Hello everyone!
To be honest, I didn't plan for this chapter to happen so early. But these two mammals just kept staring at me and I had to write it down.
So here you go.
And thank you for all your support and reviews!
Chapter 9
The mammals on the floor stared at vixen, utterly surprised.
But then, noticing Nick's shocked expression, a nasty smirk crossed Judy's face. She leaned down and rested her body on the fox's chest.
"Aww! And here we god to dhe good part…" she purred, causing the Nicholas' eyes to widen even more.
"Judy!"
Martha watched the scene, the grin not leaving her face. "You know, I can wait outside if you need a minute," she looked over Judy's scantily dressed form. "Or thirty."
The fox turned to the vixen. "Mother!"
Judy flinched, hearing the word 'mother'. Only now she realized the seriousness of the situation. Suddenly, the doe wanted to disappear from embarrassment, with her first meeting with the fox's parent turning into a complete disaster.
The bunny and the fox exchanged glances, the doe blushing intensely.
"I vote that you should explain this," the vulpine stated.
"Hey! Why me?!" Judy slapped him on the chest and sat back up.
"You jumped at me, not the other way around."
She folded her arms. "You're dhe attorney here, so you do dhe talking."
"With such overwhelming evidence against us?" he raised a brow. "I don't like this case. You're the cop, protect us." he fired back.
She stuck out her tongue. "I'm on a sig leave, you'll habe to protecd yourself."
"I'm waiting," the vixen chirped, clearly enjoying the scene.
Nicholas cleared his throat and tried to sound as serious as possible under current circumstances. "Why are you even here? What about Michael?"
Martha examined her claws nonchalantly. "He is just fine. And I am here, wondering why my son, who told me that he is so busy with work, is lying on the floor under a young girl," amusement was dripping from every word that left her mouth.
Nicholas groaned, realizing that any further resistance is futile. He rose from the floor, surprising the grey bunny. Before she could move away, the fox put an arm around her and stood up, holding Judy up by her thighs and close to his chest. The doe stifled a gasp when her nose brushed the fur on the side of his neck.
"N-Nick?" she stuttered, not sure if she's blushing from embarrassment or from the warmth of his body that she longed for several hours earlier.
Martha raised a curious brow. "Nick?" she repeated the name that, till now, only she was privileged to use.
The fox let out a sigh. "Not exactly the way I wanted you two to meet, but…" he indicated the vixen with his free paw. "Judy, I'd like you to meet my mother, Martha Wilde."
The female waved her fingers at the bunny. "Hello," she said cheerfully, still grinning.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet officer Judy Hopps. She's my..."
The doe's heart sunk at that moment. She perfectly knew what Nick was going to say. After all, they never got to discuss at what stage their relationship is. Sure, they joked and teased about it, but never made any serious declarations. Well, she would settle for 'friends' for now, even though the thought made her a little sad. She was never this close with any male, nobody has ever made her feel so... cherished. Still, she would have to accept-
"...girlfriend," the fox finished smoothly, no trace of hesitation in his voice.
Judy's gaze shot up to the vulpine's face, the doe almost disbelieving what she just heard. He showed her a caring smile that warmed her up, even without the help of a wool blanket. Feeling rejuvenated and returning the fox's smile, Judy turned to the vixen.
"Hello, id's nice to meed y-" she stopped.
Martha's eyes were glittering and her grin was now so wide that it began showing her teeth. It reminded the bunny of a wolf, stalking a trapped prey.
"Why hello, dearie," the vixen said in a singing voice. The hungry glint in her eye made the doe shiver. She grasped Nick's shirt with one paw and cuddled closer to his body. Judy wasn't one to be intimidated, even by angry rhinos armed with knives or guns. However, what she saw in the vixens' eyes triggered her natural, bunny instincts, ordering her to hide or seek protection. Ironically, in the arms of a fox.
Nicholas sensed her tension and wrapped not only his arms around his girlfriend. His tail managed to curl itself around her legs in a protective gesture.
"Mother," the attorney's voice was now stern and commanding. "I will not have you scaring Judy like this. Behave yourself, she's sick and shouldn't be bothered."
Martha blinked, her expression relaxing and eyes returning to a normal state. "Oh... Oh, dear... I'm terribly sorry!" she bowed her head in an apology. "It's just... Seeing Nick with-"
"Mother!" Nicholas let out a tired sigh.
