Breathe.

Tori tried to remember to do that. He had spent the last ten minutes staring at his monitor, hoping no one in the office noticed the way his tail was tucked behind him, or the way his ears were folded back. The training documents he was working on were overdue for translation, the script for the launch video wasn't done yet and he had a bunch of tickets to update. So. Many. Tickets.

Breathe.

He checked his watch. It was only 4:43 but with his manager in meetings until six he figured this was close enough to five. He shut down his laptop and unceremoniously shoved it into his backpack. He peered over his cubicle to the elevator, waiting until the coast was clear. He managed to make it to his car, in the underground parking, without talking to anyone.

Thank god.

Breathe.

Unfortunately, he didn't leave early enough to beat rush hour traffic. It was slow going on the Parkway, and it slowed to a crawl on the Expressway. It gave the pup plenty of time to ruminate on his failures this last week. That only served to amplify his anxiety, so he tried to focus on the weekend.

 He was having family over for dinner. He was excited, his parents hadn't seen his condo since they helped him move in. He hadn't done the grocery shopping yet. Also, he needed to clean out the fridge, and mop the floors, and get caught up on laundry. And while he could just buy pizza dough from the supermarket. Still he wanted to make it from scratch. That's how he did it last time. He'd have to start that on Saturday. Which meant he'd have to buy the flour tonight. Which meant he wouldn't have much time for dinner. Or the dishes. And what is that beeping sound?

The collision avoidance system kicked in, automatically applying the breaks and preventing him from rear-ending the car in front of him. Tears welled in his eyes and he started to take short, shallow breaths. His hands shook as he held the steering wheel and once again the car beeped to let him know that the one he nearly hit was now creeping away.

Too close, not close enough. It was always something.

Thankfully he put his hazards on and pulled off to the shoulder before the car behind him had a chance to honk. That would have ruined the pup. He positioned the sun visor to block as much of the driver's window as possible, hoping for a modicum of privacy. He held himself close as he sobbed. It was too much. It was all too much. His heart raced, his shoulders tensed and it felt like his head was being squeezed.  His entire body ached. He had to exert himself just to breathe under all that pressure and if he let up for just a second it would crush him, compress him into nothingness.

 Sometimes, that seemed like an attractive option.

Soon, he found himself gnawing on his steering wheel. A few new tooth marks added to the ones that were already there. Just one more thing to be ashamed of, some other way he felt he didn't measure up.

It didn't take long for the intensity of the panic to wane. The vacuum it left was quickly filled by a crushing sense of inadequacy. This was not an improvement. It wasn't any better or worse, just different.

Without thinking, he tapped on his car's screen, pressed dial, and waited.

Randy had the day off and, like any proper lion, was lazing on the couch. His loft was a converted factory - aside from the bathroom it was one large room with exposed brick and beams. It had big ceilings and was mostly lit by an eclectic collection of floor and table lamps. Currently, the room was bathed in late afternoon sun through the panes of the leaded windows along the southern wall.

It was furnished with dark wood and metal finishes, with plenty of carpets to soften the otherwise hard interior. In addition to the large sectional, there were other plush armchairs to laze around in, and plenty of cushions and blankets to ensure one was always comfortable.

 At the moment, his only concern was the sunlight. It was washing over him (which he liked) but was also shining in his face (which he didn't.) This was an issue, but not one worth the effort of solving.

The lion's ears perked up as his phone started ringing. He sighed and muttered under his breath, cursing whoever interrupted his reverie. It took a bit of effort to find where his phone had slipped between the cushions. The annoyed look on his face was replaced by a smile when he saw Tori's photo on the screen.

"Tori! Good to hear from you! How's..." Randy paused, he could hear Tori's short breaths, the quiet whimpering.

"Oh dear," he said. The smile faded away, replaced by a concerned frown. He could hear the rumble of traffic in the background and, given the time, had an idea of the situation. "Is everything okay? Do you need me to come get you?"

