15. Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen

One month later…

" Y es, but here's the problem you're going to run into," LA explained as patiently as he could. "The state still requires a last name in that field. You cannot submit a death certificate with no last name. It'll get rejected in a heartbeat."

Anna flailed. "But, but what do we do? She doesn't have a last name! Legally, she changed her name to Expedition. One word. That's it."

"The best thing we can do is advise the funeral home to put unknown ," LA soothed. "I am telling you the state will not take it without all the required fields being filled out. Which includes block one C. And do you know what block one C is?"

"The last name?" Anna pouted miserably.

"Yes!"

"But… that…"

"What is it?"

Anna groaned. "It means her name on the death certificate is going to read as Expedition Unknown!"

"So?" LA blinked.

"It's also the name of a show. With Josh Gates."

"Never heard of it."

"Oh my God. It has, like, over ten seasons. Josh goes all over the world exploring old ruins and trying to solve, like, unsolved mysteries! And, and, my God. So much more. Totally worth a binge."

LA chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'll have to check it out sometime."

LA and Anna were in Duraleigh General Hospital's new decedent care office. It was a small space with four large desks, multiple filing cabinets, and a big bulletin board. They didn't have their own printer or copier yet, so they had to go down the hallway to the nursing supervisor's office a few times a day, but otherwise things were running very smoothly.

Standards were created to help collect basic information for death certificates to help both funeral homes and families streamline what could otherwise be a rather convoluted process. They created brochures that outlined a family's legal rights and advice for making funeral arrangements if prearrangements hadn't already been made.

While many funeral directors were honest and transparent with the families they served, LA knew that not everyone was. He wanted to help empower families and make sure they were as prepared as they could be for what was usually one of the worst days in their lives.

Penny applauded LA's compassion.

Local funeral homes, including the one LA had worked at, hated it.

Which, in LA's opinion, meant he'd definitely done the right thing.

Anna's talent in computers was vital in the creation of several new programs to help them organize patients and their respective death certificate information. Between her skills and LA's knowledge, they'd been able to create a functioning system for processing decedent information in just a few days. They were still working out a few bugs, like what to do when a patient legally didn't have a last name, but Penny had been beyond thrilled with their progress.

It was nice to have a grateful boss who was patient, kind, and praised easily and often.

As far as coworkers went, Anna was great too. She was very curious, worked hard, and had a quirky sense of humor. She was more than a touch anxious at times though, so LA had taken it upon himself to help her be more assertive and confident.

In some ways, she reminded LA a bit of himself.

LA didn't think he'd ever had such a positive working environment, especially one that was Monday to Friday, with weekends and holidays off. He would always miss embalming, he knew that, but he was happy.

There was a little tap on LA's shoulder.

LA spun around to find Cass in his human form standing behind him. "Hey!"

"Hi! Hello!" Cass gushed. "You look so very cute working so hard!"

"What are you doing here?" LA laughed as he stood and kissed Cass in greeting. "I get off in, like, five minutes."

"Ah, I'm afraid I am early then. I have plans to whisk you away. For a surprise. But it is not a surprise now." Cass hummed. "Well, the surprise still is. A surprise, I mean. Just not that you have one."

LA snorted out a laugh. "Right. Because that's not mysterious or weird at all."

Cass giggled. "I can promise you that the surprise is not weird or mysterious!"

"Well, damn. I only like weird and mysterious surprises."

Cass pouted. "I know you're messing with me."

"Aw, come here." LA gave him another kiss.

Anna cleared her throat noisily. "You know, you could go ahead and leave. Like, right now."

"Three minutes early?" LA gasped. "Can you imagine the horrible scandal? What would our boss say?"

"She'd say it's all right with her," Penny teased from the open doorway.

"Oh! Hey, Mrs. Penny." LA waved.

"Hi there!" Cass waved too, much more excitedly.

Penny stepped inside the office to greet them with a hug. "You two go on and get out of here. Anna and I will be right behind you."

LA hesitated. "If you're sure. I was just joking—"

"It's fine." Penny swatted at him. "Go on. It's the weekend. You two have a good night!"

LA hurried over to shut down his computer and grab his water bottle. "Thank you, Mrs. Penny! Thanks, Anna! See you guys on Monday!"

Anne waved. "Bye, guys! Enjoy your weird surprise! And oh, don't forget to check out Expedition Unknown !"

Cass tilted his head. "Does it have Alan Tudyk?"

