⌚ New Experiences

10. Mixed Company

"Wow," Spanky said with a grin, looking up at the first evening stars. "Wow. I never thought you could be like that. You're... incredible. I mean, I knew you're amazing. I just mean you're incredible in more ways. In ways I didn't even know about."

"I didn't know I could talk like that either. But when it comes to showing you a new side of me, or maybe losing you, I just realised that I'd hold onto you even if you were being dragged through a hellgate."

"Thanks," he smiled, "And you too. If I had to, I think I really would give up everything for you. But it's hard to choose between a person who can do the things you love, and a person you... uhh..."

"Love?" a little chuckle, "It's been nearly a year now, Spanky. You still choke on that word if you've not been psyching yourself up for it and practising in front of the mirror?"

"Hey! It's normal to be nervous if... I mean, I don't... What makes you think I'm that nervous?"

"Because you just told me," she giggled, "I meant it more of a metaphorical device. But that's so cute. The confident playboy gets really nervous when it's emotions, and not just grinding against someone else's body."

"Uhh... I guess," he smiled. Some time since he'd got his breath back, his arms had crept around the white tiger again. He didn't make any effort to take them away. "You know, we'll have to go back downstairs at some point. It's getting late, and I really hope they haven't locked the place up yet."

"That's my fox," Paper giggled, playfully tweaking his tail, "Mind always on the practical– What's wrong?"

"Umm..." he looked down at his paws, and tried to find the right words to say.

"Oh. Well, that's another rule. If you're bruised, I want to know. I shouldn't be causing you any pain when I touch you." But as Spanky nodded his agreement, she raised one hand to her chin and let her claws extend just enough to make the point: "Not unless I want to."

* * *

Three days later, Spanky was surprised to find that his pigeonhole in the lobby of Melville House contained an orange card. A parcel, and he found he was practically shaking with nerves as he waited for the porter to find it in the back room. He hadn't been expecting anything, but that didn't mean much now.

The last parcel he'd received had been from Master, and contained the most embarrassing gift he could possibly imagine. Dressed like a cub, and under the influence of hypnosis unable to stop himself from acting like one, it had been the single most intense experience of his life so far. He'd not been able to hide the pack after, he had to leave it somewhere visible in his room, although he had done his best to place it between his computer and the wall where the words on the packaging weren't visible. He'd known that the longer he left it there, the more likely Lulu was to envision some kind of interrogation scenario, and he hadn't been ready to share that secret. He'd been half tempted to ask for another session, just so it would be gone; but he wasn't quite ready to be a cub again while he was given a choice. So on his desk it had remained; it was only yesterday that his begging had finally convinced Master to let him put the remaining diapers in a cupboard.

When he saw the card, his mind went back to those memories again. Once he'd received one package, he was sure, Master wouldn't just delete his address. And he knew that if he got one of those presents, there was no way he could refuse to open it, or to collect it, or to do anything to keep himself from doing whatever Master had planned.

He was supposed to be spending the afternoon with Lulu today, because the absence of a lecturer had given them a coinciding free afternoon for a change. It would be the first time they'd had any serious time together since the interrogation session, and he still didn't know how she'd react to hearing that Paper was willing to share his body, if not his heart. He could only imagine her being enthusiastic; her overriding philosophy seemed to be that variety was the spice of life. But he was already nervous.