There was a pause before Tori answered, his voice wavering slightly. "N-no," he said, "I'm okay, I pulled over I just..." he trailed off. There was so much to say. Where to start?

 "Hey, look, you don't need to explain anything. Do you want to come over?"

Randy heard a sniffle before Tori replied, "Yes please."

"Okay," he said, "Share your location with me, okay? And if you need me to come get you, just call. You're not inconveniencing me at all."

"No, no I should be okay," Tori replied. "I uh, really I'm only going a bit slower than everyone else right now." His laugh was awkward and staccato, a laugh that was doing a lot of lifting.

"Okay," Randy said. "Cedar won't be back until later tonight, I'll ask her to pick up some take out? Sushi? From that place?"

"Sounds nice," Tori said, already feeling a bit better. He tapped on his car's screen, entered Randy's address and shared his location. "I uh... it should take me twenty minutes?"

"I can't wait," Randy said, and after a pause added "Who's a good boy?"

Tori couldn't help but chuckle through some of his tears in response. "I am."

"Yes, you are."

It took a few minutes, but Tori calmed down enough to drive off. All of the anxieties in his mind slowly faded away. Not completely, of course, they were still there. But they were a bit muted now. It felt like he was overhearing an argument in the next room over, instead of being shouted at directly. It wasn't enough to overpower the good that was happening. He was going to Randy's. A place that was safe. Where he was loved unconditionally. Where he knew exactly what was expected of him.

 He got off the highway and headed west, towards an older neighbourhood. This area recently became trendy to live in, so all the charm hadn't been fully gentrified out of it. He quite liked it - lots of midrises and townhouses. Some of it felt shabby, but it was still relatively affordable and walkable. Every time he came out this way there were people going about their days, walking to the bodega, chatting while tending to small gardens. It was nice.

A little further down the road and Tori started driving through what used to be an industrial zone. The area was dominated by a series of similar looking buildings, all relatively squat affairs built out of bricks, with faded logos and murals painted on the side. About half of them were empty. One building used to be a roundhouse for repairing trains was converted into a trendy restaurant and event space. The adjacent park faced the waterfront and was popular with picnickers. Randy's building used to be a carpet factory. The red brick facade was a work of art, packed with all sorts of architectural flourishes and details that Randy geeked out about and Tori couldn't remember the names of. He pulled into the guest parking and made his way up the stairs.

 He knocked on the door and, as usual, Randy opened it before he had a chance to knock a second time. Before he knew what was happening, his face was nestled in the soft fur of Randy's chest, who's strong arms wrapped around him. He felt the tears come easily, crying without reservation, with his entire body. Randy didn't say anything, he simply purred and gently stroked Tori's nape. After a few moments, Tori had got it mostly out of his system. He pulled back, smiled, and kissed Randy on the lips. It was a fleeting kiss, not lasting long enough for the pup; he could barely taste Randy before he felt the lion pull away. He leaned in, licking at the lion's jowls longingly until they were out of reach.

"I love you," Randy said.

"I love you too," Tori replied.

Randy loosened his grip, taking a half step away from Tori. He held the canine's arms at the elbow and asked "How are you? Anything we need to talk about? I'm happy you called but, honestly, you scared me."

Just as Tori opened his mouth to speak, Randy cut him off. "And don't apologise, okay? You didn't do anything wrong, I'm just worried about you because I care about you."

 "Thanks," Tori said, looking down at his footpaws as he shifted his weight back and forth slightly. "I... I mean I don't think there's much new to talk about. Work, stress, all that fun stuff. Just... feeling it a lot today."

Randy nodded. "Okay," he said. He knew better than to push. "Well, you know you're welcome here as long as you need, okay? Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Just water, for now," Tori said. He took off his gilet and shirt, then stripped out of his pants and boxers. He was slender, covered in long, soft auburn fur. It was especially soft on his chest and belly, where it transitioned to a creamy white. The pink tip of his shaft was just protruding from his sheathe.

