It's late and he didn't have dinner.

When James groggily opened his eyes, it was already dark outside and the temperature had dropped quite a bit. Shivering, he felt his stiff nipples rub against his track suit, the cold making them poke through the fabric. He got up and closed the window, noting that he could still smell sexual fluids. Did his room really smell that bad, or had his nose gotten so much better? Shrugging, James decided that he had done all he could for now. The citrusy smell of the cleaning detergent was pretty strong as well, after all.

Once again, his train of thought was interrupted; but this time, it was his own stomach. Despite the mountain of meat he'd wolfed down in the afternoon, James felt more than a bit peckish. But could he risk going out of his room? If anyone saw him, he'd have a lot to explain... James' loudly growling stomach made the decision for him, and James snuck out of his room after listening at the door for any sign that his mother was still up. She wasn't, so the dog morph tiptoed down into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge, trying to find something to sate his hunger. Meat was gone, sadly, so he had to be content with a block of swiss cheese and bread for a simple sandwich, as well as a glass of water to wash it down. He sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island and prepared his food.

As James was wolfing the food down hungrily, his ears suddenly perked up at a very unwelcome sound: A key was being inserted into the front door. James froze, kicking himself mentally. How had he forgotten to check the time?! His father was coming home late, he knew that! There was no way he'd be able to make it upstairs without his father noticing, and... and it was too late. His father had entered the house and was now poking his head inside the kitchen.

"Oh, hi honey! You're still up?" Edward looked surprised, but mainly happy as he saw James. But... why did he call his son 'honey'? ... Oh, right.

While James stomach dropped as he remembered that he looked like his own mother's twin sister, his father stepped up to the kitchen island, laid one hand on James' shoulder and gave him a quick peck on the lips before sitting down next to his son to make himself his own sandwich. James sat on his stool, tail quivering where it was pressed against the inside of his thigh in his too-tight pants, and tried not to freak out. It was just a kiss, and it was just his dad, but it was his first kiss, and it was with his dad, and... and James had to calm down, keep his cool and his father from finding out the truth.

"S-so, uh, honey, how... how was your day?" James stumbled his way into the evening small talk of a married couple. It wasn't like he had heard it very often, what with his father Edward working late most days.

"Oh dear, are you alright? You sound a bit strange." Edward looked worried, laying his hand on James' neck and rubbing the dog morph's jaw with his thumb gently. His son was conflicted - this was more love than he'd ever gotten from his father, but it was only because of a monumental misunderstanding. Still, it felt rather nice.

"Oh, *cough* yes, yes, j-just a sore throat. It'll be gone in the morning, I'm sure," he replied, putting his hand over his father's before pulling back to continue eating his food. With every move, he felt his sensitive, bare breasts rub against the fabric of his tracksuit, reminding him that this whole situation was just one wrong move, one wayward touch away from going very wrong. And if his mother woke up and heard them talking downstairs... James suppressed a shudder.

"So, about your day?"

"Mmh, the usual," Edward replied while munching on his sandwich. "Had to deal with a fair bit of Myer's bullshit, but we managed in the end. And you?"

"Oh, you wouldn't believe the day I had..." It had slipped out before James could stop himself, and he could feel cold sweat break out all over his body.

"Rough day at the courthouse?" His father asked as he got up to get a jar of pickles from the fridge, giving James enough time to calm down a little.

"Y-Yeah, it was bad... And I've been feeling off the whole day," James said, sensing an out from the situation. Feigning another cough, he continued a bit more hoarsely. "In fact, would you mind if I go to bed ahead of you? I want to get as much sleep as possible to make sure I'll feel better tomorrow..."

"Not at all," his father answered, stepping behind James and wrapping one hand around his waist. James froze - Edward's arm was inches away from his lowest tit. One wrong move... To James' relief, his father gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down on his stool where he began munching on a few pickles. "I'm already happy you were still up and I could talk to you before tomorrow morning. Go on, I'll be with you in a few. Love what you did with your hair, by the way. Did James already see it?" James heart sank a bit - his hair was the only difference between his mother and him. Good thing Edward seemed to think he - or rather his mother - had dyed and cut it.

"Thanks... honey. No, he hasn't been out of his room all day," James said as he got up and began walking out of the kitchen. "Hopefully he'll like it." He'd made it! Now all he had to do... A low wolf whistle from behind him made James stop in his tracks and turn around halfway, looking at his father with wide eyes.

"Sorry, couldn't help it. All that running really does wonders for your behind, honey. I'm a lucky man," Edward grinned with a playful wink.

"Thanks? I guess?" While getting compliments felt rather nice, he'd have preferred them to be not about his ass, and someone that wasn't his father making them. "I'll be off then."

"Aw, don't be mad, I'm sorry," his father pouted, looking genuinely remorseful. "Sleep well, I love you!"

"I... Love you too, honey," James replied, not wanting to cause issues in his parents' relationship. He'd only have to play this role for a few more minutes. "See you in bed."

And finally, he could get away. James almost ran up the stairs and into his room, only realizing he'd forgotten to brush his teeth once he'd closed the door behind him. But there was no way he'd go out again after what he'd just been through. Better to just go to sleep and risk morning breath from hell.