Martha flinched slightly. "Ah, yes, right... Sorry," she let out a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her neck.
Judy wasn't certain what just had occurred, but had a feeling that she witnessed a scene of taming a dangerous beast.
"I guess that I'll leave you two lovebirds alone then," Martha clapped her paws. "But I want to see you, Judy, as soon as possible after you get better. We have a looot to talk about, young lady!" the vixen sent her a wink and suddenly Judy thought that a talk with Bogo would be a walk in the park, compared to a meeting with this female.
The vixen said her hurried goodbyes and left the apartment, leaving them alone, still standing in the middle of the living room.
"So…" Nicholas heard a soft voice from around his neck. "Girlfriend?" the bunny asked, playing with the top button of his shirt.
The fox let out a sigh. "I'll understand if you don't want to be,"
Hearing this, Judy's ears shot up and she quickly pulled away from his chest to look at his face. "No! I mean, I'd love to!" she blurted out, just before noticing a playful glint in his eyes. Her body relaxed and she slapped his chest with a smile. "Tease!"
"Am I? Yes, yes I am," he gave her a wink and turned to the couch to put the bunny down, though he did chuckle at her disappointed expression and puppy eyes. He reached for a blanked and kneeled down, his nose on the same level as hers, wrapping Judy in the thick cover. "Someone has to make dinner, Fluff."
"Ugh, fine. I'll let my boyfriend ged me something to ead," she huffed, eyeing him with mock disappointment.
The fox laughed and headed to the kitchen. Though he stopped halfway and turned to the entrance hall.
"Nick?" Judy raised a curious brow.
He disappeared from her sight for a moment and returned with a bouquet of purple colored flowers. The fox approached the surprised bunny, wearing a gentle smile.
"I took me a bit longer to get here, because on my way I had to stop at a flower shop to not come back empty pawed," he crouched in front of her and offered Judy the flowers. "Hydrangeas. I've heard that they are considered a symbol of perseverance and seeing the color I just couldn't not think about you."
The surprised doe took the bouquet from his paws and offered him a smile. "Thank you! Is dhere some special occasion?"
"You could say that. An apology."
A frown formed on the doe's face, as she stared at Nicholas. "Apology?" her heart started beating faster.
He reached out and took her paw into one of his. "I am sorry, Judy. For pushing you away like that earlier. You don't deserve to be treated like that," the vulpine gave her paw a gentle squeeze and looked directly into her amethyst eyes. "Look, I'm not saying no. But can I ask you for a bit of time?"
She squeezed back. "Of course, and I am sorry for being so forward earlier," Judy graced him with a beautiful smile. "Thank you for dhe wonderful flowers."
.
.
Judy was sitting on the couch and observing the fox, as he was preparing a meal for them. Her eyes followed his every move, from top to bottom. She let out a chuckle when she focused for a moment on his tail. When Nicholas was busy with the dinner, Judy chose a new album to play in the stereo and now she was enjoying the fox's appendage slightly swishing to the sounds of "Califurnication" by the Red Furred Chili Peppers. The flowers he brought earlier were now in a vase, placed on the tea table by the couch.
"Say, would like it to be a bit sweet?" he asked of her without turning back.
Judy's lips formed a smug grin and she rested her chin on a paw. "I like sweed things, Mr. Dancer."
This time he looked over his shoulder with puzzled expression.
The bunny simply pointed at his tail.
"Oh, that? Almost forgot the bloody thing is still with me. Thought I sold for a hefty sum years ago," he quipped, his usual smirk returning to his face.
"How cruel of you!" Judy gasped overdramatically, placing a paw on her chest. "I'd never do dhat to my own tail!"
The fox chuckled. "That attached to it?"
"I love my tail! I always thoughd of id as cute," she chirped, observing the vulpine attorney carefully. She gave him several seconds before speaking again. "I can hear you grinning all dhe way from here, Nick."
"Why would I be doing that?" he asked innocently.
"I can bed dhat you're just itching to commend on my dail."
His paws didn't pause in preparing the meal. "I am?"