"Comin' right up," Randy said. The lion opened a cupboard and pulled out a wide, metal bowl. He filled it in the sink and then set it down on the floor, next to the island. Tori approached, got down on all fours and started lapping at the water. Randy couldn't help but smile, leaning down to pat Tori on the head, once again calling him a good boy.

 For the first time today, Tori's tail lifted up, curled, and started to wag back and forth.

If he thought about it, Tori might be embarrassed. Naked, on all fours, splashing water on the floor. With his tail raised he was presenting himself, exposing everything. That was the point. Every day was a challenge, to fit in, to deduce what people wanted from him, what the meaning behind their words were, and then trying to figure out how to say what he needed to say. All of that noise faded away.

No mask. No pretence. He wore his emotions bare and expressed them in the simplest terms. There were no more long term goals to worry about. No scrums, stand-ups or meetings. Just him and Randy.

While he was drinking, Tori didn't notice Randy grab his collar from the coat rack near the door. He did notice Randy kneeling next to him. Excitedly, Tori got up to lick at Randy's face, which caused the lion to carefully push him off with a stern "Down, boy." Tori bowed his head for a moment and calmed himself down.

"Stay," Randy cautioned, smiling a bit. He found it hard to completely commit to the scene, but it didn't matter to him. If Tori was happy, he was doing his job right. Randy leaned down again, squatting in front of Tori as he slipped the familiar blue collar around the canine's neck. The tag was round and silver. On one side, it was engraved with his name, the other simply said "Good Boy."

 "There we go!" Randy said. He kissed Tori on the lips and scratched under his chin. Tori closed his eyes, leaning into Randy's hands until he was off balance. Randy caught him and helped him to the floor, rubbing his chest to get Tori to roll over onto his back. Randy sat himself on the floor, Tori's head resting on his thigh. The lion's paws started tracing farther and farther down Tori's front, rummaging through his plush fur.

He let his claws rake through the fur until one of them snagged on a small knot in Tori's coat. "Oh," he said, as he rooted around. When he found others, he said "Looks like someone needs to be brushed."

Tori looked off to the side. "I know," he said, his ears drooping. "I've just been so stressed with work and-" he was cut off by Randy placing a finger across his lips.

"I've been slacking,"  Randy said, "I'm your handler, and I haven't kept up with your grooming." He scratched Tori under his chin and stood up, holding out a hand to tell him to stay. He disappeared into the bathroom for a moment, smiling at the sight of Tori following his movements, upside down on the floor.

 He emerged a couple minutes later with a small satchel. He couldn't help but smile as he saw Tori start to wag his tail as soon as he emerged. Crossing to the kitchen, he could tell that Tori was getting restless. "Stay," he reminded, grabbing a container of candied peanuts. He had to remind Tori to stay once more as he walked over to the sectional. "Okay, come!" he said, patting the couch next to him.

Tori rolled over, got up, and all but pranced to the couch, sitting down next to Randy.

He watched as Randy opened up the grooming kit and bit his lip. "You don't need to do this, really," he said.

"I know," Randy replied, "But I want to. You've been working so hard you deserve to be pampered. Now, lay down."

Being the good boy that he was, Tori relented and laid down. This netted him a single peanut, hand fed to him by Randy.

Randy started with a comb, using it to part Tori's chest fur to find the first mat. It was fairly small, more of a tangle than a proper mat. Using the fine teeth of the comb Randy started at the edges and started to pick away at it, managing to free some of the hairs around the edge. Tori did his best to stay still but couldn't help but quietly yelp when Randy accidentally tugged a bit too hard. Once he had done all he could, Randy used a pair of grooming scissors to cut the last bit of the mat out. "There we go," he said, giving Tori a couple more treats before finding the next one.

 Randy found this as relaxing as Tori did. He liked being helpful, he liked touching his partners. His instinct was to groom in a more feline way, but he learned quickly that the toller's fur was long and dense enough to be a choking hazard.

