SABRINA

a story by

CHRIS YOST

(c) 1998 by Chris Yost. All rights to story content reserved. Characters Sabrina the Skunkette, Amy the Squirrel, and Tammy Vixen (c) Eric W. Schwartz. Character Roxikat (c) John Barrett. Character Thomas Woolfe (c) Michael Higgs. Characters Chris Foxx, Susan Felin, Cindy Lapine, Amy Squirrel, Clarence Skunk, Dexter Collie, and Wendy Vixxen (c) Chris Yost. All rights to additional characters reserved by their respective owners. Story based on characters and situations created by Eric W. Schwartz.

Chris felt himself wake up, the sunlight hitting his eyes made him start. Then realizing where he was made him restart.

This woke Sabrina, too.

In front of them the television was still on, volume down; the station was just coming back on the air. Two empty wine glasses were on Amy's favorite coffee table, as was a partially-emptied carafe. Sabrina blinked and looked up from Chris' shoulder. "Hi," she managed before she yawned.

Chris looked at his watch. Holy crow, I stayed the night!! "I wondered what it'd be like to see you first thing in the morning," he said, hoping his smile would cover his awkwardness.

Sabrina took his hand and looked at his watch. "Well, good morning." She snaked her arms around him and smiled. "Disappointed?"

"N'yope." Chris ran his hand behind her head, brushing her hair back, and kissed her gently, at first. Sabrina's arm went around his neck and they held the kiss for a long time. "Waddaya know, looks like we slept together."

Sabrina giggled. "Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Not as long as you sleep." Chris yawned, which triggered Sabrina to yawn too. "Now, how am I going to be able to come by and pick you up if I'm still here?" Chris grinned. "I only hope my staying here hasn't damaged your reputation." He put a hand on her knee and gently squeezed, then reacted. "Oh yeah! I forgot, these are pants."

"Well, sure," Sabrina said, nuzzling his wet nose. "Did you really think I didn't wear anything below my waist?"

"Oh, no, of course not!" Chris laughed, embarrassed, needing to remind himself to correct what he said to Dexter Monday morning. "How silly, gee whiz!"

Time to change the subject back! "You know," Sabrina played with the point of Chris' right ear, "you don't need to book a hotel room every time you come to town. We have plenty of room right here. And you don't have to worry about my reputation; after all, my comic strip is rated PG."

Chris paused a moment. "You make a really tempting offer, kitten. Let me think about it -- okay, you win."

"Woo-hoo!" Sabrina pounced on Chris and began serious pre-breakfast necking. She leaned Chris' head against the arm of the sofa and pressed herself into him. Chris put his arms around her and pulled her closer .......

Ewwwwwwwwwww-uck!

Now Chris remembered last night! He hugged her closer and tighter and kept shifting his pelvis to avoid what Sabrina was rubbing back into him and squinted every time he felt it. He refused to let even that interfere with this moment.

But I'd give a lot for a washcloth!

Chris learned long ago to sacrifice his favorite classic rock radio station for a classical music station on during his trips to his favorite part of Ohio. It was the one thing he discovered that kept his anxiety at a level that kept him friends with the Pennsylvania and Ohio State Police. Turning the last corner he pulled in and parked behind Sabrina's car in front of her apartment building and pulled on the parking brake. He ran a brush through his hair and stepped out, allowing the wind to blow it completely in seven different directions. He got the flowers out from the other side, holding them beneath his coat, and ran up the outside steps into the building. Once in the vestibule he used his pocket comb the best he could and trotted up the steps to Sabrina and Amy and Thomas' apartment.

The door was slightly ajar. Chris shook off the cold and yelled "Sabrina?"

"Come on in!"

Chris pushed the door open and walked in. The lights were down low. He closed the door behind him and came the rest of the way in. There was a heady scent of perfume and Italian food in the room. As he walked further in he saw the dinette table set for two, with burning candles and rose petals scattered over the table top.

... and Sabrina came around the corner from the kitchen.

