Cold He hated being laughed at. Really hated it. Always had.
Terry was laughing. Uproariously. Arms wrapped around his stomach and tears rolling down his face.
And it was all Dik Dik's own fault.
The Texan finally managed to get control of himself, stifle his chuckles, and slip-slide down the snowy bank to join the gazelle-man sprawled at its base.
"Y'want a hand?"
Dik Dik reached for the broad hand extended towards him, biting back a moan as Terry hauled him to his feet. He'd slipped on ice at the top of the slope, lost his balance - to his eternal embarrassment - fallen, and landed heavily on his tail. Very heavily. He wasn't entirely sure he'd not broken a bone or two. It certainly hurt enough.
He slid a hand under his heavy quilted parka, gingerly probing at the base of his spine, wincing and drawing a sharp breath at the bright stab of pain the action caused. Terry frowned.
"Yew alright?"
"I… I'm not sure." He tried taking a step and nearly fell: the pain was excruciating. Terry wrapped an arm around his waist, dragging one of the buck's over his shoulders for support.
"C'mon, let's git yew back."At first Terry had tried to climb back up the slope, pulling Dik Dik with him, but it was too steep, too slippery, and caused the gazelle-man far too much pain - he'd almost passed out on the third attempt. Terry glanced up and down the narrow gully, considering which was the best way to go. Either direction would mean a considerable hike - it was a matter of which would be shortest. Finally he set off southward, moving slowly for Dik Dik's sake.
"D'yew think y've done some damage?"
It was more to keep the buck talking than anything, distract him. From the way he was moving he was obviously hurting badly.
"I don't know… I may have broken something…"
Terry winced.
"Ah kin carry yew if y'want. If y'need it, Ah mean."
Dik Dik shook his head, firmly. Humiliating enough that he'd fallen in the first place: he'd never live it down if he arrived back slung over the Texan's shoulder. Terry eyed him sceptically.
"Well, OK - but if y'change yer mind, jest holler…"It took him over an hour to limp back to the small cluster of cabins through deep snow, every halting step agonising, and by the time they arrived he was shivering violently. Terry eyed his drooping frame worriedly - and headed for his own cabin. Dik Dik was too cold and distressed to object, even if he'd been aware enough to notice.
It was wonderfully warm inside. Terry pulled the stumbling gazelle-man over to the fire and reached for the parka's zip. Dik Dik held up a hand.
"I can manage…"
Terry watched as he struggled futilely with his gloves, then growled impatiently and pulled them off himself, catching the hands underneath in both of his and scowling: they felt like lumps of ice.
"No y'can't. Don' argue!" he added, as Dik Dik made to protest. Minutes later, parka, gloves and boots in a heap beside the fire, the buck stood shivering as Terry looked him over.
"Y'gonna have ta strip. Ah can't take a looksee with yer clothes on…"
Head lowered, eyes closed with embarrassment, Dik Dik slid out of the trousers, keeping the heavy sweater on, pulling it down over his groin and turning his back to the Texan. Terry sighed.
"Go lie down. Ah kin see better that way."
Blushing hotly, the buck moved to the big bed and eased himself down onto his front, head pillowed on his arms. Terry sat at his side, warm hand resting on the small of his back.
"OK now, this is gonna hurt some…"
Dik Dik buried his head in the duvet, biting the material to stop himself from crying out as Terry gently pressed and prodded down his lower back to the base of his spine, then probed the length of his tail. It seemed to take forever, but finally the Texan sat back with a sigh.
"Nope, nothin' broke. Feels like ya've strained a muscle or two, though. Bruises are gonna be pretty!" He rested a hand absently on the back of a cold lean thigh and humphed to himself. "Wonder if Ah packed the horse liniment…"
Dik Dik was still shivering - but the warmth of Terry's hand on his leg was… disturbing. He shouldn't be feeling this aroused, under the circumstances… His fellow wrestler suddenly realised he was still cold, and hurriedly slid off the bed, easing half the duvet over the lean body to avoid the buck having to move.
"Is that OK? Not pressin' too heavy?"
Dik Dik swallowed and murmured a quiet "no", and Terry grinned.
"OK then. Ah'll make us some coffee. 'less yew want somethin' else?"
"Coffee will be fine. Thank you."
"Yer welcome. Y'jest lie there an' warm up, OK?"
But that was easier said than done. The cold had eaten into him on the slow trek back - he was a warm-weather creature, after all, used to the southern sun of Africa - and he couldn't seem to shake it off. By the time Terry sat down on the bed, two large mugs of coffee in his hands, Dik Dik was, if anything, even colder than before.