He didn't find many other mats, so he switched to a brush. Tori didn't truly need a brushing at this point, but he did find it soothing. After a while, Randy spoke up.

"So, are we going to talk about what happened?" Randy said.

Tori looked up and shook his head.

"Speak..." said Randy, sternly.

Tori opened his mouth to protest but one glance up at Randy told him he wasn't going to get out of this. "I mean, it's nothing new, not really. I'm just afraid I bit off more than I could chew with this job. I get caught up on one project, another falls behind. And when I finally do deliver on something there's like, two more things to take its place. It just... it just does not end."

Randy was brushing Tori's arm now, pausing to kiss the back of his hand. "Yeah, it sounds stressful," he said.

 "I just... I tried so hard to get here, thinking it would fix things and I just feel like I'm fucking everything up."

"Well, even if this doesn't go well for you, it doesn't take anything from the work you did to get here," Randy said, "It doesn't take anything away from your value."

Tori sighed. "I know," he said, "But, can we talk about this later?"

"Sure," Randy said, "As long as we talk about it."

Tori nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating on Randy's touch. How careful it was, how gentle. Randy was strong, he had broad shoulders and thick arms, his claws were sharp. Tori knew full well that Randy wasn't always this gentle. He could be a little clumsy at some times which only made the care he felt from the lion feel all the more important.

He closed his eyes and let Randy finish grooming him, trimming and filing his claws, brushing his fur. He focused on the sensation. The gentle touch of his hand, the soothing feeling of the brush, the soft rumble from his purring, the scent of his body wash mixed with his natural odour.

 He could smell the coffee Randy  had made earlier, especially when the lion's hands were near his face. It made him think about the first time he spent the night with the lion and woke up to fresh made breakfast. The scent of sandalwood and tea tree oil made him think of that mouldy shower in that shitty apartment the lion had when they first started seeing each other. Of Randy washing his back, kissing him.

His head was resting between Randy's legs as he laid on the couch. He tilted his head back and shuffled to press his nose against the lion's jeans and inhaled deeply. Here the lion's scent pooled. The loamy, earthy scent of his musk was strong, Tori could almost taste it.

Randy couldn't help but giggle as Tori sniffed him, feeling the canine's hot breath waft through the fabric of his jeans. He put down the brush and looked down at the dog, shaking his head a bit.

"And what do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing, just sniffin'..."

"Don't lie to me, or I'll kennel you tonight."

Tori's tail started wagging at the thought of that but... he wasn't in the mood for punishment. At least not today. "I'm just looking for treats," he said.

 "And you think you deserve one?"

"Well, I am a good boy."

"Well, I can't argue with that, hold on," Randy said as he shifted and stood up. He started with his shirt, a grey v-neck that was worn a little thin. With it off you could see the bit of his belly hanging over the waistband of his jeans. When they came off his manhood was exposed. The thinning fur in his thighs revealed some stretch marks leading to his large balls which hung low between his legs. Out of the end of his tawny sheathe his tapered, barbed cock was starting to extrude. About 4 of the 8 inches were showing, flopping off to one side.

He and Tori both counted themselves lucky his barbs weren't as sharp as some other felines they knew.

He got back on the couch, straddling Tori's face. The dog eagerly pressed his cold, pink nose underneath Randy's balls, moaning as he inhaled. Hands crept up Randy's front, one of them grasping his length, working it to life while the other reached up past his belly to grab at his chest.

With all the attention it didn't take Randy long to stiffen. He pulled back from Tori and held his cock at the base. He aimed it at Tori's mouth, which happily opened for him as he pushed his hips forwards. "There's a good boy," Randy cooed, scratching the dog's chest.

 Tori closed his eyes as he felt Randy's length enter his muzzle. He reached to grab Randy's thighs to help steady him as he got used to the length. His broad, wet tongue slathered every inch of the lion's shaft. His tail started to wag, especially when he felt his lips kiss Randy's sheathe.