"You're righd," she replied playfully. "Why would you wand to commend on such a cute, fluffy, soft liddle bunny tail thad would just disappear in your big, strong paw if you were to grab id," she purred and grinned when Nick's paws froze over the kitchen top.
He eventually cleared his throat and resumed what he was doing. "I thought about testing that theory, but I don't feel like being sprawled over the floor due to one of your throws," he teased back.
"Considering thad you're my boyfriend…" Judy paused at that word, once again enjoying the sound of it. Her ears rested behind her head and a blush decorated her grey cheeks. "Why would I stob you?" once again she tested the waters, hoping that she didn't overshoot this time.
Silence befell between them, interrupted only by the sounds of music.
Nicholas was first to break it. "My, my…" he murmured and turned around. Judy's hopeful expression relaxed when she saw a smirk on his face. "What a bold bunny you are," he slowly approached the couch, his tail swinging in a hypnotizing motion.
"Not too bold?" she mumbled, looking up at the fox with a small smile.
The fox reached out and ran his paw over the top of her head and down the whole length of one of her ears. Judy shivered from pleasure that came with his touch. Her ears always were a sensitive spot and seeing Nick's smug grin, he most definitely noticed it.
"I will tell you when you are," he said in a low voice, making her heart skip a beat.
She gazed into his emerald eyes, cherishing the moment. Unfortunately for the doe, her stomach had other plans and growled loudly, demanding attention.
Nick stifled an amused snort and pulled away. "It seems that for now I have a hungry girlfriend to feed," with these words he turned around and returned to the kitchen.
Judy groaned quietly and slumped on the couch, hating her own stomach.
.
.
When the food was ready, they both sat by the table and Judy surveyed the bowl of orange soup she was served.
"Smells very nice, whad is id?"
"Pumpkin cream soup with a touch of ginger and a bit of parsley on top. And to that," he indicated another bowl, filled with slightly dark pieces of bread, cut out in little squares, "you can add something sweet. Croutons coated in honey."
Judy eyed the addition curiously. She added a few to her bowl and tasted it with a spoonful of soup. The doe felt a delicious combination of the slight spiciness of ginger, mixed with the taste of the pumpkin. She enjoyed the crunchiness of the croutons, along with the sweet honey.
Judy beamed at her boyfriend. "You, sir, habe missed your true calling," she pointed the spoon at him. "You should be a cook!"
He smiled back, eating his own serving of soup. "Please, when it comes to cooking my mother would leave me in the dust."
"Oh? Sounds like she could hold her ground againsd my mom," the bunny chuckled, remembering the amazing dishes created by her mother.
"What? You're suggesting a cooking duel?" he raised an amused brow.
"Why nod? You could all come to visid Bunny Burrow."
Nick laughed at her idea. "That would be something! A family of foxes visiting a legion of bunnies!"
Judy giggled, hearing his reply. "Don'd worry. I'll prodect you, my fragile boyfriend."
He rested his muzzle on folded paws. "Enjoying that word?"
"Very much!" she grinned at her fox.
"But probably not as much I like the word 'girlfriend'," he showed her a smug smirk.
"Mr. Wilde!" she scolded him in a joking manner. "Are you drying to seduce dhis innocend bunny?!"
Nicholas snorted and shifted to rest his cheek on one paw. "Innocent? Who are you trying to fool here, Fluff?"
"Okay, god me there, handsome."
"Why thank you, beautiful."
They stared at each other with big smiles, both internally happy where this was heading.
.
.
After the dinner, Nick excused himself and spend the rest of the day in the seclusion of his office. This time really busy with his work. Of course, before he went there, he prepared a proper drink for Judy and teased her about not touching any bottles.
Sitting by the desk, the vulpine sent a text message to Michael.
Call when Martha is not around.
We have SOMETHING to talk about.
And in the vixen's apartment, the little fox read the message and groaned.
He knew he was in deep trouble.
.
.
In that time, Judy got a potentially dangerous call.
From her mother.
Taking a deep breath, trying to imagine potential scenarios for this conversation, Judy tapped the green icon.
"Hello mama," she said in her sickly muffled voice.
"Oh dear! Judy, your voice!" her mother gasped. "Are you sick?"
"Yeah, I god flu. Can't dalk too much."
There was a rustling sound on the phone and Judy could hear the worried voice of her father in the background.