"Hi there," she said, sauntering toward him, wearing a tight, low-cut black dress with lacy trim and an above the mid-thigh skirt. Her white hair was professionally styled and perfect. Her abalone butterfly necklace twinkled from the candlelight as she stood by the table for a second.

Chris' mouth opened; Sabrina was drop-dead gorgeous. All he was able to do was stare and try to make sounds.

"We've, uhm, got the apartment to ourselves tonight." Sabrina used a walk she'd practiced all afternoon, one leg crossing in front of the other, her tail swaying back and forth, and came within a few feet of Chris, her eyes set on his, which roamed over every visible square inch of her. Susan had helped her practice every motion, and not one was wasted; Chris was mesmerized. The fatigue of the long drive went out the window into the March winds, which wasn't a bad trick for late April.

"I, uhm ..... ahem ..... hello," Chris finally managed to stammer out.

Susan, I will never doubt you! Sabrina put the walk back in motion and walked up to Chris, putting her arms around his neck, and pretty much all Chris could do was stare dumbfounded. "I missed you," she said.

As her mouth came closer to his Chris found his motor skills and put his arms around her, holding onto the bouquet and pulling Sabrina close; their open mouths joined their tongues gently tugging at each other. With slight embarrassment, Chris pulled his hips slightly away, not wanting Sabrina to notice his very evident arousal.

"Did I ever miss

you, Kitten!" Chris managed after the kiss broke and he caught his breath. "You look positively beautiful."

"Thank you." Sabrina smiled. "I don't dress up often, just for special occasions. I think the last time would've been Tabitha's christening."

"You'll forgive me if I drool." Chris brought the bouquet around and showed it to her. "Happy anniversary, a couple days early."

Sabrina buried her nose in the roses. Chris continued, "I want them to see what something beautiful really looks like."

Sabrina raised her eyes over the rose tops and grinned. "Always the flatterer ... " She kissed Chris on the cheek. " ... and it will get you anywhere."

"Got me through my sophomore year." He followed Sabrina into the kitchen, where she dug a vase from beneath the sink. He took a deep sniff. "So this is the special surprise you had for me, eh?"

"Oh, part of it." Sabrina caught her breath quickly, her mind filling with thoughts she'd kept to herself for two weeks at least. Calm down, Sabrina, you've got all night!

"It smells wonderful."

Sabrina arranged the roses. "It was Cindy's recipe," she blurted out. "I'm, well, still kinda learning how to cook; she helped me with most of the lasagna, Debbye helped make the salad and decorate and get Amy and Thomas out of the house, Susan helped me put the whole idea together ... "

"You mean," Chris asked, "you enlisted all of this help ... for me?" He turned Sabrina to face him and cuddled her. ""No one ever went to this much trouble for me before."

Sabrina hugged him. "What about your mother?"

"She doesn't count," Chris told her. "We'd both read Oedipus Rex, we knew the warning signs."

"We just finished reading that in Lit class the other week!" Sabrina laughed and hugged Chris tight before kissing him and leading him out to the living room. "C'mere, I did something else for you."

Chris followed Sabrina out and watched her select a CD in the changer. "I know how you like classical music. I don't know too much about it, so I hope I picked one you like." She touched the Play button.

The music started, and Chris nodded. "Tchaikovsky. Good choice."

Sabrina smiled and walked toward Chris, and spun suddenly when the music suddenly changed and took on a fast tempo and Flight of the Bumblebee started! Sabrina's mouth dropped open. "Oh my -- !"

Chris smiled instead. "Hey, Hooked on Classics! I love that!"

Sabrina blinked, her mouth closing slowly. "You do??"

Chris walked over to the CD changer and picked up the jewel case. "Yes, it's great! They make a medley out of classical music and put a disco backbeat on it. Very 70's but it's great!" By now the third piece started, and Chris pressed the Next Track button. "But I think this is more what you want."

Bach played, Chris adjusted the volume. Sabrina's expression softened. "Oh yes, that's very nice! I like that one."

"It's called Hooked on Romance. Same medley idea, no disco perversion." Chris stepped up to her and took one of her hands in his. "And it's perfect to dance to."

