Hellhound Short

“Shit, look at you! I swear the men in this city get smaller every day. You sure that the demons aint putting something in the water supply to make you guys cuter?” asked the manticore. She extended one of her claws and gently tilted Lithio’s head back. She smiled and inhaled sharply, appreciating the view.

“Mmm~… What’s the matter? Are you scared, Mr....?”

She waited for Lithio to respond.

Lithio clutched the handrail with all his might. The lingering intoxication he felt was now washed away by adrenaline.

After a night out with friends, he had made the foolish decision to remain on the subway after the rest of the posse had gotten off. His friends had insisted that it wasn’t safe to ride the subway alone at this time of night, but Lithio had insisted that it was only a few stops and that the train was likely to be deserted anyways. Naturally, in a city full of monsters, a drunken man riding alone on a subway in the early hours of the day did NOT go undetected. A manticore had seen him sitting alone and decided that he could use some company.

“Hey.” Said the manticore sternly. Her tail snaked between her legs and started climbing up Lithio’s thigh. “When I ask you a question, you answer, got it?”

Lithio gulped and nodded quickly. “M-my name is uhh, Lithio.” He said softly.

The manticore smiled. Placing one of her massive paws on his head, she began to knead his scalp to gauge his reaction. Her tail pulled away from his leg, only to wrap around his waist and pull him closer.

“Lithio, huh? That’s a nice name. You got a girl, Lithio?” she asked coyly.

“No.” squeaked Lithio.

The manticore grinned sadistically. “Wrong answer, HONEY~”

She yanked him forward into her cleavage. Holding him against her body with one arm, her other paw went for his pants. Lithio yelped and thrashed against her. The manticore’s tail tried to worm its way into his pants as the paw on his crotch struggled to remove the obstructing cloth.

“Hey, hey!” said the manticore, giving Lithio a squeeze. “Stop with the thrashing, slut! We both know you wouldn’t be on the train alone at this hour if you didn’t want something like this! If you’re that desperate for the HEAVY stuff, I’ll be happy to oblige you back at my place, but first I gotta claim you so some other cunt doesn’t snatch ya’.”

Crouching down, the manticore tried to kiss Lithio. He turned and moaned as she licked his cheek instead.

“Heh, tastes like coward.” Said the manticore.

“Oi.”

The manticore sighed and turned around. A hellhound was standing in the doorway of the train car. In classic hellhound fashion, she wore a greaser leather jacket over a Sabbath Up soda t shirt. Fur poked out of holes in her worn, form fitting jeans.

“What are you doing to that guy?” asked the hellhound.

“Something YOU’LL never get to experience. Scram, virgin.” Said the manticore.

The hellhound’s lip curled. “What the fuck did you just say, you crusty tail-cunt? How about you step a bit closer and say that again?”
“Don’t be so jealous, dog. No wonder your kind can only get men by raping them; no tact at all.” Sneered the manticore.

The hound’s eye-flames flared. “That’s rich coming from a fucking MANTICORE of all things. OUR men love us for who we are, not because they’re addicted to some CHEAP POISON!”

The manticore shoved Lithio away and turned to face the hellhound. Confrontation was now inevitable. Both monsters quickly closed the gap as the train continued to the next stop.

Immediately, it was clear that the cat-critter was outclassed. Manticores were tough, but the hellhounds opening haymaker was powerful enough to dent the pole that the manticore flew into. The fight consisted of the hellhound advancing inches at a time towards her opponent while the manticore slashed at her with her claws and tried to keep the dark-dog away with her tail. All it took was one late tail-jab for the hellhound to close the fight. Seizing the undulating appendage at the base of the bulb, the hound yanked the manticore off her feet. Straddling the grounded manticore, the hellhound quickly pummeled her torso and head while the manticore slashed her wrists and chest. Both parties were battered and bruised by the time the train stopped at the next platform but it was clear that the manticore had gotten the worst of it.

“And stay gone!”

The hellhound heaved the manticore out of the subway car just before the doors closed shut. The cat-creature pounded on the glass as the train continued onwards into the early hours of the morning.

Panting, the hellhound collapsed into one of the seats. Wincing, she put pressure on one of the nasty claw marks the manticore had left her. For a few minutes, she just sat with her head back, arm draped over her eyes as her breath slowly returned.
Lithio continued to clutch the handrail, too stunned to move.

“Hey, human, are you alright?”

Lithio jumped. “…Me?”

The hellhound snorted. “Yeah, you. There isn’t anyone else here.”