"Jude's sick? Is she alright?" the young doe let out a sigh hearing the old nickname. It's not that she hated it, on the contrary. It was a unique thing between a father and daughter, which she held close to her heart. Though it annoyed her sometimes, for making her look like some tomboy.
"I'm fine!" she assured them quickly, knowing full well how overprotective her father could be. "I'm taking care of myself."
"But Judy," her mother didn't sound convinced. "I remember that your apartment isn't exactly… well, comfortable," Judy groaned internally, now regretting allowing her parents to visit her 'apartment' some time ago. "I'm not so sure if it's a good place for recuperation from a flu…"
Judy didn't even need to count to three.
"You could always come home to get better!" her father suggested, no doubt with a big smile on his face.
"Thanks, dad. It's sweed of you, bud I'm okay," she took a deep breath. "I have a different place to stay."
"Really? You found yourself a new apartment? How nice, that old place wasn't good for you."
"Um…" the young doe's fingers fidgeted with the rim of the blanket. "I didn'd find a new place, mom. I'm lodging ad someone else's apartmend."
"Oh, I see. With one of your friends?" her mother said, still in her cheerful mood.
This was it. Judy took an even deeper breath and put a paw over her eyes. "Boyfriend… I'm staying ad my boyfriend's place."
The silence that followed those words was deafening. But she didn't have to wait too long for the reaction.
"Your… boyfriend?" her mother sounded surprised, but, thankfully, not in a negative way.
And it started.
"Judy has a boyfriend!" someone squealed in the background, Judy recognized one of her sisters.
"B-boyfriend?!" that was her father. "My little girl has a-"
"Oh keep it down Stu! You'll startle the little ones!" her mother cut him off.
"But, honey…"
"Be quiet," she said calmly before returning to the conversation with Judy. "Sorry about this, Judy. You know how your father can be. Anyway, you never mentioned a boyfriend before. What's changed?"
The young doe let out a sigh of relief, grateful to her mother for being so calm about this. "Actually, we're officially a couble only since dhis morning, so dhere was nothing to tell earlier," she paused a moment to cough and blow her nose.
"Are you okay, bun-bun?"
"Yes, sorry… Id's nothing. And aboud… us, we've been on two dades and things just… happened from there."
"Things?" her mother inquired in a cautious voice.
Judy's eyes shot wide open when the realization hit her. She said that she's living with her boyfriend and things happened. "No!" she yelped, almost dropping the phone. "Nothing like dhat, mom! Nick is a perfect gendlemammal, we habe separate beds, we haven'd even kissed yet!" she blurted it out on one breath and then she realized what she just told every member of her family in the vicinity of her mother's phone.
Oh sweet cheese and crackers… She fell back on the couch with her eyes closed and back arched over the couch's edge, letting her head hang loosely upside down. Things couldn't get any more embarrassing than this.
"Wow," said an amused voice and her eyes shot wide open. She saw the upside-down image of Nick, standing nearby with a cup in his paw. "Discussing our living conditions with your mother?" he had a smug grin on his face.
If the phrase 'to die of embarrassment' in a dictionary would ever need a visualization, a photograph of Judy right now would be perfect.
She gasped and sprung up, but her legs got tangled in the blanket. The doe lost her balance and was about to fall to the floor when a strong arm caught her and helped her sit back on the couch. Nicholas had an apologetic expression and silently mouthed 'sorry'. Then he kissed her forehead and headed back to his office.
Judy sat completely still, staring at the door that Nicholas passed through.
"Bun-bun? Are you there?" Judy's ears twitched and she quickly fumbled with her phone.
"Y-yes, sorry. I just god… disdracted a bit," she mumbled, touching the spot the fox kissed.
We haven't kissed yet. He must've heard that. She instantly started wondering what goes through his mind right now. Was kissing also off limits for now? Then what about that time, when they were wrapped together in a blanket?
"Was that your boyfriend?" her mother's voice brought her back to reality.
"Yes, thad was Nicholas."
"Well, he sounds like a rather kind buck to me."
Judy's ears fell behind her head.
Oh sweet…
"Mom!" she practically whispered. "Can we talk more… privately?" she pleaded and coughed a bit after that.
"Oh, okay, bun-bun. Just give me a moment." Judy could hear a rustling noise, followed by the worried voice of her father.
