A/N: I'm back and still alive after all that lemon. Just a short one for now. Getting back to the basics again. Thanks again to Uzrfrndly and EmberLarelle276 for the inspirational story and comic. Thanks also to Selaxes from who proofread this chapter. Go check out his stories there. Guaranteed glucose overload leading to hyperglycaemia.
For your reference, I have included two links: the first is an example of the dance Nick was performing and the second is to the song, Guantanamera for your listening pleasure.
Dance: /pAs7U1dyesQ
Song: /craeb9A7MQ8
I do not own the characters of Zootopia. ©Disney does. Feedback is appreciated.
Judy woke to the sounds of a mariachi band playing a beautiful lilting melody. As she tried to raise her head, the aches and pains that she felt, most especially in her lower regions, were a silent testament of the deed that she and Nick had done several times last night. She felt an afterglow of satisfaction and a slight irritation that Nick was not beside her in bed. She felt it unfair that he was already up and about when technically speaking they had both been virgins last night. She felt as if a rhinoceros had hit her several times over.
She managed after several tries to get up to a sitting position and attempted to get down to the floor. She did this by allowing gravity to dictate her movements and just managed to keep from falling flat on her face when she landed. She slowly shuffled to the bedroom door and opened it to behold a sight that she had never seen before.
Nick was in the kitchen wearing his jogging pants but shirtless. She hungrily gazed at the definition in his abdominals and ripped chest. He looked like he was busy cooking but at the same time dancing to the tune that was playing over the wireless speakers. He had one paw stretched out in front of him while the other was at his waist level as if holding on to an imaginary partner. He was slowly swaying with his hips while guiding the ghost partner into what looked like a slow provocative dance about him. As he was swaying to the music, she could make out some of the words that she guessed were from his mother's home country:
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, guantanamera
Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma
Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma
Y antes de morir yo quiero cantar mis versos del alma
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, guantanamera
He seemed to be twirling the other dancer about him till he caught them in an embrace and dipped the other so low that it seemed the imaginary partner's head was almost touching the floor. It was at this moment that Nick looked up, saw Judy at the bedroom doorway and snickered. "Looks like I'm not the only one providing the entertainment today. I never realized you had exhibitionist tendencies, Judy."
Judy belatedly realized that she was still naked and she was sure that Nick could see the red blush all over her fur. However, she was determined not to get frazzled. Especially not after last night's long-delayed lovemaking.
"Har, har, Slick. Now that you had a chance to ogle me, what say you help a dying bunny get some clothes on? I can't find them and I need your help to get dressed. Besides, I need to file a report for aggravated assault on a police officer because my body aches all over."
"Oooh…looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Tell you what…if I make you breakfast and give you a massage, would you be willing to drop the assault charges, Officer Fluff?" Nick said with a grin.
"On one condition…breakfast in bed with you. And lose the pants," Judy laughed.
Nick chuckled. "You're wish is my command. Honestly, Carrots, you'll be the death of me."
Nick helped Judy find her clothes and she held onto him while stepping into her underwear with a lot of difficulty, as it was a chore to lift each leg. She had turned down Nick's offer to dress her as she didn't want to give him any more ammunition for his penchant for relentless teasing. She grudgingly allowed him to help her with her bra as she could barely reach behind her and agreed to let him carry her back to the bed in his arms. She did take her revenge on Nick by nibbling and nipping at the scruff of his neck as he carried her. She was rewarded by the tenfold increase of his scent of his arousal.
He came back with breakfast that consisted of banana oatmeal pancakes covered in maple syrup, the pan de chocolat from Ben's boulangerie, scrambled eggs and what Nick assured her was breakfast staple in Canidae, turkey bacon. He brought a big jug of orange juice for Judy and he had a large coffee mug for himself with the words, Until I've had my first cup, talk to the paw! He had lost the sweat pants but kept his boxers on. She huffed at him but decided to let things progress slowly. Besides, she wasn't in any shape for any activity not till she had the massage that Nick had promised her.
She attacked the pancakes and baked goods with gusto but eyed the bacon with trepidation.
"C'mon Judy. I thought you were a 'try-everything' person," he snickered.
"Well, I don't mind if it was crickets especially since I developed a taste for them thanks to you. But turkey?"
"They're just dumb birds sitting in trees all day long. Canidae has so many turkey farms that we export our turkey bacon along with our maple syrup around the world. Our number one trading partner happens to be Zootopia."
Judy still eyed the meat product with disgust. Nick sighed. "Oh well, all the more for me," he said as he ate it along with his eggs and pancake covered in maple syrup. "I'll leave the pan de chocolat for you as I can't have anything with dark chocolate in it."
After breakfast, they lay in bed cuddling one other. Judy felt at peace with the world. She felt so safe in his arms and wondered whether she was still dreaming. She decided she needed to test her theory.
"Ouch!" Nick yelped. "What was that for?"
"Sorry, I was wondering whether I was still dreaming so I decided to check."
"You're supposed to pinch yourself, not your partner." Nick grumbled.
"Well, if my partner finally delivered on the promised massage, maybe I wouldn't have to pinch him?" Judy snickered.
"Fine," Nick laughed as he nuzzled her and kissed her nose. "I'll go grab some lotion and some relaxing music."