"Uh, no."

"Oh." Cass frowned.

"We'll check it out," LA promised. "Night!" He grabbed Cass's arm and escorted him out into the hallway. "So! Where are we headed?"

"Well, right now, we are headed down a hallway."

"Okay, but where are we going for the surprise?"

"My place," Cass said with a little eyebrow waggle. "As soon as we are in that elevator, we can go."

"You know there's cameras in the elevators too, right?"

"Oh. Well. Hmm." Cass glanced around. "There aren't cameras in the bathroom, right?"

"Hopefully no one notices that we go in and don't come back out?"

"Be positive!" Cass cheered. "It will be fine!"

"You seriously just can't wait until we get home?" LA laughed. "Your surprise is just that exciting, huh?"

"It is," Cass insisted, but then he didn't seem so sure. "I think it is. Yes. Maybe."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I'm gonna love it."

Cass giggled and a few bubbles appeared in the air as he led LA to the men's room. As soon as they stepped inside, Cass made sure there was no one at the urinals or washing up at the sink, and then everything vanished away in a quick poof of rainbows.

LA was better prepared for the trip, having made it several times now, but he was still a little dizzy when they reappeared in Cass's living room.

Well, he thought that's where they were anyway.

It was hard to tell because Cass had changed back into an imp and now had his paws over LA's eyes.

LA laughed. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure you will be properly surprised!" Cass declared. "Are you ready?"

"I would have been surprised without you covering my eyes."

"Shhh. It's fine. Now, are you ready?"

"Yes!" LA laughed again.

Cass moved his paws. "Ta-da!"

There were two canvases laid out on the coffee table with paints, brushes, a bottle of wine, and two glasses. There was also a printed picture of Alan Tudyk holding a human brain between the canvases, propped up against a stack of books. On top of that, LA was out of his work clothes and was now dressed in a pair of rainbow pajama pants with little dancing ghosts and a soft black T-shirt.

"What the…?" LA laughed in delight. "What is all this?"

"You mentioned wanting to do one of those boozy art classes where you drink wine," Cass explained, "but then you also said it would probably be horrible since there would be other people and we'd have to worry about a DD and lots of other things. So! I decided to make our very own little boozy art class right here!"

"Holy fuck. Cass." LA turned around to hug Cass tight. "This is fucking amazing."

"Do you really like it?"

"I love it. This is genius." LA laughed. "That picture is from Resident Alien , isn't it?"

"Yes! You said that you thought it would be fun to paint because you liked the color of the brain!"

"Wow. You really remembered all of that." LA cupped the sides of Cass's face to kiss him firmly. "Excellent boyfriend-ing."

"I am very glad you are pleased." Cass led LA over to the couch to sit. He grabbed the wine and unscrewed the top, grinning sheepishly. "I hope this is all right."

"I'm sure it'll be great. Besides, if we drink enough of it, it's gonna taste amazing."

"Well, I did get a few different bottles to try." Cass filled their glasses. "Just in case."

LA grinned. "Thank you, baby. This is seriously the best idea for a date night ever."

"What would you like to watch?"

"Well, we could check out that show Anna mentioned."

Cass gasped. "Without Alan Tudyk?"

"We have Alan right here." LA pointed to the picture, but he couldn't resist Cass's pout. "Aw, okay. We can watch some Alan—"

"It's all right!" Cass nuzzled LA's shoulder. "We should try new things, shouldn't we? We can watch the Expedition show."

"Let's just try the first episode and see if we even like it." LA shrugged. "It might suck."

"Chances are already high because there is no Alan, but I am willing to give it a try."

The first episode turned out to be a two-hour special investigating the disappearance of famed pilot, Amelia Earhart, and Cass and LA were both instantly hooked. They finished the first bottle of wine and barely got a single splash of paint on the canvas because they were so absorbed in the show.

"Okay, although it does not have Alan Tudyk, it is very enjoyable," Cass announced when the credits rolled. "I want to know who those bones belonged to! I mean, they said at least one of them was human."

"Do the Google."

"I am doing the Google." LA chuckled as he pulled out his phone. "Huh. Nothing really. Just lots of stuff about the bones they'd found, like, eighty years ago and then lost." He shrugged. "Maybe they'll do a follow-up or something."

"Well, phooey." Cass eyed the TV thoughtfully. "I suppose another episode would be all right. It doesn't hurt that Josh is very easy to look at."