"Huh? W-where are you going, Bon?"
"This is girl talk, Stu. No males allowed. Now go and see if Jonas, Clarice, Edward, Emily, Howard, Jack, Jill, Stephanie and Maurice don't need a diaper change."
There was a sound of closing doors and silence, when the usual background hustle was cut off. "Okay, hon. What's the matter?" Bonnie asked softly.
Judy cast down her gaze and let out a sigh. "Mom, please don'd be worried, but Nick is nod a rabbid."
There was a pause.
"Okaay…" the older doe said carefully. "So, what is he hon?"
Judy gathered up her courage. "Promise you won'd freak out?"
"Hon, I'm not going to judge your life choices. But I can't promise that I won't be worried, you know. It's a mother thing, you'll see someday for yourself."
Judy froze for a moment. There was Mike, of course, the sweet, little fox, but… Her and Nick? Children?
The bunny shook her head to clear her thoughts. She'll deal with that if it will come up later.
When. Corrected that nasty voice in her head.
"Okay, you see…. he is a fox," she practically gritted her teeth, anxiously awaiting her mother's reaction.
"Well…" the older doe said with a cautious voice. "That's… something new…"
"I know, I know! Bud… but…" Judy fought to find the right words. "I don'd know! It just feels righd."
"Okay, hon. If you say so," she didn't sound completely convinced, but also not judgmental. "Just tell me, is he… you know, the legal sort of a mammal? I mean, I'm don't want to be a speciest, but the opinions about foxes-"
"He's an attorney mom!" Judy interrupted her mother. "One of dhe best in entire Zoodopia! I'm ad his apartmend, remember? He didn't steal id or hustled it from someone, he didn'd habe to! And he's got a very brighd son, who-"
"He's got a son?!" this time Bonnie cut in. "Judy-"
"Mom, before you say anything else, please listen!" the young doe hurriedly interjected. "Yes, he has a son, yes he is older dhan me. He's divorced and currentdy living only with his boy. His name is Michael, by dhe way and I'm sure you'd love him if you'd habe a chance to meed him," her cough forced her to stop once again and she took a sip of her drink to ease her throat a bit.
"Judy…"
"Wait, mom! I know how it must sound to you, bud please trustd me on this," she shifted a bit under the blanket. "Nick is very kind to me and also generous. When he found out aboud my flu he was adamant aboud me moving in to his place for the time of recuperation. And dhat's just after two dates, mom. He even boughd me a dress for the date!"
"But Judy… What if he's just trying to use his money-"
"No!" the young bunny denied strongly. "He would never hurd me, I know dhat! Knowing I'm sick he got me warmer clothes, he cooks for me, he makes sure dhat I'm properly resting to ged better. I told you before, Nick respects me compledely and would never take advantage of me!" she coughed again and continued in a softer voice. "Mom, don'd you understand? He cares about me…"
Judy stopped, breathing steadily to calm herself down.
"Okay," her mother's voice was now soft and understanding. "Hearing you talk about him with such passion I now know that he means a lot to you. I am sorry that I was distrustful earlier, I was just worried about you."
Judy let out a sigh. "I know, mom. I know. "Jusd… could you nod tell anyone yet dhat I'm dating a fox? Dad would probably drive here in the pickup with a fox taser in his paw."
"Of course, bun-bun. And don't worry about your father. If it'll come to that, I'll deal with him, okay?"
"Okay," the young doe smiled. "Thanks for hearing me oud, mom."
For the first time in this conversation, Bonnie has laughed. "That's what mothers are for."
"I love you, mom."
"I love you too, hon."
.
.
Night came pretty quickly and the end of the day was very conflicting for Judy. It was the first night they were about to spend together under one roof, without anyone else present in the apartment. She took a hot bath and now was sitting on Nick's bed, wrapped in the quilt, wearing the bunny-sized pajamas he got for her. Part of her imagined that it would be a perfect occasion to try and push their relationship a bit further. The more sensible majority kept that part isolated from the decision-making process. She wanted this to work, she wanted them to work. No matter how ridiculous it sounded, given the fact that they have met no more than two weeks ago. The doe had a very good feeling about Nicholas and her heart wanted to make that feeling grow. Especially after the talk with her mother. Voicing out her feelings like that only strengthened her belief that Nick is the best thing that happened to her so far. Even considering her career in the ZPD and that was very difficult to top.
