Six: Curious Uncle

With the various wonderful parties to attend to keep himself in the highest regard to the new governor, as well as to the various others around that liked to think of him as the tax collector's master, Livius was finally utterly spent! He was lounging upon the sofa within his greeting room with his various slaves fanning him or rubbing his feet, one pretty doe even brushing his dark mane with a pleasant expression of delight. He was a good master to his slaves, he did not like others to know that but it was one of the reasons he had made such a fuss about whom his step-sister had been married off to after their father had died. She'd made such a fuss about her young brother, only just turned an adult and growing mane, practically selling her to a gladiator school owner... only for it to be the richest position she could have!

Livius though was lounging with a look of frustration as his son came strolling it, tail slightly erect and wearing a fancy golden bangle to show his status as he walked in, but his pert belly bouncing and pulling his toga up to show off his knees. Livius had to chuckle, he blamed himself for letting his son get so chubby but, he never wanted his child to be unhappy and his sister's insistence on a marriage between their children had been to secure her blood ties to him and his money. Livius though was startled by the interest he had with the intended, she was so very different and thankfully held no blood relation to him at all.

"Father... she's going to be visiting and spending the night... I think my aunt is trying to get us to be conjugal to try and encourage haste towards a wedding where you can spend as much money as she intends. I think she's trying to have a reason for the governor to notice her somewhat.... Was aunty always such a money-grabber?" Postumus grumbled in frustration as he waddled in, his head lowered to show that his mane was starting to come out but needed a little more brushing to remove the baby-fluff still around his neck. It irked Livius to sit up and pat the seat next to him.

"Sadly, your aunty would have made the most ardent money-lender and tax collector imaginable... I would have hired her in a flash to do my work but I'd know she'd make double whatever she paid me..." Livius grunted gently, he'd taken his father's business as a money-lender and patron to another level when he'd taken position and bought taxation rights, only to hire all the best collectors and thugs and chosen lands with ruthless reputations nowhere near his own villa to tax. It was lucrative because governors and even the imperials liked to ask Livius for lending capabilities especially when it came to paying off campaigns that failed and risked a young hopeful losing his life to unpaid troops! Money was what bought favours and being indebted was what kept beings on your side.... "...are you really so upset about her coming tonight?"

"Not particularly... I told you, she and I have an understanding and our clear friends. But you did make promises to me so that I would not have to deal with her ravenous appetite where I did not want to." Postumus grunted as she sat beside his father, who beckoned the comb from the young doe who passed it other with a bow. Livius then began to brush his son's fur, making his son's shoulders sag as his father smiled and chuckled. Yes... he spoilt and babied his son greatly but, to be fair he was younger than Postumus when he'd been forced to marry and produced his first daughter, only to lose her to a nasty winter malady that later claimed his wife after Postumus' birth. He could not help spoiling when Postumus was so precious and so important... he'd do anything for him.

"Servants... you may leave." Livius stated firmly, waving his paw so that they all departed and knowing his son needed some time to talk to his father in private. Livius settled back with a soft sigh, showing his son the fur to have come loose and fuss about his new mane coming through before then cuddling his son gently. "We never discussed why you were uncomfortable with sex with her... did you want to explain it to me now?"

"You will think me... delicate.. or unlike a male..." Postumus began, but Livius just gave a soft snort of amusement to hear it from his son. He had rather predicted that the matter was more to do with his son's desire to be pampered and not to put in much of the effort. Some males thought that was the manner of females, not suitable in a society that demanded that males of worth must be able to be males... but luxury had a tendency to do that. Livius found himself giving a soft chuckle of amusement before stroking his son's short mane with a chuckle.

"There is nothing that would change my view of you as a loving father, speak to me." Livius stated, taking in a soft breath and almost cackling away. He understood that desire to be less masculine, he was often called effeminate for his displays of affection to his son, but he had so wanted his son and would pamper and fuss him no matter the gossip at court. Whatever his son needed he would have, and Livius was quite aware that he was masculine enough in the right circumstances. Postumus though seemed to puff up his cheeks and pout as he thought about it and then lowered his ears, unable to keep the anxiety in himself so long.

"She has expectations that I will know what to do and that I will be some dominating brute. She has this thought in her head that I must be so desperate for it that I'd take her every night... but father, I have never even touched myself with such ruthless desire. I feel... I fear it does not exist within myself." Postumus grunted; he was quite aware that his statements made him sound like he was asking to be castrated! What kind of male had no desire? It was not that his body did not react and he did not enjoy the stimulation in that moment... but he never instigated and he never sought it. Was he broken?

