Tails and Teapots (5 page)

"Why did you come home with me last night? Was it because you thought you owed me something or was there another reason?"

"I did want to repay you, but that wasn't the only reason I slept with you..." Aki laid a slim hand on Frankie's shoulder. "You're handsome and sweet, too."

"Right..."

"I think you're a good person and so does your mother." "When did you talk to her?" Frankie raised an eyebrow in

curiosity.

"I didn't really ... but she talked to me a lot before she shipped me off to you." Aki sat beside Frankie and pulled his knees up to his chest. "She worries about you a lot ... and she didn't like your ex much."

That sounded like his mom, all right. Frankie sighed and glanced over at Aki. Poor guy looked so unhappy and it was all Frankie's fault. Maybe Aki and his mom put too much faith

in him. "I think it's kind of funny that my mom was talking to a tea kettle."

"I think she knew something was different with me. I mean, she might not have known what I was exactly but she knew something was up."

"I hope so. I don't want her getting locked up because people think she's crazy."

"Frankie!"

"I'm kidding. My mom's a smart lady and probably figured there was something odd about you. Could be why she sent you to me." Frankie had to smile at the thought of his mom talking telling a tea kettle about him. "It must have been hard on you being stuck like that for so long."

"Luckily, I was asleep for most of it..." Aki shrugged. "I didn't really wake up until your mother found me in that dusty old shop."

"Still, it must have been pretty lonely."

"It was. Tanuki, for the most part, are social creatures." Aki's ears drooped unhappily. "It was hard not to be able to talk to anyone, to touch anyone for so long."

Frankie slipped an arm around Aki's slim shoulders and pulled him closer. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Aki leaned into him. "It's okay ... if I didn't get stuck as a tea kettle, I might have never met you."

"Are you sure that's a good thing?" Frankie stroked those ears again. "I mean, I did chase you under the bed and make you cry. Sorry about that..."

"I'll forgive you, this time." Aki tapped Frankie on the nose. "But you need to promise me something."

"What's that?"

"Promise me that you won't ever mail me anywhere. That was something I never want to go through again."

"I think I can do that." Frankie smoothed Aki's sleep rumbled hair. He wanted to pet lower but he wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not.

There was no denying the fact that Aki was hot and he seemed like a good guy, but Frankie wasn't sure he was ready to get attached again. Part of him wanted Aki to stay. Aki was gorgeous, amazing in bed and seemed like good company, as far as he could tell, anyway. Then again, he really didn't know much about Aki, aside from the fact that he was a tanuki and that he just spent the last two hundred years stuck as a tea kettle.

Was that enough? Frankie's smaller, more insistent brain seemed to think so but that brain couldn't be bothered with things like personality. Aki did like the club, which was a definite plus. It would be nice to have someone around who wouldn't be embarrassed or jealous because Frankie worked at a strip club. Hell, Aki would probably get along great with everyone there.

Frankie sighed. He was over thinking things. He wasn't sure if Aki was even going to stay past breakfast.

"Did you mean what you said last night about me staying?

I'd still like to hang around if it's okay with you."

"It's more than okay." Frankie pulled Aki into his lap. Yeah, he wanted Aki around even if it didn't turn into anything serious. "I'd love to wake up next to you every morning."

"What about my furry bits? Do you want me to hide them again?"

"No, I like them." "Really?"

Frankie ran his fingers through the soft fur of Aki's tail. "What can I say? They're growing on me."

Aki closed his eyes and bit back a moan. "Y-you might want to stop doing that..." Aki straddled Frankie's lap and gave him a hungry look, "Unless you want to fuck me again."

"Oh, what got you all hot and bothered all of a sudden?" Frankie slid his hand higher, petting the velvety skin at the base of Aki's tail. "Not that I'm complaining or anything."

"My tail is very sensitive. I—especially where you're petting..." Aki leaned in and lapped at Frankie's cheek. "W-we have time for a quick fuck, don't we?"

"We have lots of time, most of the day, in fact." "You're not working today?"

"Nope, Kale always gives us Christmas day off." Frankie rubbed his free hand over the curve of Aki's ass. "We need to be at the Christmas party, but that's not until later."

"Mmm, Christmas party?" Aki pushed his hips forward, sliding his cock against Frankie's steely abs.

"Yeah, and we have to be there. Okay, I have to be there

... but I'd like it if you came with me and met everyone." "Sounds like fun. Not as much fun as you bending me over

in the shower again, bu—"

Frankie kissed Aki hard, cutting off the last bit of what he was saying. It didn't matter, though. He knew exactly where his lover's train of thought was going. Frankie tightened his

grip on Aki's ass and stood, lifting Aki with him. If Aki wanted to fuck in the shower again, Frankie was more than willing to indulge him. Well, if they made it that far. The hallway was looking mighty inviting.

"I'm going to need more condoms with you around." Frankie mumbled between hungry kisses. "Lots more..."

"For lots and lots of sex?"

"Yup." Frankie made a mental note to run to the store later. Besides the condoms, he needed to pick up a card too. He had to send his mom something. After all, she did give him the best Christmas present ever.