Roux’s feet tapped the floor, his shoulders hunched. Jack had enough of this. “Dude, what’s your problem?”
Antoine’s tail twitched. “We’re just having a conversation.”
Jack frowned. “No. You’re talking about someone else’s business. What’s the point of this?”
Antoine looked back with his eyelids lowered. “Is this embarrassing, Roux? Do you take issue with what I’m saying?”
“There’s just no need for any of it,” Roux said.
“Why? You’ve left Bonnes, and that makes you think you’re so much better than us?”
“He wasn’t the one to say that,” Jack said curtly. “You’re the one who talks about his personal life to a work colleague of his you’ve barely just met.”
But Antoine wouldn’t let it go. “It’s not so personal if all of Bonnes knows it. Or are you ashamed of your own family, Roux?”
The expression on Roux’s face reminded Jack of the one right before Roux had left scars on his face years ago. “I’m not ashamed. But I also don’t think all chats need to produce a litter every few months.”
Antoine shook his head. “You would say that, since you don’t—”
Roux hissed and stabbed his claws into Antoine’s thigh.
Shit.
“I mean... family planning isn’t a bad thing,” Jack tried, but Antoine ignored him and bared his teeth, hissing and bristling his fur at Roux.
“You’re jealous of the females. That’s all there is to it!”
Roux pulled away his paw and crossed his arms on his chest. “Let’s just end this charade! Yes, Antoine, I’m a pussycat. Are we done here?”
Jack bit the inside of his cheek when those offensive words, the same he’d asked Jack not to use, fell from Roux’s lips. A part of him was glad to finally know that he hadn’t been attracted to someone who couldn’t reciprocate his interest, but that left him even more disgusted by Antoine’s behavior.
“There’s no need for this language. What’s the big deal, Antoine? He’s not the only one attracted to his own sex.”
Antoine did a double take at Jack with his eyes wide, but Jack could only focus on Roux’s flattened ears and lowered gaze. If this was how other chats treated Roux, who was an accomplished venator, no wonder he wasn’t keen on visiting home often.
Jack hated this god-awful homophobic chat for making Roux feel like shit on a day of such triumph. “Not to mention that Roux Chat-Bonnes is a known venator, a great ambassador for your species. He is a success story. Everyone in the field has heard of him, and you should all be grateful for the kind of respect he commands.”
So maybe Jack was overdoing it a little bit, but this was Roux’s moment to shine, and he didn’t deserve to have it spoiled by a coach driver who felt so much better than him just because he was making babies.
His heart did a backflip when Roux looked up at him with those pretty green eyes.
Lauro opened a little window between the bench and the inside of the carriage, and his fin sent a splash of water Antoine’s way. “I would like you to know—Antoine—that you are in the minority in this carriage.”
Antoine rubbed the water off with his sleeve, and they all fell silent.
Jack grinned Lauro’s way and gently patted Roux’s back. “I’m guessing he won’t be invited to the inn?” he whispered, but judging by Antoine’s hiss, he hadn’t spoken quietly enough.
It wasn’t like he cared.
Roux rubbed his head against Jack’s shoulder. Only once, but it still sent warmth all through Jack’s heart.
Soon after all the nastiness was silenced, they not only spotted the inn, perched on a cliff, and with a large sea pool not far below, but also heard it. Music, singing, yelling, all reached their ears as they approached.
Jack’s mood instantly lifted, and he scratched Roux’s back once more before jumping off the wagon to stretch his legs. “Damn, Roux, how many people should I expect? This sounds like a serious party.”
“The organisation counts over twenty members, but… they have friends, and I imagine the innkeeper has invited half the village to reveal his new star attraction.” He seemed to purposefully ignore Antoine, and rightfully so.
Lauro extended his arms to Jack through the window. “Oh! Oh! I cannot wait to sing for everyone!”
Jack laughed, glancing at Antoine from the corner of his eye as he helped Lauro out of the bath. “Oh, so it’s singing you want. What a nice euphemism.”
Lauro giggled and slapped Jack’s shoulder. “What else could I possibly mean?”