Sabrina pointed toward the kitchen. "But dinner'll burn ... "

"Dinner'll be fine." Chris pulled her up to him and put his other hand on her hip.

Bach led into Shubert led into Liszt. Sabrina glided over the living room floor with Chris, their tails swaying gently. "You can dance!" she said.

"Sabrina, can I tell you the bitter truth?" Sabrina looked up and Chris. "No guy can dance. We let you think we're leading, when actually we're just trying not to step on your feet."

Giggle! Sabrina narrowed the gap between them. "Why are you so perfect?" she asked.

"Because I'm a direct reflection of the writer." Chris grinned. "I'm not perfect, Kitten."

"Yes you are," Sabrina argued. "You're perfect for me. You're funny, you're smart, you're a great dancer no matter what you say!" She let go of Chris' hand and slid her arms around his neck, which slid Chris' arms around Sabrina's body. "You're a fellow computer geek." She closed her eyes. "I never want this to end."

Chris nodded toward the CD changer. "I can put it on 'track repeat' if you want."

"You know what I mean." Sabrina raised her head and spoke in a loud whisper, not wanting to disturb the music. "Hold me."

Chris tightened his hold on her. "I'm holding you, Sabrina."

"No, hold me tight."

They danced, Chris hugged. "No matter what happens from this point on," Chris said, "I want you to know I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life."

Stop reading my mind! Sabrina pressed her mouth against Chris'. As the music swelled, so did Chris. He pulled himself back again, Sabrina slid her hands to his bottom and pushed him back, then squeezed quickly. "Don't be so shy," she said, slyly grinning.

Chris kissed her forehead, then took Sabrina and dipped her. "Woo! So that's how it's done."

"When it's done right. You know you have the cutest ears?" Chris blew lightly in Sabrina's left ear; she squeezed her head against her shoulder.

"Quit that!" she laughed. She turned her head back up and gazed into Chris' green eyes. How did I ever get this lucky!? was one of a half dozen thoughts that flew through Sabrina's mind in only a few precious seconds.

Chris didn't know how deep in thought Sabrina was when he pinched between her lenses and lifted.

Sabrina blinked. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I've always wondered if these had frames." Chris slid off her glasses and set them on her head, pushing the temples through her white hair. "I've also wondered and wondered what you look like without them."

Sabrina didn't fully understand what Chris meant, but she went along with it. "What do you think?"

The music entered a small flourish. Chris spoke clearly and evenly, despite the fact that even after these past few months he was still nervous about what he said. "I think you are the sexiest, most beaumfffmmm ...... "

Sabrina's deep, very deep kiss muffled the rest of her compliment. Their dancing stopped for the moment as base animal arousal took full control of both of them. They held and they kissed ... and they kissed ... Sabrina completely melted. Further base animal arousal made Sabrina take Chris' hand and she guided them onto the couch as the CD track played on. As their tongues explored each other their paws took their own tours. Sabrina leaned back slightly to allow Chris the ability to roam over her, over the outside of her dress in a manner that could only fully be explained in The Unexpurgated Sabrina. Sabrina's mouth left Chris' and she closed her eyes as they pet, opening them once when she slid her hand back up during the final flourish of the music. "Dancing's not the only thing this music is good for," she smiled.

Chris ran a hand over her head. "You don't think we're moving too fast ... ?"

"Oh, definitely." She pulled Chris' mouth closer to hers again.

"I don't want to take advantage of ymmfffmmmgg ...... "

Sabrina pressed herself against Chris as they French kissed through the end of the track ... and into the opening of the next. Both pairs of eyes popped open when the familiar introduction played.

Sabrina turned toward the changer. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," Chris answered with an embarrassed laugh. "Mendelssohn's Wedding March." He jumped up off of Sabrina and ran over to press the Stop button. "I -- heh forgot that was on there."

Straightening her skirt and herself, Sabrina sat up. "Of all the things to play just then." She stood and walked over to Chris, putting the Susan-taught-walk back into full motion. "Think it was pre-planned?" she asked with a grin Chris couldn't fully interpret.

"Not by me, Scout's honor."