LA smirked. "So. Next one?"

"Definitely."

"All right." LA stood up to stretch. "I might take my canvas over on the floor. Getting stiff from sitting down."

"Are you all right?" Cass frowned. "You do have extra medication here if you need it."

"No, I'm okay." LA grabbed a pillow off the couch to carry over to the floor. "I sit all day at work, and then sittin' here for so long just got me stiff. And not in the fun way."

Cass stared. "Wait, what would be the fun way?"

LA smiled while he waited for Cass to figure it out.

"Oh!" Cass giggled, bubbles floating around him. "That's very funny."

LA dropped the pillow down and then sat, patting the space beside him. "Here, come on. Sit with me."

Cass brought over their canvases and the other painting supplies. He made a second trip for a pillow and their wine glasses, dropping them off on his way to the kitchen. "I'll be right back! I'm going to get us some more wine."

"Sounds good. Thanks, baby." LA adjusted the picture of Alan Tudyk and got to work on creating a basic outline. He used bold strokes of brown and green to rough out Alan's face and shoulders. He decided on pink and orange for the brain and was just mixing the colors when Cass came back.

Cass sat and refilled their glasses, saying, "Oh! Yours already looks so good!"

"It's just a bunch of lines." LA chuckled, accepting his glass. "But thank you."

Cass reached back to grab the remote so he could start the next episode. "It is lovely. You are so talented, Elly."

"Thank you, baby. Go on." LA waved at him. "You're supposed to be painting too!"

"I am. Don't worry!" Cass giggled as he fumbled with a tube of paint. He squeezed too hard and his claw punctured the side, squirting bright green paint everywhere. It was on his fur, the canvas, LA's canvas, and the floor. "Oh fiddlesticks."

LA burst out laughing. "Aw! No! Baby, I'm sorry." He didn't know why he thought it was a good idea, but he tried to help Cass stem the flow of paint with his bare hands.

"Elly! No! Your picture!" Cass grimaced. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine!" LA snickered. "Hey, it looks better now. See?" He smeared his hand over the canvas, spreading the green. "Beautiful."

"No, I ruined it." Cass pouted miserably. "I'm so very sorry, sweetheart."

"Cass, it's okay! Seriously!"

"No, it's not. I messed up our whole date night! I'm—"

LA poked Cass's forehead with a paint-covered finger.

"What was that for?" Cass blinked.

"Booping you seemed like the nicest way to get you to stop talking." LA smiled warmly and leaned over to kiss Cass sweetly. "Cassie, it is absolutely fine. We can still make this work and we're going to have so much—hey!" He laughed as Cass booped him back, smudging paint on his cheek.

Cass giggled a little. "You look very pretty in green."

LA grinned wickedly, rubbed his hands together, and then grabbed Cass's face. "Hey! So do you!"

Cass gasped. "Oh, this means war."

"Does it?" LA reached over to grab more paint from his palette, getting a big glob of pinkish orange. "Because I don't think you're ready for this."

"I am definitely ready." Cass growled, slowly rising up on his haunches. His tail wiggled behind him like a cat about to pounce.

LA's heart raced and he grinned, taunting, "Bring it on then, bitch."

"No name calling!" Cass declared as he pounced.

LA laughed as Cass very gently tackled him to the floor, smothering kisses against his neck. He squealed and smeared paint over the top of Cass's head. However, he hadn't realized that Cass had grabbed a fistful of green paint from where it had landed on his fur. "Ah! No, no, no!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Cass cackled as he gleefully dragged the paint down the front of LA's shirt.

"Hey! You just gave me that!" LA squirmed, wiggling out an arm so he could get his hand on another tube of paint. It was neon pink, and he used his teeth to pop open the lid. "It's on now!"

"I don't care! I love pink!" Cass still squealed when LA smothered the paint down his chest and then under his chin.

"Here! Have some more!" LA snickered.

They traded blobs of paint until they were both breathless and panting, and Cass had managed to pin LA's hands to the floor over in front of the TV, where their playful wrestling had taken them. "There! Now surrender, sweetheart."

"Never!" LA wheezed. "Although." He winced. "There is a canvas under my butt."

"How did that get there?"

"I have no idea." LA grinned.

"Oh no!" Cass's eyes widened and he let go of LA, pouting. "Poor Alan Tudyk's precious face!"