Randy pulled back, about half of his cock pulled out of Tori's mouth before slowly working his hips back in. He grabbed the back of the couch to steady himself, and looked down to gauge Tori's reaction as he pulled back once again.

What started with long, slow thrusts started to get faster and faster. Tori choked and gagged and moaned on the lion's shaft. His own shaft quickly engorged, protruding from his sheathe, already excitedly leaking droplets of precum from its tapered tip.

This was where Tori liked to be. The taste of Randy's cock, the scent of his balls, the feeling of them slapping against his snout. His fingers curled, claws pressing into Randy's rear as he was used, each thrust pushing him farther and farther away from all the stresses that plagued him. All he could focus on was where he was now, who he was with, what they were doing.

 It was a luxury that often escaped him.

Randy was getting close, he could feel that pressure starting to build up in him with each thrust. "Ready?" he managed to choke out, to which Tori responded yes by tapping the lion's thigh twice.

Tori felt Randy's weight shift, hands on the side of his face, holding his upside down head in place - not that he'd try to pull out. He whined, tail slapping against the back of the couch as it wagged.

And then all at once, it happened.

Randy grunted, arching his back and forcing his cock just a little bit deeper down Tori's throat. His balls constricted, pulling themselves up tight against him as his cock twitched and erupted into Tori's waiting mouth. The dog felt the lion's hot cum shoot into the back of his mouth and started swallowing, barely able to keep up with the lion's potent loads. The bitter, salty taste flooded his senses, overpowering everything else he could taste or smell.

Randy waited until he was done, letting Tori suck on his spent length for a moment before pulling his member out. It glistened in the sunlight, slick with a mix of his own seed and Tori's spit. It twitched with each heartbeat as it slowly started to deflate, retreating back into its sheath.

 "Good lord," Randy said, panting for a moment, "Enjoy yourself?"

Tori was still laying on his back, head tilted back, tongue hanging out and panting. "Yeah," he said, "I needed that."

"So did I," he said, leaning down to kiss Tori's salty lips, "And it looks like you need a little something else. Up!" Randy pointed at the coffee table.

Tori didn't need to be told twice. He sat up, stretched, and then got on the table on all fours, facing away from Randy. He rested on his elbows and lifted his tail, presenting himself to the lion. His cock between his legs, swinging slightly and dripping needily.

"There's my good boy," Randy said, leaning forwards and planting soft kisses on Tori's rear, nibbling playfully on tufts of his fur. "So handsome too." He reached between the dog's legs and gave his balls a soft squeeze. "Do you wanna cum?" he asked.

"Yes please," Tori said, flexing back and pressing into Randy's hand.

Randy used his free hand to tug one of Tori's cheeks to the side slightly before leaning in. His tongue slipped out, pressing into the cleft of Tori's rear, dragging up along the fur before it reached his sensitive tailhole. As he did so he gave Tori's cock firm but careful squeeze, right at the deflated knot. Tori's knees went weak and an excited spurt of precum dripped onto the polished surface of the table.

 Randy knew he had to tread carefully, not wanting their fun to be over too soon. His hand pulled away from his lover's shaft to massage his sheathe and fondle those heavy balls. Tori had his eyes closed, holding his head with both hands as he rested on his elbows. His tail was wagging in a wide arc.

Randy's tongue was typical feline - rough and textured. It clung slightly to Tori's tailhole, tugging it this way and that with each lick, pulling it slightly open. Randy purred as he licked. He started to knead Tori, the paw holding the pup's rear squeezing slightly, alternating with the one on his manhood. He was so relaxed in this state he started to drool slightly, helping to lubricate his normally dry tongue.

Tori was lost in pleasure. His cock was leaking like a faucet, leaving abstract splatters of excitement on the coffee table. His knees were sore and there was a bit of tightness in the small of his back but he wasn't about to stop. He felt the tongue just start to push into him before Randy pulled away, letting go of his package and his rear. Tori's whines of pleasure turned into one of disappointment until he felt Randy's finger by his snout.