Also, being a bunny, she naturally craved closeness, the result of growing together with almost 300 siblings. It was an internal conflict between the urge to grab her fox to hug him tightly and her respect for his struggle with his past feelings. She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to lose a mate. Or rather, when the mate leaves you out their own choice. Still…
The bunny pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them.
She wanted to hold him.
.
.
Meanwhile, Nicholas was in a difficult situation.
Last night he had no problem sleeping on the couch, but this time it was different. Now the entire thing smelled like Judy. After all, she spent here most of the day, part of it just in her underwear…
He slapped himself for that thought.
However, he also couldn't forget what Judy practically yelled to the phone today.
We haven't even kissed yet.
The ability to read mammals, their feelings and intentions was rather helpful in his job and now it told him that, at that moment, Judy sounded a bit disappointed. He couldn't blame her. He would be lying if he'd say that he didn't think about it. There was something in her that pulled him in. And that time, when he warmed her with his body after that reckless Tundratown swim? Nicholas could agree then, that it was just in the spur of the moment, but now he wasn't so convinced.
The fox rolled to his back and let out a sigh. It's not like he didn't like the idea of embracing the bunny, but every time he imagined it, an image of red fur and blue eyes forced itself into his mind. However, he couldn't ignore the fact that whenever he inhaled the doe's smell, or felt her fur under his paws, that image gradually faded.
And he wanted it to fade completely.
Turning to the side, Nicholas grabbed one of the pillows used by Judy earlier and pressed it to his nose. The fox breathed in deeply, intent on taking in every last bit of the bunny's scent.
.
.
The next day was a quiet one. No more calls from her parents, Chief Bogo or, she trembled slightly, Nick's mother. She seemed to be a kind person, but Judy got nervous just remembering the look in the vixen's eyes.
Additionally, her flu went to a different stage and while nose was now more or less clean. She still had to use tissues a lot, but at least her voice was back to normal. Now she experienced muscle pains and shivering cold that gnawed at her bones. It relieved her that Nick was there for her and made sure that she is properly dressed and wrapped in a warm blanket. He was making her warm drinks whenever she would politely ask for something to drink. At first, she tried to do it herself, with the amount of work the fox seemed to have in his office, but he would have none of that. Nicholas joked that he can't risk another juice-bunny-shower and her ending up in wet clothes again.
This meant tons of free time on her paws. Something she hardly ever experienced since joining ZPD. Always busy with another case, always focused on her job, using her spare time to train or go over the case files.
Therefore, she spent most of her day on exchanging messages with her family members. Apparently, the news about her getting a boyfriend spread like fire. She received hundreds of questions from her siblings and, not surprisingly, the majority came from her sisters. Some were pretty sweet, some were funny and there were also those that heated up her cheeks and made her glance nervously at the door to her boyfriend's office, hoping that he's not sneaking around to see what some of her sisters suggested.
When dinner time arrived, Nicholas asked if she'd like to eat the pumpkin soup again or should he prepare something new. Judy was a bit surprised and asked why preparing a new dish when they still had some soup.
"Well, I usually cook meals to last for a few days or freeze them for later. It's more efficient that way. But if you would like to eat something new, I see no problem in grabbing some stuff from a nearby store and preparing a new dish, Fluff."
Judy assured him with a smile that the soup would be just fine and she felt a bit more special. That he would go out of his way to satisfy her, should she wish for something.
They haven't brought up the topic of what Nick overheard from her phone call. Both thought that it might be a bit embarrassing for the other party and didn't start the conversation regarding it, hoping that it would come naturally at one point or another.
.
.
When the evening came, Nicholas once again prepared the bed for Judy while she was taking a bath. After that, Nick went to the bathroom to take a shower, while Judy buried herself under the quilt and curled up, hoping the preserve as much heat as possible. Her cough wouldn't leave her yet, but she felt that it was starting to get better. She didn't know whether it was due to the care she received from the fox or just his mere presence made her feel better.
Either way, she knew that her sickness was slowly fading away, but right now she would really like to feel warmer. Even with the quilt, the doe felt the uncomfortable chilliness.
What about him? Her inner voice dared asking.