"Hum..." Livius grunted gently, lifting one of his great paws covered in golden rings up to his muzzle, tapping at his lips thoughtfully and then giving a soft cooing sound. What was he to say to his son on this matter? Certainly many males that felt that way often felt that the issue was with their gender or with females in general... was his son maybe more inclined to the same sex? If he was then that was easily dealt with, just bringing in a slave he chose could deal with the matter easily, but Livius had the feeling it was more to do with just a general lack of interest. "Hmm... well, we had agreed I would deal with the matter of your cousin for you... but for your own feelings I'm not sure what I can offer. Some do not have any enjoyment in the act either so... maybe it's just that you're not exactly interested in such things. I can't tell you off for it... I certainly wouldn't call you 'delicate' for having no interest. I'm sure many philosophers have no interest... and I couldn't imagine a surgeon wanting to touch a body after what they deal with..."

"So... you don't think I'm unusual for it? You don't think less of me?" Postumus stated, spinning about on the seat to look at his father. He was suddenly brighter, his face in that happy smile that Livius remembered from being a podgy little cub. The lion brought his paws to his son's cheeks, squeezing and pushing them together to make Postumus give a soft grunt before then pulling away with a snort. His father could be ridiculously embarrassing and then Livius was tickling at his son's armpits, causing a high-pitched squeak that made Postumus bat at his father with a groan. "Father! You're the one being feminine right now! Stop teasing me now!"

"Is it so wrong? Your my baby after-all, can't I have the feelings of both mother and father when I see you happy? You're my precious one after-all!" Livius cooed, grasping hold of his son in a tight hug. He nuzzled into him, making Postumus groan and grimace at the fact he was being so coddled. However, a slave tottered in nervously, clearing his throat and lowering his head, the little antelope's long ears almost slipping forward to cover his eyes as he gave an anxious gulp towards them. "What's wrong?"

"Uh... nothing wrong my lord... it's just that your niece has arrived and well... should we bring her in?" The antelope questioned with an anxious look that seemed to be aimed to the way that Postumus was slumped within his father's arms. Livius could guess it, but he was quick to give a soft chuckle and then insist she be brought in along with food and wine, anything the lady desired. It made Postumus sit up with a grunt of frustration as he looked towards his father with a scowl.

"Ugh... just when I was feeling more comfortable with myself... father, must I remain with her around?" Postumus groaned in frustration and yet Livius chuckled softly as he stroked at his son's ears and then straightened up. He hopped off the benches and watched as the food was brought in, holding out his arms and letting the robes about him catch the soft breeze as he called out in greeting to the tall, slim lioness that strolled into the courtyard with one of her slaves at her side fanning her.

"My dear Hortensia... how wonderful of you to come and visit, I get the feeling your mother's noticed how much I've been climbing lately and thought you could use a little taste of it yourself. Please, come sit with Postumus and enjoy yourself." Livius smiled happily, stepping out towards the young lady that strolled in, her neatly brushed tail tuft twitching behind her in irritation as she looked down her nose towards her cousin that was supposed to be her husband and who was not looking interested in her at all. But Livius was straight up to her, beckoning her to hold his arms, which she did with far more pleasure as he pulled her in to kiss her cheeks gently.

"Dearest uncle... I'm very pleased to see you again. You know my mother so well, she was worried you might be forgetting that she wanted us to be closer... closer to your fortune at least." Hortensia scoffed in amusement as she squeezed her uncle's arms a little tighter, wanting to be closer. He sensed it and was grateful, but he noticed the contempt for his son and her mother. She was escorted to sit beside her intended and the pair stared at one another in irritation for a while. But then Hortensia gave a sigh and turned towards her uncle with a grunt. "Has he told you anything about his problem?"

"Problem! It's only a problem because it doesn't suit your ideals..." Postumus scoffed, curling his lips and showing off his fangs as his short mane seemed to stiffen. Hortensia responded in kind, curling her lips and wrinkling her muzzle to show off larger fangs and give a much more devastating kind of growl of fury to her cousin. It was enough to make their uncle shake his head and roll his eyes in dismay at the pair of them. He clicked his digits together to distract them from their argument before he then settled down on the bench that Hortensia had chosen and gave a shake of his great head.

"We've just discussed it and I've told him that there's no fault in it, some lions are just not the same about bedroom activity. It will not be a problem of course..." Livius stated rather calmly, almost a little too nonchalantly for Hortensia as she produced another irritated growl with her ears pinning back as she looked to her uncle in expectation. She'd expected him to speak about it and give his son a lecture on how lucky he should be to have a partner that was more than willing even before marriage to ensure his vitality. Any other male would be taking full advantage... but then Hortensia felt her uncle's eyes fall upon her and he turned towards the servants that remained in the room, but then to Hortensia's slave. "She a decent sort?"

"My personal servant... she can keep her mouth shut and do as she's told, of course." Hortensia smirked, looking towards the anxious young mongoose that was standing beside her with her head lowered and an expression of meekness. She seemed small and her paws looked delicate, Livius was quite sure she would be useful for what he had in mind as he clapped his paws and called out to his personal servants.