“I’m fine.” Said Lithio quickly.

He didn’t say anything else. He was painfully aware of the irony of her asking HIM if he was alright, when it was HER that had just fought a manticore for his sake. Still, he couldn’t find the words to thank her.

“What’s your name, human?” asked the hellhound.

He jumped. “Huh? Uhh, Lithio!”

Leaning forward, the hellhound rested her arms on her knees and looked over at him.

“Did you know that riding the subway alone at this hour is a terrible idea, Lithio?” she asked.

“I-It was only going to be a one-time thing. I didn’t think that… I would, you know, it’s a short ride! That’s all!” blurted Lithio.

The hellhound sniffed and smiled. “Smells like you had a good time tonight. I guess it’s better to risk your crotch down here than your life behind a wheel.”

“Yeah…”

By now Lithio was a few stops past his destination. Staying on the subway was a no go; he would have to walk the rest of the way home. It shouldn’t be a problem, most of the monsters in his neighborhood were docile.

They rode in silence.

“Umm… Thanks for saving me.” Said Lithio.

The hellhound’s tail wagged furiously behind her. Clearly she had been waiting for that, but she still tried to play it off.
“Ahh, that? It was nothing. I’ve been dealing with ‘cores who step out of line for years.” Said the hellhound leaning back and putting her arms behind her head. “My name is Cinis."

The brakes on the train squealed to a halt as it reached the next station.

“I have to get out here.” Said Lithio. He gave Cinis a small wave and scurried out of the car.

“Hey! Wait!”

Cinis leapt out of the subway. “You’re going home right?”

Lithio nodded.

“At this hour? Alone?” asked Cinis. Her tail was wagging again.

Lithio nodded again.

“Geez, that isn’t safe, you know? There are monsters out there like that manticore that would love to make a snack out of you.” Said Cinis. “How about I walk you home?”

Lithio gulped. “I can make it home. It’s only a few blocks. And I don’t want to waste any of your time.”

“If it’s only a few blocks, then you won’t be wasting much time.” Said Cinis. “Besides, I could use someone to talk to. It’s been too long since I had a conversation that didn’t end in a fist fight; I’ve been getting a little lonely.”

Cinis blushed a little. Lithio took a few steps back.

“Really, I have to get going. Thank you for everything.” He said.

Cinis leered at him. “You’re just going to leave?” she took a step towards him. “You thank me for saving you, but you can’t find it in your heart to talk with me a little on the way home? Even though I’m escorting you?”

Lithio wanted to back away from her as she towered over him, but his legs wouldn’t obey. Cinis’s tail was starting to bush.

“SURELY you’d be willing to let me walk with you, right, Lithio?” said Cinis.

“If you really want to.” Said Lithio, in little more than a whisper.

Cinis’s mood instantly brightened. “Great! Let’s go!”

Lithio started up the stairs on unsteady legs. Cinis followed behind him. Strange that she chose to tail him instead of walk beside him, given how insistent she was about chatting with him. Lithio looked back down the stairs at her. Cinis’s gaze was transfixed on his butt. She was biting her lip, clearly enjoying the view. Noticing Lithio gawking at her, she quickly pretended to be interested in some of the fliers on the side of the stairway.

Lithio didn’t notice the landing in the stairs until it was too late. His foot slipped and he fell back towards Cinis. Naturally, Cinis had no trouble at all supporting the weight of a human who weighed probably half as much as she did. Hugging Lithio tightly, she squeezed him and carried him up to the landing.

“Woah! Careful!” she said cheerily. She set Lithio down. “Guess I saved your life twice in one night, eh? Any more and you might owe me something.”

Cinis gave Lithio a light slap on the back. He could tell by the look in her eyes and the way her tail wasn’t wagging that it was less of a joke and more of an implication. He gave her a weak chuckle and exited the station into the cool, predawn hours.

Cinis stood next to him and inhaled deeply. “I love the way this time of day smells. So calm, you know?”

“Uh huh.”

“Yep, this is primo walking weather. Which way to your house?” asked Cinis excitedly.

“This way…” said Lithio walking in the direction of his apartment.

Cinis walked beside Lithio as best she could. The difference in the length of their strides made it difficult for her to match his pace. She ambled along in a strange gait, alternating between a short shuffle and a normal stride as she tried to find a good tempo.

“Were you out with friends? Smells like you weren’t alone.” Said Cinis, breaking the silence.

“Yeah.”

“Do you go drinking often?”

“Not really.”