They stared at each other again, very much the way they did in the park when they first met.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

Sabrina blinked. "Dinner's ready. Wanna help?"

Chris' hand unconsciously ran up and down Sabrina's side as he studied her, intently, wonderful warm romantic thoughts going through his little fox mind. "Sure - but, ah, let me use the bathroom for about five minutes first, 'kay?"

The candles burned down to a quarter their original size and provided the only light in the apartment. Chris brought his napkin up to his muzzle hoping to hide a burp; knowing one thing girls don't show too much interest in is their boyfriend's ability to make the pictures vibrate against the walls from their seat. "Sabrina," Chris put his paw on her thigh. "For someone who's learning, you are one heluva cook."

"Thank you." Sabrina took her napkin from her lap. "You really liked it?"

"Best lasagna dinner I've had all day."

Sabrina could be a giggler with the right person. "You're a nut."

"You better keep an eye on Amy if I am, then."

Sabrina slid from her chair and onto Chris' lap. She brushed her whiskers against Chris' closely, looked into his eyes, and never blinked once. "Just let her try and put one hand on you."

"Catfight?" Chris asked. "Might be worth it."

"You've got a dirty mind." Sabrina kissed his nose.

"Taken me years to fine-tune it." Chris put his arms around her waist and hugged.

Sabrina smiled. "Did you have enough to eat?"

"Oh, yes!"

"Interested in some dessert?"

"I wouldn't know where to put it."

Sabrina's smile grew. "We can work on that together." She slid off of his lap. "You relax. I've got something for you."

"Something else? Sabrina ... !"

"I said," Sabrina ran a hand over Chris' cheek, "you relax. I'll only be a minute."

Chris kissed Sabrina's hand and watched her disappear down the hall. Leaning back he picked up his wine glass. "Friends, it doesn't get any better than this." He took his last swallow of wine and closed his eyes.

Thomas pulled the car into the parking spot in front of the A-frame cabin. Amy looked through the car windows at the surrounding woods. "So this is where you come with your botany class?" she asked.

"Yep," he answered her. "The horticulture center is right across from the main road in here."

The sun was just starting to set. Amy rolled herself out of her seat and pushed herself out of the car while Thomas got their bags out of the back seat. He dropped them on the front porch and unlocked the door.

"Should I try to carry you over the threshold?"

Amy put a hand on her belly. "Get real!" she laughed. "Just show me where the bathroom is!"

"Uh ...... yeah, sure." He opened the door and pushed, and followed Amy inside. They were standing in the living room of the cabin.

"Oh, it has a fireplace!" Amy looked wide-eyed at it.

"When I first saw that, I knew you'd like it. I know how much you love fireplaces." He set the luggage down when Amy put an arm around him. He put an arm around her and gave her the tour. "Over here is the kitchen, there're bedrooms upstairs or two of the couches in the living room open up into beds. No TV or phones, so I brought a radio and some CD's."

"It's great," Amy smiled.

Thomas smiled wide, very impressed with himself. "I knew you'd like it."

Amy one-armed hugged him. "Thomas?"

"Yes, honey?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

Thomas pulled his collar away from his throat.

"Quick?"

"Uhm ......... "

"Thomas?"

"Y-yeah?"

"Really quick?"

"Well ... " Thomas walked Amy to the back door and opened it.

Amy turned to look at Thomas. "Not in the woods!"

"Noooooooo! No, of course not!" They stepped out on the back porch and Thomas pointed at the end of the walk.

Amy felt her eyes go wide! She looked at Thomas. "You're not serious!"

Thomas defended himself. "Well, I told you it was rustic."

Amy pointed. "But an outhouse??"

"I brought a flashlight."

"And this is how nine of you lived for a week?"

"One at a time, yes. And that little building over there is where you can wash up. I'll carry the water up from the underground spring tap near the creek."

Now Amy noticed the creek running around the property. And she could hear it. And listening to it was a big mistake. "Just grab the toilet paper!" she called as she ran as well as she could to the outhouse.

The door slammed shut. Thomas watched from the porch and smiled. "I knew she'd like it."