Shivering, he raised himself carefully onto his elbows, taking the mug between shaking hands and lowering his head to sip - grimacing to himself; Terry wasn't the best coffee-maker he'd ever met. But the bitter liquid was warming, and reviving, and he was suddenly grateful for the Texan's help. If he hadn't been there…
The buck shuddered, and Terry grabbed for the mug before it upended onto the bed.
"Whoa there, buddy!" He grinned at Dik Dik, the smile changing to a frown as he realised his friend was still shivering.
"Y'still cold there?"
"… yes… Not important… Terry - thank you…"
"Aw, t'weren't nothin'. More important we git y'warm." He slid a hand under the duvet, running warm fingers up a lean leg and firm buttock - carefully avoiding the painfully throbbing tail - then slid up under the sweater. He scowled.
"Yer freezin'! C'mon, this ain't no good…"
He climbed off the bed and dragged another duvet from the linen cupboard, pulling back and flattening the half that was over the buck then settling the second over the shivering body. Then he stripped and slid into the bed, pulling himself - and his blissful warmth - close to the gazelle-man's cold body.
"Kin y'turn onto yer side, towards me?"
Dik Dik blinked, then nodded tentatively.
"I think so."
"Good. Git that sweater off and c'mere."
Obediently wriggling out of the heavy woollen garment, Dik Dik slowly and carefully turned over onto his side, gasping as Terry plastered himself against cold skin. The Texan was so hot, in comparison, it felt as though he was burning.
Terry grinned at the buck's startled expression.
"Best way to warm up someone sufferin' hypothermia. Body heat. Y'll feel warmer soon…"
He felt warmer already, but was certain that wasn't what Terry meant. And it was going to become very embarrassing very soon - they were groin to groin, Terry's warm, limp cock pressing into his own - which was rapidly becoming anything but limp… he tried to pull away, but the Texan's arms were around his shoulders and waist, stopping him from moving very far.
"Sleep if y'like."
Sleep!? How? Dik Dik groaned silently, trying desperately to think of something - anything! - that would distract him, stop him thinking about his position, the wonderful warmth and strength of Terry's body, the warm, musky smell of him…
Terry chuckled, eyeing him from half-closed bright blue eyes.
"Feelin' a bit warmer, Ah kin tell…"
"Terry…"
"Don't pay it no never mind." The Texan nuzzled his shoulder, gently stroking the soft, velvety pelt under his hands.
"I'm… sorry."
"What fer? Ah'm not bothered."
Dik Dik blinked.
"You aren't?"
"Naw." He shifted his hips slightly, and the buck was startled to realise he also was erect.
"T… Terry?"
The Texan bit his shoulder lightly, then slid a hot hand between their bodies to grasp both erections.
"It'll warm y'up nice an' quick…"
And Dik Dik all but passed out as the strong hand began to pump, pressing both cocks together…Terry had been quite right, it had warmed him up, Dik Dik thought as he nestled into his bedmate. The Texan lay on his back, the buck's head on his chest - his shoulder being a nono given the sharpness of the gazelle-man's horns - one arm wrapped around broad shoulders, warm hand absently stroking soft pelt. Dik Dik lay partly on top of the Texan, one leg tucked between his thighs, one arm stretched across his chest, hand cupping his shoulder.
"Better?"
The buck nodded.
"Warm and comfortable. Thank you."
Terry mmmed and stroked his free hand down Dik Dik's back, cupping a tight buttock where it met thigh and squeezing gently.
"Good… How's the tail?"
He'd forgotten about the injury over the last hour - mention of it now made him aware of a low throbbing at the base of his spine. Very cautiously he twitched his tail, accidentally brushing over Terry's hand. The Texan jumped.
"Y'kin wave it?"
"Of course!"
"… kin Ah see?"
Bemused, Dik Dik moved back a little, waiting until Terry had sat up and raised the duvet, then obligingly twitched the tail again - pleased to note that the pain had dulled a little. Terry's blue eyes were wide.
"Aww - that's darn cute!" He gently stroked the little appendage, chuckling when Dik Dik shivered.
"Y'like that?"
"Yes, normally - but not now, please…"
The Texan nodded and pulled the duvet over them, settling down again and pulling the buck's head back to his chest.
"Sorry. Jest never met anyone with a tail like that before. Kin Ah play with it some time?"
Blinking bemusedly, Dik Dik found himself nodding. Terry grinned.
"Well, thanks! Now what y'say we get some shut-eye?"An excellent idea, thought the buck to himself, warm and content, his eyes drifting closed…
© 2003 December 6th Joules Taylor
© 2001-2004 WordWrights
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