Once they stopped, Roux paid Antoine in silence, but people—or rather, creatures of all sorts—poured out of the inn to greet them, and those who had hands held drinks.
Jack grinned, spinning in place to show off Lauro’s attributes. “Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in-between, meet Lauro. And be nice to him, since he’s been through a lot of hardship recently,” he said, before passing the merman into the waiting arms of a huge creature, who looked as if he was made of stone. Another interdimensional orphan, perhaps.
“We’re so happy to see him safe and sound!” said an older man with a round belly and a bald head. He wore an apron, so he was likely the innkeeper.
Jack was too busy gawking at the variety of creatures gathered along with humans to engage with him, though. They all followed the stone-man down the steps to the sea pool where dozens of chairs and tables awaited guests. Colorful lights hung from the roof, and trees growing out of huge clay pots created a cozy atmosphere that went hand in hand with the live music produced by a creature with so many arms it was playing four instruments at the same time.
Jack didn’t even mind seeing a centaur among the crowd, because tonight he’d gotten Calix out of his system for good.
Lauro dove straight from the arms of the stone man into the pool, to a round of applause. Jack was so enchanted with the sight of the merman’s joy he hadn’t even noticed when Roux had left him.
Fortunately, there was only one chat in attendance, and his fur had an eye-catching color. Jack found Roux receiving a cocktail of vodka shaken with ice and sweet cream, and he made his presence known by snatching himself a glass of whisky. “There you are.”
Roux stilled with the glass at his lips. “H-hello. I know you like to make friends, I didn’t want to be the fifth wheel.”
Or he was embarrassed by what had been said in the carriage and fled. So Jack decided to act as if that hadn’t happened at all and clinked his glass against Roux’s. “I’d rather catch up with someone I haven’t seen in a while,” he said, even though they’d talked a lot throughout dinner already.
Roux downed his drink after a moment of hesitation and lapped up some that had spilled on his chin. It didn’t help Jack’s imagination that the drink was white. No matter how much he tried to be decent, he still imagined cum on Roux’s fur.
“That’s nice of you,” Roux said, and Jack had to laugh at how stiff that sounded. Roux definitely needed another drink, so Jack poured him one.
“Go on. Just relax. Antoine’s a jerk who doesn’t have much to offer the world. No point thinking about it.”
Ąfter a moment of hesitation, Roux ordered two more cocktails from the passing barmaid. He rubbed his ear with a groan. “I guess… I just didn’t want you to hear any of that.”
Jack swallowed some of the whisky and leaned against the wall, watching Roux’s cute, furry fingers twitch against a glass. “Why?”
Roux sighed deeply, avoiding Jack’s gaze by looking toward the singing merman. “It’s such an embarrassment. My family—I love them—but they fit the stereotypes to a T, and then… I know you’re into men yourself, but I’m not used to being open about it. It’s not our way of doing things.” He eagerly grabbed the cocktails as soon as the barmaid brought them.
Jack stretched his neck, and a small smile tugged at his lips. “To be fair, you found me getting impregnated by a tarantoid. Your family can’t be any more embarrassing than that.”
&nb
sp; Roux snorted and poured another shot into his mouth, once more licking around his lips. “I won’t say I hadn’t felt a tingle of satisfaction back then.”
“I hope it was because you saw me half naked,” Jack tried, discreetly watching Roux’s reactions.
Roux’s ears lowered, as did his eyelids, and he pushed at Jack’s arm. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? You’ll fuck anyone or anything that comes your way.”
Jack hesitated whether he should be honest or not, but in the end he met Roux’s gaze. “I’ve been faithful to Calix while we were together, but I see no reason to deny myself pleasure when I’m not attached. And sometimes being in another man’s arms is the only way to scratch an itch. Even with a broken heart.”
Roux’s gaze drifted off to Lauro, but then snapped back to Jack. “Wait. No! You didn’t! ... Did you?”
Jack cleared his throat, only slightly embarrassed. “You may not believe me, but it really helped. You must see how lovely he is.”