"What? No. I'm sure it's fine." LA wiggled his hips a little. "I mean, okay, maybe not. But I can fix it later. Promise."

"Are you sure? Hmm." Cass's brow furrowed. "I really should have gotten more canvases."

"Hey. You. The very sexy imp covered in paint."

"Oh! That's me."

LA laughed and kissed Cass firmly, his legs lazily hooking around Cass's hips. He didn't even care about the paint everywhere, not when he wanted Cass this badly. He moaned when Cass slid his tongue into his mouth, and the rush of desire coursing through him was instant.

They'd been intimate in several ways over the past few weeks, though one, in particular, had been absent.

Cass still wanted to wait to make love.

LA had been plenty satisfied with the rest of Cass's incredible talents—his tongue and tail were amazing—and he hadn't wanted to pressure Cass into taking that big step until he was ready.

Even if LA felt really, really ready right now.

Cass's cock was out and pressing against LA's groin, prompting LA to grind forward. "Mmm, Cass."

"Elly." Cass gazed down at LA with a shy little smile.

"What is it?" LA touched Cass's paint-streaked cheek. "Guess we need a shower, huh? We can both cram in there, right? Or we—"

"I want you," Cass said softly. "Now."

LA's dick was an immediate fan of that idea, and his body clenched around nothing. His mouth watered and he tried to use the right brain to speak. "Cassie, are you sure?"

"Yes," Cass insisted. "I want you more than anything. I don't want to wait another second."

"Then don't." LA dragged Cass into a fierce kiss, thrusting his tongue into his mouth. He reached down to untie his pants so he could try to wiggle out of them.

Cass growled, his claws tearing the fabric out of his way.

LA yelped in delight and then laughed. "Wow. You really don't wanna wait, huh?"

"Nope." Cass grinned.

"Wait, shouldn't we—" LA was going to ask if they needed to clean up considering they were both still covered in paint, but then Cass's big head was between his legs and his tongue lapped greedily over his hole.

Didn't seem to matter much anymore.

Cass licked and snarled, the tip of his tongue already pressing inside.

LA groaned, grabbing Cass's horns. He loved the slippery wet sensation of that firm muscle working its way in and stretching him open. The stretch was always so sweet and hot, and he let his head fall back with another needy moan.

Cass gently lifted LA's legs up onto his shoulders. They'd done this enough that he knew this was one of the more comfortable positions for LA, and he kept his head firmly wedged in place as he thrust his tongue deeper and faster.

"Fuck, yup, there, there, there we go, that's it—!" LA chanted eagerly, squeezing Cass's horns as he slowly rode his face. It was difficult to get leverage like this and he didn't want to hurt himself either, but fuck, it just felt so damn good.

Cass grunted, shifting one of his paws to support LA's lower back. He urged him to move, but no faster than he already was. He brought LA forward to meet the growing slams of his tongue and then he curled it, giving LA's thighs a firm squeeze.

"Cass! Mmm, fuck." LA grunted and gave Cass's horns a firm tug. He could feel how open and wet he was, and he wanted more than just Cass's tongue. "Come on."

Cass grunted inquisitively, his bright eyes peering down at Cass.

"I want you," LA pleaded. "I'm ready, baby. Please."

Cass pulled his tongue out. "All right, Elly." He shifted LA's legs so they were both over the same shoulder. "Is this all right?"

"Yeah." LA smiled, touched that Cass was always so concerned with making sure he wasn't in any pain. He reached for Cass to urge him closer so they could kiss. "It's fucking perfect."

Being held with such care and reverence while absolutely covered in paint?

Yeah.

It was perfect.

Cass kissed him sweetly, one of his paws moving so he could guide the head of his cock to LA's hole. "We can go slow, and I don't expect you to take all of me—"

"I want it," LA insisted. "I want you. All of you."

Cass smiled. "Then all of me you shall have. But slowly ."

"Cass—"

"Slowly." Cass smirked. "I know you are eager, but I do not wish to hurt you, Elly."

"Okay. Fine." LA rolled his eyes dramatically, though he was smiling. "Let's go. Slowly then." He gasped as Cass finally pushed inside, and the new stretch of penetration was intense. Even just the head of Cass's cock was so much thicker than his tongue, and LA shuddered, his toes curling in the air.

"All right?" Cass studied LA's face.

"Good," LA promised. "Please don't stop."

Cass purred softly and shifted his hips, thrusting a little.

