, at least in the old sappy romance movies she watched growing up.. Fear took hold at the thought of the two of them being anything like the sappy movies. She didn't want a relationship like those movies, or those crappy romance novels. That type of romance only lasted until the credits rolled, or the final page was turned. Selfishly she wanted more from this fox she clung too.

"Jude..."

The moaning sound of her name whispered against the top of her head, brought her attention back to him. Those beautiful eyes were heavy once again, as if he were working a con on her. She loved the look, but hated the inability to read what was going one behind those intoxicating eyes. Something burned inside of her. Something a shuttered through her like a wave, it made her weak physically, but fueled something passionate inside of her. Making her strong in her feelings to this fox. It was a mystery even to her.

"Shut up, fox."

The words didn't even sound like she was the one who said them. Nick's reaction mirrored her own surprise, he'd not expected it either. Judy felt like she was having an out of body experience, like a dream, watching herself take control of a situation that might not exist. The smile on her face spread to her eyes, a confident smile that hushed Nick with intrigue.

"I don't want to mess this up by talking."

Judy slowly undid the buttons at his shirt, she could feel him tense with a hint of panic. Her lips found the soft fur at his chest. The lime scented soap was stronger there, embedded deep under it was another smell...the smell of Nick, a sweet and strong smell that lingered in her nose, she liked it. It was like coming home after a long day to a warm embrace.

"Judy..." This time Nick sounded desperate for a response.

But the bunny didn't say anything, instead her lips caressed his collar bone, placing strategic pecks along it. A soft moan escaped his lips, the type a moan that rumbled deep in the ear drum, tickling it. It brought a smile to Judy's lips. This time Nick was insistent, his hands gripping her biceps pushing her away so they could look at each other. There eyes met and a warm wave of emotions engulfed Judy. The way Nick looked at her, told her that he wanted this, but the look said more, told her that he was afraid of ruining the thing they had. The eager smile on Judy's lips softened, to one of comfort. Did it work? It was hard to tell, Judy wasn't about to lose her confidence or falter to the growing awkwardness.

"What do you like, Nick?"

The question puzzled him, she could see it in the way one ear fell and the other turn upward. Judy ran her fingers from his chest to his belly, walking him backwards against the edge of the bench, it was set high off the floor of the gondola to allow larger animals to sit. There was no way she could push him up on it, but the determination in her eyes got her point across. Nick obediently hopped up on the bench, the same bewildered look in his eyes.

"I don't follow."

"I want..." The words hitched in her throat as she was starting to grow more self conscious again. "I want to..." Don't say anything cheesy, her mind begged. "...pleasure you." She furrowed her brow, her eyes darting to the side in a moment of exasperation before zeroing in on the fox once again.

"Pleasure me?" Nick let out a breathy chuckle, not in a mean way, but more in a realization. "Did you set this all up to make your point?"

Judy knew the more Nick talked, the more he would figure it out. A light came on in the back of her head, she just needed to keep him from talking long enough to explain the deeper feelings this whole thing had unearthed.

"At first..."

Nick leaned forward starting to button his shirt, but when Judy grabbed his hands he stopped. Judy took the collar of his shirt pulling him closer, raising up on her tip toes. She kissed him again, this time softer, more controlled and meaningful. A lump formed in her throat when she felt Nick's lips parting, accepting the loving kiss. This time when she pulled away, she could see the pink in his ears, a relaxed look in his eyes.

"I wanted to beat you at your own game, but I didn't expect to find pieces to a puzzle I didn't even know I was building."

Nick scooted back on the bench, pulling Judy up with him. Instead of sitting beside him, Judy allowed herself to rest straddling his lap. They were eye to eye, Judy hoped it would be easier to read what went on behind those heavy lids, but she had her doubts. Nick tried to rest his hands in respectable ways, changing the positions several times, before Judy took them in hers resting them in her lap.

"Now, what's this all about, Jude. You know you can tell me anything."

Judy told Nick about the things she looked up on the internet, sparing him the more saucy details. Nick stayed quiet, besides a few chuckles there was no judging looks, no uneasy fade in his smile. Instead he listened, his thumbs lightly kneading the backs of her hands, which helped keep her from becoming too shy to explain herself.

"After it was all said and done, I..." Judy stopped, wondering if this would be a good time to tell him what happened next.

"What?"

"Let's play a game."

"But what about the..."

"Nick..."

"Alright, Carrots."

"There are three rounds, I'll ask a question and on the count of three, we both answer honestly."

"Sounds fun, will we have time to discuss our answers afterwards?" The genuine way Nick was willing to go along with this game, eased the childish feeling Judy was battling.

"Yes."

"Alright, let's go then."

Judy took a deep breath, Nick soothed her with a kiss to her hands. When she finally could talk again her voice had found her confidence. "Have you ever had sex before? One...Two...Three..."

"Yes."

"No."

Judy wasn't surprised by Nick's answer, the male was definitely desirable. Even though she wanted to ask how many times, or who they were with. She knew now wasn't the time for that. The look on his face told her that he wasn't surprised by her answer either. She just waited for a teasing response, but what she got from him was unexpected.

"A virgin...good. So many animals are in a rush to give everything away, take pride in such a precious thing."

It sounded like something her dad would say, it seemed fitting coming from the fox that had a few years on her. It left her to wonder if he'd made the same mistakes, rushing to give it all away. She wanted to pry, but if something were to blossom between them, she would have enough time to pry later.

"Round two," Judy cleared her throat. "Fantasy or reality, what's your favorite sexual act?" The question came out more like a high school quiz then she meant it too.

"Sexual act? Easy Miss Hopps, don't make the questions so hard."

Judy giggled giving him a slap in his stomach. "Hey, I'm trying to be..."

"A prude..."

"Civil, you turkey."

Nick smirked. " Alright, I apologize. Don't put me in detention."

Judy ignored his teasing and went on counting. "One...two...Three."

"Blow Job."

"Oral."

This time Judy giggled at Nick's crude response. She knew that's what they were called, but hearing him actually mention it in that fashion made her ears burn. Nick cleared a laugh from his throat. When he squeezed her hands she could feel his paw pads were cool and sweaty, she didn't mind though.

"Round three."

"Final round." Nick announced as if they were playing a video game.

"When you think about me, what type of stuff do you think of?" Judy saw the hesitation in Nick's eyes. This was the moment of truth. Judy knew if she didn't press the issue now she may never know how Nick truly felt.

"One...two..."

Nick closed his eyes and whispered. "I love you..."

Judy couldn't finish her count, she couldn't find the words. All she could do was fall into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him. Nick wrapped his arms around her back, kissing the side of her face.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. There isn't a moment that goes by that I'm not grateful I met you. You made my life better than I could have ever imagined."

"Shut up." Judy hushed him.

Nick stopped talking, she could feel by the way he pawed her back that he wasn't hurt by her words. She could tell he was only trying to lure her answer out, wanting to hear it even though he already knew what it was.

"I love you too, Nick. I just didn't know it...until my brain forced me to think about it."

"Dumb Bunny." Nick huffed a laugh into her ear.

"Dumb Fox." Judy started to laugh pushing her face against his.