Roux’s ears flattened and he sighed. “He is irresistible when he wants to be, but I find it hard to see those scales and not think of food.”
Jack stilled, shocked that not only was Roux not judgmental, but he’d actually made a joke. Jack grinned, slowly sipping his liquor. He was used to drinking alcohol since school, but judging by the gradual slowing of Roux’s movements, the chat’s head wasn’t as strong. Jack could bet his skin was rosy red under all that fluff. “You’re relaxed for once. Who’d have thought you’re even capable of it?”
“You get burnt a few times, and you don’t want to let go as much,” Roux said, but he slurred slightly, his head lolling from side to side.
Jack laughed and nudged him with his foot. “Are your hangovers so bad then?”
“I just… don’t want to be judged, you know? It’s so, so exhausting.” Roux sighed deeply and leaned against one of the clay flowerpots. Or rather intended to, but missed the mark and leaned against air.
Only Jack’s intervention saved him from falling. Though Jack wouldn’t have been himself if he hadn’t used this opportunity to his advantage. He pulled Roux closer.
“I get it. A lot of the time, when I meet new venators, I don’t know how sincere I can be. You know, some of them are horribly specist,” he said with a sigh.
Roux shook his head and used Jack to help his balance, but pinched Jack’s cheek as if he were a baby. “Oh, no!” He gasped. “How do you possibly deal with such a horrific problem?”
Jack’s lips twitched, but the truth was he didn’t really find it amusing. Still, he led the way farther from the pool, where shadows provided more privacy. “It’s not that I’m embarrassed. I’m sure you heard about my father.”
“Who hasn’t?” Roux groaned, but let Jack lead him because his legs wouldn’t have gotten him far.
“He can’t know. That’s why I have to censor myself sometimes.”
“Of course. You wouldn’t want him to cut off the funds because you fell for a centaur.” Roux sounded bitter, but Jack couldn’t exactly blame him. And he was drunk.
He still rolled his eyes and let go of Roux, finishing his drink. “Would you want your family to never speak to you again? So maybe you’re embarrassed of them. Me too. But I still want to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas and just spend time together, even if I can’t tell them everything about my life. Is that really such a crime?”
Roux sat on a stone step after losing his balance again. “I guess I’m just jealous. I can’t hide like that. The other chats can smell it on me.”
Jack helped him up. Perhaps it was time to take Roux to his room. “Wouldn’t that make finding partners easier?”
Roux meowed so desperately it pulled on Jack’s heart strings. “No! They all want one thing, and then go find themselves lady chats.”
When Roux to his feet ended up with the chat slumping again, Jack went ahead and hauled him up into his arms. And he found out that Roux wasn’t too heavy, nor was he too light. His weight sat so comfortably against Jack’s chest he would have gladly carried him during a challenging run.
“You can’t be serious. There must be other chats like you. And also...” He took a deep breath when the liquor he’d had messed with his balance. “You’re interesting. Your fur is so nice, and your profile has this elongated shape. It’s graceful,” he said in the end, somewhat embarrassed.
Roux rested his fluffy chin on Jack’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around Jack’s neck, but the only answer he had for Jack was a deep, continuous purr. It was as surprising as it was erotic, and Jack hugged Roux tighter.
How had they even gotten to this point? This had to be the first time Roux had truly let loose around Jack, and he would cherish it like the memory of finding a pearl on the beach. Even if Roux’s state meant there was no chance of taking their connection any further, Jack loved knowing Roux felt so comfortable around him.
“I think I should take you upstairs now,” he said softly, looking into the huge, sleepy eyes while his heart beat ever faster.
“It’s room eleven,” Roux mumbled. So pliant and limp in Jack’s arms, Roux seemed even cuter.
Jack bit his lip when Roux’s tail found its way under the back of his shirt, but he didn’t hesitate, and started climbing the stairs. “Um... I forgot to talk to you about this but, is your room big?” he asked, unable to stop himself from massaging Roux through his fur. It was so wonderfully smooth he wished he were allowed to really pet it.