"Now... everyone is to leave and not to enter for any reason unless called for... they are also not to permit visitors. If any ask, we are indisposed." Livius grunted firmly and the servants all nodded their heads in utter obedience. They knew that if someone did come and they did repeat that they could not be disturbed, there might be a reward given for this obedience. Livius watched them leave and had the curtains drawn over the archways into the room and then stepped over to his son, patting his shoulders. "Now... the pair of you need to apologise to one another first before I can do anything to aid this situation."

"Why should we?" Both snapped in unison, but then Livius beckoned the slave over to him and she stepped over, giving a sharp gasp of surprise as Livius brought his paws to the back of her tunic. He undid the fastening at her neck, steering the fabric down over her chest and revealing the dark grey fur to them all. Livius then brought his paws into her fur, rustling around until he felt her breasts and her nipples, she gave another sharp sound of surprise as he began to massage her breasts and she gave a look of anxiety to her mistress. Hortensia was looking furious and quickly turned towards Postumus with a scoff.

"Alright... I'm sorry I was not being polite about your... thoughts..." Hortensia stated, but her uncle did not stop playing with her slave and her lips started to curl. She looked like she might even hurt the poor girl and Postumus felt sorry for the mongoose as he then chose to apologise as well.

"Yes... I'm sorry too... I made you think I wasn't taking things seriously." Postumus stated and suddenly, his father released the mongoose with a little kiss to the cheek before then steering her to sit between the couple. She motioned to redress but he beckoned her to stop and then turned to his son, beckoning him to do the same to Hortensia and Postumus gave his father a startled look. However, he was loathe to argue and so he stepped up and behind the bench where Hortensia sat proudly, though with a scowl upon her face. Postumus gave a grunt as he unclipped the back of her dress, only to pinch some of her fur and cause a sudden yelp of pain. "I'm sorry!"

"Ugh... why do you have to be so clumsy!" Hortensia growled, but she tried to keep her temper in check as her dress was released over her more prominent bust and Postumus gulped. He swung his paws around her bosom, finding her nipples easily and then begin to just gently massage at the flesh whilst his father watched calmly. Hortensia was looking irritated at first, before she started to hitch and take in sharper breaths, her nipples starting to strain as Postumus kneaded into the flesh rather firmly and she rather liked the way his father was watching them.

Livius waited a little while before he said anything, waiting for Postumus to look a little more confident as Hortensia began to give sounds of utter delight. She leant backwards, pressing her breasts more into his paws and giving sharp sighs of relief to feel him playing with her warm fur. Postumus was surprised, it was not unpleasant to touch her here and it certainly wasn't unpleasant to hear the sounds she was making. He was glad he was making her feel so good and that he did not need to be aroused by it in order for it to happen. With that realisation seemingly now obvious, Livius gave a chuckle and then gave a grunt.

"Now... practice it with her slave, let her tell you what feels good and what doesn't feel good. You don't have to be aroused yourself, but when you know you're making them feel good, you should focus on that to help you out. Afterall, you two will be expected to come together at least once in your marriage, or at least show some kind of intimacy between one another." Livius grunted, only for him to step over to Hortensia and grasp her by the chin, tilting her to face him as one of his big paws lay upon her breast. He began to knead at it, then pinch at her nipple as she took in sharp little whimpers before he brought his muzzles to her in a firm kiss.

Postumus watched in fascination, though the moans from the mongoose were rather more pleasing to hear than his snooty cousin's. Still he was more than a little concerned when his own body began to react, not to the mongoose or even to Hortensia... but rather to the way his father grasped Hortensia's paw and brought it to his own groin. Postumus was nervous of the reaction, but as he watched he could only feel his arousal growing. His cousin had managed to manipulate to robes free of her uncle's groin, displaying the full erection to the room and then her paws were rubbing against it. The whole fact that she was getting excited being touched, touching him, being watched by Postumus and the slave and that the slave was also getting shivery as she watch... Postumus was not sure what it was that was triggering the erection... but he was too scared to even mention it.

Livius though considered to tug and pinch around Hortensia's pretty pink teats, making her gasp and hitch her body against him as her paws clumsily rubbed his form. His big face was nosing at her neck, his hot breath rolling down as he growled softly into her ear with the pleasure. The more he made his pleasure known the tighter her breathing became as she was rubbing firmly along his cock as it pulsed, seemed to swell up and the tip was getting wet.

Then Postumus gave a grunt of surprise, a sudden sensation of bliss had hit him, he felt a damp, warmth in his groin and he gave a shuddering gasp of shock that caught the attention of Livius and Hortensia. To Hortensia's great shock, Livius released her from his grip, pulled his cock free and she watched it start to shrink down as he padded awkwardly over towards his son's side, eyes wide in surprise before Postumus looked to his father with embarrassment like he'd wet the bed.

"Uh... father... something happened...."