LA inhaled sharply, savoring the friction and how gently Cass held him. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to stay in this position, but he loved how close they were. Cass's fur was so soft and warm, and the little pricks of his claws let LA know just how excited he was.

Usually, Cass would keep them retracted, but right now he was so worked up that they kept slipping out. His eyes glowed as they focused on LA to track every expression and twitch. "Are you sure you're all right, sweetheart?"

"Good." LA pressed a deep kiss to Cass's lips. "I'll tell you if I can't take it, okay? I will, I swear." He moaned as a firm thrust pushed a few more inches in. He could tell they hadn't reached Cass's ridges yet, and the mere thought of having those inside of him sent a shiver up his spine.

He pushed his hips down, stubbornly grinding to take on more.

He wanted all of it, every last inch.

"Elly!" Cass gasped sharply. "Mmm, careful."

"I am!" LA grunted and moaned as the first ridge popped inside of him. He moaned even louder when Cass's cock vibrated. "Fuck, so very careful!"

Cass whimpered, sliding his arms beneath LA to cradle him against his chest. "Oh, Elly. You feel perfect. So damn perfect."

"So do you." LA hooked his arms around Cass's neck and continued to rock his hips. He met Cass for each thrust, and the ridges catching around his hole and then slipping in was beyond incredible. He was full and aching deep inside, and he couldn't believe how good the ridges felt rubbing against his inner walls.

Still, while the pleasure was intense, LA's back was quick to alert him that he needed to change positions.

LA groaned, patting Cass's hip. "Need to move."

"What's wrong?" Cass stopped immediately. "Your back?"

"Yeah, just gotta change positions." LA gasped, squirming as Cass pulled out. He reached down to touch himself and traced his rim, marveling at how open and soft he was. "F-fuck."

Cass leaned back to give LA room. "How do you want me, hmm? What is going to be comfortable?"

LA grinned as he rolled over onto his side so he could push up on his hands and knees. He turned to offer his ass to Cass, the canvas crunching a bit as he crawled over it. "Just like this."

Cass squeaked and then glanced at the picture of Alan Tudyk staring up at him. He turned it over. "Shhh, don't look, Alan. He's mine."

LA laughed, looking back at Cass over his shoulder. "Hey, he can look if he wants!"

"Nuh-uh." Cass giggled as he pressed in behind LA and slid his paws over LA's hips. "My boyfriend. He can go get his own."

LA laughed, the sound morphing into an eager whimper as Cass pushed his cock back in. He spread his legs and arched his hips, finding a good angle that would be comfortable, and he sighed. "Yeah, there we go, baby."

"You like that, Elly?" Cass grunted.

"Uh-huh." LA groaned hungrily and let his head hang as Cass thrust. Each slam drove the air from his lungs in quick, rapid grunts and he begged for more, pleading, "Fuck, fuck, yes, yes, yes! Mmm, come on, Cass! God, give it to me!"

"Elly," Cass growled, his paws palming LA's ass and squeezing. He dragged LA back and crashed their bodies together, his thick tail winding around LA's waist.

LA cried out, stunned by the surge of friction and the tight hold. Heat flashed over his body, his skin flushed and buzzing, and he grabbed the edge of the canvas as Cass's slams scooted him across it. "Oh f-fuck! Mmm, fuck, yes!"

"Wait, wait!" Cass squeaked as he suddenly stilled. "Are you all right?"

"Oh my God!" LA grunted. "Yes. You… Come here." He scooted forward, letting Cass's cock slip out again. He pointed down at the canvas. "You. On your back, mister."

"Elly, is that going to—"

"Feel really good and make us both come? Yes. Yes, it is." LA smiled sweetly as he waited for Cass to comply. He crawled on top of him and straddled his hips. "See? Perfect."

"If you turned around, you could keep your legs together and—"

"But then I can't see you." LA grabbed Cass's cock to push back inside his ass. He shuddered and rocked slowly, moving his hands to Cass's chest. "Please. Like this."

Cass grumbled worriedly, but he nodded, his paws holding LA's hips. He smiled a little. "I… I like this."

"Me too." LA grinned as Cass purred and he could feel it rumbling under his fingers. He rolled his body forward and then back, taking his time and being mindful of his back.

It was difficult at first because Cass was much bigger than him, so it was like trying to ride a couch. LA wasn't going to give up though, and he was determined to make this work. He found that pushing forward was easier, so he focused on that. It was good, but he knew he could make it better.

