This is a short work of erotic fiction containing furry, or anthropomorphic, characters, which are animals that either demonstrate human intelligence or walk on two legs, for the purposes of these tales. It is a thriving and growing fandom in which creators are prevalent in art and writing especially.
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Branding the Feline
"It's a shame to let your piercings no longer take the spotlight, but this is so gonna be worth it kitty-cat."
It was rare that Gwyn heard any emotion in Flint's voice, so she paid attention to it, the feline's ears pricking up and swivelling in his direction. The wolf had her in his home tattoo parlour: a small, cosy affair that he only allowed his highest paying clients into for tattooing, piercing and...certain other work too.
His wealthier clients were known to, after all, have very particular tastes.
Gwyn sat nude but for her white fur on the table, which was more like a padded massage table than what one would have seen in his parlour, though she wasn't one to complain. On the table between the wolf and the white cat lay a series of brands. The metal seemed perfectly innocent in its cool form, the different sizes and shapes intriguing to the eye, yet still holding an illicit appeal. Gwyn shivered, reaching out to touch one and then drawing her paw back before her fingers even touched the metal.
They were not for her touch. Not yet.
They would be the items to touch her.
Flint studied her, the rugged wolf shrugging out of his ripped shirt. It hadn't hidden much from a wandering eye, regardless of its covering, muscle showing through fur in carved definition.
"Are you sure you're up for this, Gwyn?" He asked, uncharacteristically so for him.
"Are you getting soft?" She looked at him like he was crazy. "Of course I'm up for this! When have I not been?"
Flint sighed and shook his head, a small smile pulling at his lips. Leaning one elbow on his knee, he swung lightly back and forth on the tall seat, ready to see just how easily he probed through the feline's fur to sear letters and symbols into her sweet, if not untainted skin. It would be interesting to work around the piercings, but nothing he couldn't handle. He was, after all, very much a professional in his trade.
"The traditional way then?"
"Is there any other way?"
Flint tapped a switch on the wall and the overhead skylight clattered, opening up the slats to allow in some fresh air while the extractor fan simultaneously whirred. The sunlight seemed out of place for what was about to occur, but it gave Flint more than enough natural light with which to work without a harsh, bare bulb above him.
"Do you really want to have that open?" Gwyn raised an eyebrow. "I may want this, but I'm probably still going to yell or scream or something. I don't know." She rubbed her forearm. "Maybe I'll even be as quiet as a mouse? There's only one way to find out."
"You want the smoke to get into your lungs? That ain't fucking hot or anything, let me tell you."
Although the brands would be placed into a fire -- which could have been a standard fireplace in any other setting -- sunken into the wall, there was still due need to open the vents. Flint had learned a long while ago that it never hurt to be too cautious, after all, and while the chimney did most of the work, the fan had its place too. But he wouldn't say that to his clients. Not while they were under the partway erotic trance and shivering trepidation of getting branded.
The flames crackled, leaping and sparking, burning life even as it was snuffed out. The embers smouldered beneath the logs and Gwyn's nose twitched to catch the scent of them burning. Were those oak? Rather classy for a wolf. She hadn't expected so much from him.
He selected a brand without looking at her and slid the shaped end into the fire, a glove encasing his paw. Although he went shirtless, he wouldn't have dared take his jeans off in such close proximity to the fire; it was one thing to have one's clothing catch fire and quite another to have the fur one one's body singed away. His lips curved up on one side in a cruel smirk, though he was sure it was one his cat would appreciate.