Judy shook her head. She already tried once and now was wiser to wait with such a bold idea for later. Even if she really would enjoy him being under the quilt together with her. The warmth of his body was so comforting and relaxing to the doe, whenever she recalled it.
Her ears picked up the sound of the bathroom door opening, followed by pawsteps on the floor.
When the fox was passing by the bedroom, Judy straightened up on the bed. "Nick?" she called before she could bite her own tongue.
After a second the door to the dimly lit room opened, showing the figure of Nicholas. There was no light in the rest of the apartment, the doe remembering that foxes had a quite good night vision.
"Yes?"
Judy's eyes adjusted a bit and she saw that he was wearing a black bathrobe. "Um…" she didn't think this through. "I'm a bit cold…" she mumbled, lying down again and wrapping herself with the quilt.
Would you sleep with me?
"Would you mind giving me one more blanket?" internally, she cursed herself for just the idea of jumping the gun so quickly again.
"Sure," he walked in and circled the bed to get to the closet. "One will do?" he asked taking a blanket from one of the shelves.
"Yeah," she curled up again, lying on her side with her back to the fox. "Thank you…" she muttered and swallowed back the disappointment, knowing full well that asking him for anything more at this point would be improper. The doe reached for a tissue and blew her nose for the 85th time today. She awaited the feeling of a new layer being added on top of the quilt, but didn't expect what she heard.
The sound of material being dropped on the bed.
In the next moment, she felt a breeze of air on her back when Nick raised the quilt. Right after that the mattress bent a bit under new weigh. Judy's eyes widened and her heartbeat increased significantly.
Is he…
Then she felt the familiar warmth and the smell of a fox fresh from a shower. Nick pulled the quilt over them and put an arm around her stomach, gently pulling her back to his chest. Her cheeks immediately heated up, along with the rest of her body. The closeness of the fox dispersing the chill that was bothering her moments ago.
Her fox…
"You're free to scream if you feel uncomfortable with this," he murmured right above her head. "I also know a good attorney, if you'd like to file a lawsuit."
She giggled. "Dumb fox," she wrapped her paws around his. "This is just what I needed."
"If I am to be honest… me too…" he admitted in a low voice.
Surprised, Judy turned her head on the pillow to look at him.
"Really?"
"Hey, I've slept on a couch practically drenched with your scent. Well, more like barely slept at all…" he slowly brushed her cheek with a thumb. This caused Judy to feel pleasant tingling in her chest. "What have you done to me?" he whispered.
Instead of an answer, Judy lifted his paw and rolled over so that she could face him properly.
"I could ask you the same," she whispered back, placing a paw on his cheek.
They stayed that way, staring into each other's eyes, hearts beating hard in their chests. And there it was again, the mysterious pull that started affecting both of them. And the distance between them started getting even shorter. Their mouths were unavoidably getting closer.
"Nick…"
"Hm?"
"Your mother isn't going to enter this room right now?"
Closer…
"I closed the door."
"Your phone?"
"Left it in the kitchen."
Closer…
"Mike's not going to barge in?"
"I think Martha will restrain him."
Closer…
"Nick?"
"Yes?"
Closer…
"Kiss me, please."
Their lips touched and both mammals closed their eyes, savoring the sweetness of this moment. Having bigger mouth than her, Nick was very careful, making sure that he won't scrape her with his fangs. She tasted like nothing he ever felt in his life. No delicacy could even compare to the savor of her lips. He cared not for species, age, status, the entire world. In this moment, she trapped him with her flavor and scent, ridding him of any unrelated thought.
At the same time, Judy felt that she was melting from their contact. She was excited and nervous, not sure what to expect and whatever she hoped for landed straight into a trash bin. This was something completely beyond that. His taste was almost intoxicating and her head was spinning from pure bliss. And even in that state of mind, she noticed how tender it was. It amazed her that with mouth that, by nature, was designed to bite rabbits, Nick was so gentle in their kiss.
They parted after what felt like millennia, but in reality, was several seconds. Both drew breath and opened their eyes. There were no giggles or giddy smiles. Just gazes locked with each other.
"Judy?"
"Yes?"
"I don't know if I have heard you correctly. Could you repeat that last part?"
She smiled and brushed the fur on his cheek. "Sly fox."