 By the time Randy could even say "Suck," Tori had his lips wrapped around the lion's first two fingers. His tongue flicked against and between them, coating them in his slobber. It didn't take long before Randy pulled them out and got back to position behind the canine.

It started with gentle pressure, the middle finger tracing circles around his tailhole. Then, Randy carefully pressed a bit harder and a bit harder. Tori wanted to push back and take it now, but he knew better than to interrupt Randy's teasing fun. His patience was soon rewarded as he finally felt his body give way and accept the lion's finger.

Randy was careful, taking his time, slowly inserting his finger, curling it just so. With practised precision he found it, his fingertip grazing across a softer, fleshier area. The little moan from Tori would be enough to tell him he had hit the right spot.

He didn't want to go too fast or too hard, and he knew he wouldn't need to. He carefully stroked and massaged the dog's prostate before reaching around and massaging his shaft with his other hand. "Good boy," he cooed to him, "Just relax, let it happen."

 Relaxing was hard to do for Tori at this point. He felt a pressure in his core, something on the edge that felt so good it almost hurt. He clenched against Randy's finger, trying to draw it in more. But then with a firm squeeze to the base of his cock he felt his knot inflate, he felt his muscles contract and it was done.

His cock twitched, the first rope of his cum squirting out into his chest fur. The second one didn't have as much force and splattered onto the table, and the rest all but oozed out of him. He whined and whimpered in overwhelming pleasure as his body shook. His cock twitched with excitement, still hard and ready for more, even if the dog was overstimulated.

Randy helped him off of the table onto the couch, kissing him softly. "Let's get you cleaned up, then?" With the dog laying on his back Randy licked at his fur, lapping up the dog's seed. Lost in the moment he didn't notice the hanging of keys before the apartment door opened and Cedar entered.

She was an orange tabby, around Randy's age a few inches shorter. Her fur was kept closely cropped to her head, and a small silver ring hung from her nose. She was full figured, her ample bosom contained in a cable knit sweater that was just tight enough to show off her curves and the slight bump in her midsection while still being demure enough for the office. She carried with her a tray of sushi.

 She shook her head, looking at her husband-to-be and let out a chuckle. "I hope I didn't miss all the fun," she said.

"No, I think he just needs a few," said Randy, standing up to kiss Cedar on the lips and taking the tray from her.

"Good," she said, "Tori, how are you feeling? I was sad to hear from Randy about your day."

Tori sat up on his elbows, panting for oxygen. "Better than earlier," he said, "Thanks for dinner, by the way."

"I'm happy we could help," she said, "I'm going to get changed, then we can eat. Tori, make sure that mess on the table gets cleaned up."

"Yes Ma'am," Tori said, prompting Cedar to roll her eyes. He sat up, caught his breath and then got on his knees on the floor. Cedar waited until she saw his tongue dragging across the table, lapping up his mess before she patted him on the head and went to the bedroom.

She emerged a few minutes later in a pair of shorts and a tank top that rode up a bit, revealing her belly. Tori was seated cross legged on a cushion next to the couch and Randy was giving the table a final wipe down before setting out two plates and sets of chopsticks, with the trays of sushi and tempura laid out.

 They put on some reality TV as background noise as they chatted about everything but work. Baby names, plans for some modifications to their loft. Tori talked about the end of summer canoe trek he was planning with Randy's younger sister - assuming she was back in town by then. Randy and Cedar ate from plates, taking turns feeding Tori by hand.

Randy offered to help Tori with the grocery shopping so there was one less thing for him to do. Tori, naturally, said it wasn't necessary but the look of relief in his face said something different. Work was still a concern, but that could wait until Monday. Right now, with his head in Randy's lap, all Tori needed to be was a good boy.

And he was.