He lifted his hips and let himself drop down, moaning from the delicious sensation of the ridges popping inside of him so quickly. He grinned at Cass and did it again.

"Oh! Elly!" Cass's purring became a low roar, and he squeezed LA's hips, helping him move. "Yes, please ."

LA grinned and used Cass's grip to fuck himself harder, and he outright shouted as Cass lifted up and bounced him on his cock. LA was so damn full, absolutely electrified from the wild bursts of pleasure, and he grabbed his cock to stroke. "C-Cass, I'm…"

"Me too. Me too." Cass gazed up at him, his teeth bared. "I can't—"

"Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop—"

"Elly!" Cass roared and jerked upward, his cock vibrating as it pulsed deep inside LA's hole.

LA moaned feverishly as the powerful vibrations tipped him over the edge and he sat flat on Cass's dick, jerking himself through each mind-shattering quiver. His vision sparkled with stars, his pulse throbbed in the head of his cock, and warmth flooded over his entire body. He swore Cass still hadn't stopped coming and he teetered forward, groaning helplessly from the overwhelming fullness.

Cass continued to purr, and he rubbed LA's sides, staring up at him with hazy eyes as he melted into the floor.

LA sagged against Cass's chest. "Holy fuck."

"Holy fuck," Cass agreed with a weak laugh. He wrapped his arms around LA to hug him close and kiss him. "You were incredible, sweetheart."

"Damn right." LA grinned. "So were you. Jesus fuck, that was amazing." He batted his eyes smugly. "Told you I could do it."

"I am wrong to have doubted you."

"But we do have some muscle relaxers here, right?"

"Yes, we do." Cass smirked. "Just in case, hmm?"

"Yeah. You know, you might need one too after that."

Cass giggled and kissed him sweetly. "I'm pretty sure it would be both illegal and immoral to take your prescription medication, but thank you."

"Anytime." LA glanced around at the paint smeared everywhere and drying between them. "Sorry about your floor."

"It's all right." Cass grinned, lifting his hips to pull out the canvas. It was a wildly smeared kaleidoscope of colors but mostly green. "Seems we made a bit of a mess."

"A mess? What are you talking about?" LA laughed. "This is art!" He gestured to the canvas. "You know I could totally sell that to Georgina."

"You are not selling our sex painting."

"Oh? You wanna hang it up?"

"Maybe I do." Cass turned up his nose. "After all, it is a very nice souvenir, don't you think?"

"Of the first time we fucked?"

"The first time we made love," Cass corrected. "And the first time I said I love you."

LA's brain didn't process the statement. "But you didn't say…" His heart thumped and he stared at Cass. "Are you saying…"

Cass purred, his eyes gleaming as he said, "Lawrence Alexander Holmes, I love you. So very much. For the man you were, the man you are, and the man you want to be. You mean the world to me, and I am so, so very happy that you're mine."

LA swallowed hard and he pulled Cass in for a deep kiss. "I love you too, Cass Duckey."

Cass squeaked. "Really?"

LA chuckled. "Yes."

"Really really? You love me?"

"Yes!" LA laughed. "Don't sound so surprised. You're amazing. My life wouldn't be the same without you, baby. I wouldn't be me without you helping me remember who the fuck that is."

"I love you," Cass whispered.

"I love you too," LA whispered back.

Cass squeaked again.

"Better get used to hearing it," LA teased. "Because I have a feeling we're gonna be saying it a lot."

"It's wonderful." Cass sighed happily. "I am very, very happy." He glanced down. "And sticky. And crusty. And, hmm, we should probably take a shower."

"What? You don't enjoy the crunch of drying jizz and paint?"

"Ew." Cass made a face. "Shower. Now."

LA chuckled as they got up, reaching for Cass's paws to help steady him. "Shower. Dinner. Hmm, and then A Knight's Tale ?"

Cass squeaked softly. "Really?"

"Well, yeah. We've already watched every Alan Tudyk movie and TV show and everything ever. Figured it would be nice to put on a classic." LA smiled. "Plus, it's the first one we watched together."

"I would like that very, very much." Cass hugged LA close. "I love you too, Elly."

"I love you too, Cassie." LA smiled. "Now come on. My ass cheeks are gonna glue themselves together if we don't wash up."

Cass grimaced. "Ew. Rude ."

"You love me anyway."

"Yes. Very, very much."