After Nick had finished his Deep Tissue Massage therapy (or what Judy referred to as another possible case of assault and battery), she went in to shower and allowed the hot water to soothe her aching muscles. Nick's massage had broken down most of the lactic acid buildup and although initially painful, the relief afterwards was heavenly. She looked at the clothes that Bonnie had lent her and chose a sleeveless blue top and a pair of jeans that hugged her thighs and accentuated the toned muscles in her legs.
She joined Nick on the couch where he had been waiting for her. Nick had also managed to shower and changed into a grey polo shirt and jeans as well. She scooted over to his side and he pulled her closer to him. She laid her head on his chest, listening with fascination how his heartbeat had sped up as soon as she came into contact with him. Nick, on the other hand, was amazed at how beautiful the bunny sitting by his side was. He could not get enough of her and wanted nothing more than to have her besides him forever. However, he still felt some anxiety as to whether she felt the same way as he did. Whether she understood what it meant for a fox to declare their partner as a mate. He knew that they would need to have that discussion soon but for now, he could postpone discussing it with her as he was content just to have her near him.
"Nick, why didn't you knot me last night?"
Or not. Nick was caught off guard by Judy's directness and was left speechless for several minutes. That, plus the warmth of his blush was surely setting his ears on fire.
"Earth to Nick? Anytime this year would be nice." Judy snickered as she saw how put-off he was by her question.
"Ahhmmm…" Nick began in attempt to clear his throat. "Judy, I think I should tell you a little more about foxes and our pre-historic mating habits that are still a part of our culture. Foxes are very picky when it comes to choosing their mate. Some foxes find them early on in life, others don't at all. But once found, they remain together for the rest of their natural lives. They become life-mates. They share a bond of love that is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because once they are mated, they are monogamous to each other. They only have eyes for each other. A curse because if either one dies, the remaining partner pines so that they eventually die as well."
"I can appreciate that but what has that got to do with knotting?" Judy asked.
"Knotting is the equivalent of marriage vows in fox culture. Foxes don't usually engage in knotting not unless they are married as it is the most intimate act between foxes signifying the acceptance and responsibility of a lifetime commitment."
"Yet, despite the fact that we've declared our love for one another, you still hesitated. Why is that?"
"Judy, can we leave that topic alone for now? I'm still worried as to why you lost consciousness last night. What happened to you?"
Judy got up and kneeled on the couch facing Nick. She held both his paws in her hand and said, "Nick, this is important to me. Don't shut me out on this, okay? We've managed to be together again after ten long years and I don't want to lose you again. You were an important piece of my life and when you left, I didn't feel whole. But after being with you again these last 24 hours, I feel my life is complete. You make me feel that way and I hope that I make you feel that way, too. I will do whatever I have to in order to keep us together. I couldn't bear the thought of us being separated again."
"Carrots, I feel the same way, too. I want the same thing. But, what would happen if it doesn't work out between us? I know that bunny culture is different. What if you left me for another buck? What happens if I can't keep you happy in bed? Foxes are very territorial when it comes to their mate and I wouldn't know what I'd do if you left me." Nick said imploringly with his eyes.
"Oh, you silly fox!" Judy scolded lovingly. "Rabbits mate for life, too! Sure, we have that reputation of being promiscuous or having a high libido but that only happens in a marriage. As for not keeping me happy in bed, I have a small confession to make." Judy said with a slight blush.
"Oh? And pray tell, what would that be?" Nick wondered.
"I think I'm disposed to pred-prey sex. I did a little bit of research…"
"Hold on. How the hell do you do research on pred-prey sex unless you engage in it?" Nick furiously began as his hackles started to rise.
"Oh, no sweetie, nothing like that." Judy quickly assured him. "It was done all through the internet." She began to sooth him by wrapping her arms around his neck and slowly rubbing his neck while purring into his ear.
Nick was ashamed of his temperamental outburst and apologized to Judy. He lovingly licked the side her face and playfully nipped her on the shoulder. He was suddenly immersed in the heady scent of violets and daffodils in summer rain. He came to a sudden realization. "These sites you visited? What kind were they?"
Judy began to blush furiously again and couldn't answer. "Carrots? Judy? Come on, you know I'll get it out of you sooner or later. And I know how to get it out sooner…" showing her a claw as he waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Dumb fox!" Judy huffed as she furiously punched his gut. That made Nick see stars for a while but then he persisted.
"Fine. They were…porn sites." Judy blushingly admitted.
Nick had the good sense not to laugh at Judy's admission of guilt but had to wonder. "So, whenever we engage in rough play where I use my claws or teeth, your libido rockets through the roof?"
"Yeah, and which is why I think I passed out having experienced it for the first time last night." Judy admitted. "And Nick? You're the only one who makes me feel this way. I've been around other predators and they have no effect on me. Yet your scent drives me wild and just thinking about you, your teeth and claws…"
Nick immediately smelled her arousal.
"So, this is why I believe that I can never leave you for another. Only you can push my buttons like you do." Judy said huskily.
"Have I told you how lucky I am to have you?" Nick said with tears in his eyes.
"Damn straight, you are. By the way, bunnies can be territorial, too. I don't share my fox! And you better remember that mister."
The glare Judy was giving him shook him to his core. He had never seen such anger, such possessiveness, it was…sexy? Was he getting turned on? His tail betrayed him to Judy as it began to wag furiously.
"Good boy," she said as she patted him on the head.