There would be no one to hear Judy if she screamed. The predator loomed over her body on all fours; she was defenseless. Any moment now, he could sink his fangs deep into her. With every fabric of her mind, this was precisely what she wanted.

But as she lay there on Nick's bed, in his apartment, with everything smelling like him, she felt overwhelmed. Most powerful was the musky scent coming off of the fox as he hovered his larger body over hers. It was a thrilling smell, but her own body was absolutely terrified.

Every instinct she possessed told her it was wrong. A war raged in her mind, with her higher functions combating her base instincts.

RUN! Her body screamed at her, accelerating her heart rate to dangerous levels. It's a fox! If you don't run, oblivion awaits!

NO! Her mind yelled back, fighting to keep her arms held back and useless against the bed. He's MY fox! He loves me; cherishes me!

Nick had waited so long for this. He had Judy completely at his mercy, a mutual agreement from the two soon-to-be lovers. Nick was fighting his own war, but it was one of restraining his urge to absolutely unhinge himself and show his prey just what his lithe, predator body was fully capable of. No, he had to be careful. She was smaller, and she was...

Scared?

The fox tried to ignore it. He nuzzled at her cheek and she gasped softly as his cold nose touched her. He nudged her chin out of the way, sniffing the scent of her here; which she often used to "mark" him as hers. His broad tongue slowly traced over her neck, and he could feel her rapid pulse through it. Her breaths were coming quick, just shy of full panting. Nick looked at Judy; her teeth were clenched and eyes shut tight, as if she were struggling against the gentle licking. Most of all, her tattletale nose was twitching as if it had a brand new motor installed into it. Nick felt guilt blossom deep within him as he took a few questing sniffs near her neck. He knew her scents. He knew when she was excited and also when she was scared. At that moment, she was both.

Selfish. The word seared at Nick's soul and he pulled away from her. He wanted her more than anything, but...

"Nick?" Judy said breathlessly, and sensed the furry, warm form of the fox retreating from her. "Nick, don't stop..."

Nick swallowed hard, feeling immense inner distress. "I have to, Judy... I can't keep going. You're going to have a heart attack."

Judy cringed in frustration. Her body held no secrets from the fox. Most of the time, she liked that. Being an open book to him; the vulnerability was enchanting; exotic. The more he was around her, the more it seemed like he could read her mind; predict exactly what she wanted. But this time her body was at odds with her mind. She wanted him more than anything else at that moment, but her body...

"My body is lying to you, Nick," Judy finally admitted. "I'm not... I'm not scared."

"You're flinching at almost everything I do, Judy," Nick's eyes darted this way and that as he avoided her gaze. "I'm not... comfortable with this."

"Nick!" Judy gave a groan of frustration. "Nick, I need you! I need this... we need this..."

Nick agreed with her on so many levels. His own base instincts wanted her so much. Most of his mind, too. But his heart told him it was all wrong. He hesitated, unmoving.

"No, we were so close..." Judy drew in a trembling breath. "I was holding my fear back as much as I could, Nick..." Her eyes became glassy. "I don't know if... how are we ever going to be 'each others' if we don't have the courage to..."

"Shh," Nick said, slowly drawing the back of her body against his front, laying into the bed on their sides. He started to tenderly pet her chest and stomach. "Let me tell you something I love about you, sweetheart."

"Yhh-yeah?" Judy mumbled, trying not to cry.

"You go after everything you want with one hundred percent," Nick said in his softest audible voice, very nearly a whisper. He knew her ears would pick up every gentle sound. "Without that, I don't know if we'd even be together."

Judy's teeth showed and she gave a shaky giggle through them. "Guess so."

"Don't give me that," Nick said, and Judy could almost feel his snarky grin behind her. "You were writing parking tickets one day, and a few later, you had solved the missing mammals case."

"Yeah, incorrectly," Judy gave a laugh, the jovial fox squelching her desire to cry.

"Here's my point," Nick kissed both of Judy's ears in turn. "You want this. I want this. But you said we should go for it after just a few nights of some intense kissing."

"There's never going to be someone in my life like you, Nick," Judy said with an almost eerie firmness and certainty. "I want to be yours in every sense. With every sense..."

"Well, my dear, I'm not going anywhere," Nick grinned. "But we can go slower. No need to rush to the end."

"I mean, I guess..." Judy giggled gently. "Here I am thinking I'm finally ready to be an adult with you and you're making me feel like a kit who's trying to get her dessert before dinner."

Nick offered a humming, mischievous chuckle that send a blast of excitement surging through Judy's small body. "Oh trust me, you're still going to get some 'dessert' tonight. Might just be a different kind." Judy gasped as Nick meaningfully drummed his fingers on both her chest and lower stomach.

"Ooh, okay..." Judy agreed. "Mm, you think I've been a good enough girl for that, huh...?"

"Without a doubt," Nick gave a chuckle in response. "We'll just have to teach your body that there's no reason to fear the big bad fox..."

"She's a slow learner," Judy grumbled in annoyance.

"Maybe, but she's oh-so-beautiful," Nick smiled warmly, his fingers very meticulously running through her fur. Judy let her eyes shut and tried only to focus on the feelings, humming pleasantly at the compliment. "And when I finally get to claim you as my own, well... it will have been worth every moment I took to take you as mine completely. With the entire agreement of your mind, body and heart."

Judy shivered. "Sweet heavens, Nick. Where did you learn to seduce like that?"

"Red fox, silver tongue," Nick gave a naughty chuckle. "Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot more of that tongue during our 'lessons'..."

Judy bit her lip as anticipation flooded her soul.

"Can we get to the first lesson, Mr. Wilde...?" Judy managed a coquettish, teasing tone. Nick gave a soft sniff. He sensed only excitement from the bunny.

"Certainly, my dear..." Nick fought the urge to growl as he wiggled his fingers through Judy's soft, gray and white fur.