Roux purred against Jack’s ear in answer, for once so close to Jack it was difficult to believe what was happening. He smelled the fresh aroma of Roux’s fur, and couldn’t help but bury his nose in it by Roux’s ear. All perfectly justified, since he was carrying the chat, so he couldn’t exactly help it.
When he finally reached the room in the attic, he found it was only big enough to accommodate a double bed and a washing cupboard, and far below the standard he was used to. But if Roux really sent a large portion of his money home, maybe this was the reality of his travels. It made Jack feel guilty for having demanded half the payment for catching the gnomes back in Bavaria. He swallowed, but moved the comforter with his knee before placing Roux on the mattress.
The chat wouldn’t let go of his neck though, and kept pulling him into the bed, making tiny sleepy whimpers that melted Jack’s heart. He could hardly believe what an idiot, what a mean bully he’d been to this lovely creature when they had first met.
He’d been so ignorant. So stupid.
And now? Was he being stupid now by letting this happen?
His brain no longer provided answers. He kicked off his shoes, dropped his jacket and tack, before rolling into bed next to his friend. Roux was small enough to leave room between them to keep things decent.
An additional blanket would serve as a barrier, but when Roux cuddled up to him, pressing his pink nose against Jack’s neck, and wrapping his furry arm over Jack’s chest, its functionality was put into question.
Heat shot to Jack’s face, and he cleared his throat, wanting to remind Roux he wasn’t in bed with a plush toy but with a man who could—potentially—be interested in him. In fact, this man was very much interested. So interested that, knowing their history and Roux’s personality, he didn’t want to accidentally fuck things up by taking advantage of Roux’s drunkenness. “So...”
All he got was a nudge to his ear and a purr that resonated through Roux’s chest and against Jack’s side. It was both cute and unbearably sexy.
He took a deep breath when the tickle of soft fur triggered a hot jolt of electricity that ran all the way to the tips of Jack’s toes. With his heart beating rapidly, Jack dared to rub the side of Roux’s head with his hand, and his entire body reacted when the chat purred, sleepily leaning into the touch.
Was this it? His chance?
No, it wasn’t. He needed to stay here and make sure Roux didn’t puke all over himself after all that vodka cream.
Roux covered one half of Jack’s body with his own, making
him heat up by the second. He’d never imagined his night would take such a turn. And yet, no matter how pure of an angel he craved to be, Roux did smell like catnip, his fur was soft to the touch, and Jack did imagine what it would be like to feel the touch of a chat’s body against his naked skin.
Fortunately, there was a blanket between them.
This was fine.
Outside, Lauro started singing again, and Jack could feel the beautiful notes physically pulling on his dick. He groaned.
Why? Why was this happening to him now of all times?
Because he was in bed with Roux, who for once was pliant and had no mean words for him.
Licking his lips, he turned his head to look at the pretty face. Roux’s chin was covered by the cutest fuzz, and the whisker pillows? Oh, what Jack wouldn’t do to for a chance to nip on them. Was this what he could have had a year ago if he hadn’t been so hasty to choose Calix?
Then again, everything was a step forward in life, an experience. There was no point in wondering what if when Roux was in bed with him right now, even if half-asleep. He’d been much more sober when first wrapping his arms around Jack’s neck.
The party outside had to be rowdy, because Lauro’s song spoke to Jack on a visceral level, and the warm body on him wasn’t helping him to focus on anything other than caressing Roux’s fur and the hope he’d finally find out more about chat dicks.
But not tonight. Tonight he just needed to take care of his own stiffening dick. Only how was he to do that when Roux lay on him? Jack didn’t want to disturb his sleep.
He could hear the soft purr even through the melody sung outside, and when Roux sleepily moved his head, tickling Jack with his whiskers, keeping his hands on top of the comforter was no longer possible.
Jack dove one under the covers and grabbed his rock-hard cock.
He moaned in relief, but had to bite his lip to keep his voice low. He could only hope Roux didn’t actually wake up and find him dick-handed, but pressing a boner against Roux could have been even worse, so he closed his eyes and hoped for the best.
Jack Addison vs. a Whole World of Hot Trouble - The Complete Series Page 19