“That’s probably for the best. You don’t look like the kind of guy who could hold his liquor.” Snickered Cinis. “Who knows what kind of trouble you would get into if you got drunk~”

Lithio forced himself to grin.

“What do you like to drink?” asked Cinis, unfazed by his silence.

“Beer.”

“Can’t go wrong with beer, right? I like the Mist Continent Pale Ales. What about you?”

“Uhh… Cun Lite…”

Cinis laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like something you would drink. At least it’s cheap, right?”

She elbowed his ribs. Lithio staggered to the side.

“Whoops! Sorry. Speaking of cheap, what do you do for a living?”

Lithio stared at the sidewalk. Oh Gods, how could he ditch her? There must be SOME way to get out of this…

“Hey, Lithio.” Said Cinis. She was using that same cold voice again.

“Uhh… I work at a logistics firm.” Said Lithio.

“Oh! Like Mamonozon?” said Cinis excitedly.

“No.”

They trudged on. Swings on a vacant playground swayed in the cool, misty morning. Lithio gazed longingly at a lone car as it rolled past. No one could save him now; he was on his own.

Cinis let out a short, frustrated sigh. “You don’t talk much, huh?”

Lithio winced. “Sorry.”

“Ahh, that’s alright. You just need someone to help you come out of your shell!” said Cinis.

“Y-yeah…”

“Like me! I interact with loads of people at my job as a bouncer. And I’m great at coordinating stuff, ‘cause I also got a job at the wharfs moving crates and cargo around. I got TWO jobs; cause I’m so RESPONSIBLE.” Said Cinis. She gasped. “Hey! I guess I’m kind of in a logistics business two! We have the same kind of job!”

That was a stretch that would make a nekomata jealous. Not a chance that her dock job was in any way comparable to the white-collar work Lithio did.

“Uh huh…”

“I wonder what else we have in common? Besides drinking.” Cinis laughed at her own joke. “Got any hobbies?”

Oh no… The hobby question; the bane of every introvert.

“Movies, I guess.” Said Lithio.

“Oh! I LOVE movies! I bet you got a big collection at home, right?”

Guilty as charged. Lithio pouted.

Cinis giggled. “Right on the money, huh? What kind do you like? Action? Horror?”

“Yeah, action.” Said Lithio. That was a lie. But no one could learn of his passion for classic western movies.

Cinis was not convinced. She poked him in his side. “Hey, you’re not hiding anything from me right?”

“I’m not!” whined Lithio.

Cinis grinned. “Oh well, I’ll know soon enough when we get to your apartment.”

Lithio stopped walking. We?! Was she coming INSIDE?! Of course she was, why wouldn’t she? He understood what was happening from the moment Cinis had stepped onto the train. Still, he had been harboring some unconscious hope that maybe this WASN’T what he thought.
Cinis looked back at him. Her eye flames flared. “What’s the matter, Lithio?” she asked rolling his name again. “Surely you wouldn’t mind if I stopped inside for a second to get some water? Fighting that manticore left me…parched. And I also need to bandage these cuts; cuts that I got protecting you.”

Lithio trembled.

“That’s not a PROBLEM, is it?”

“O-of course not!” squeaked Lithio.

Cinis’s eyes cooled, but she didn’t blink. “That’s what I thought. You looked like the kind of guy who would take good care of a girl.”
Lithio tried to get his breathing under control. She was just toying with him now.

“Oi, let’s go.” Snapped Cinis.

Lithio nodded and walked stiffly past her. Cinis took her position next to him again.

“Ach!” she winced. One of her colossal paws rested on Lithio’s shoulder, threatening to push him to the ground.

“Sorry, I just have some pain in my side from those claws. Do you mind if I lean on you for a little bit to support my weight?” asked Cinis with a pout.

Lithio kept his eyes transfixed on the cracked concrete and shook his head. Cinis slipped her arm around his shoulder and rested some of her weight onto him.

“Thanks, Lithio~” said Cinis.

They were almost back now. The duo now stood at the foot of Lithio’s apartment building. From the smell or the way that Lithio was shaking, Cinis knew that they had arrived. Her tail was now wagging hard enough to shake both of them back and forth as she continued to rest some of her weight on his small shoulders.

“Oooh, this place is FANCY!” said Cinis.

It was by no means ‘fancy.’ An average set of middle-class apartments, albeit in some choice real estate. A fantastic abode for the upcoming urbanite. Gods, what kind of trash heap was she living in now?

Lithio squeezed into the elevator and pushed the button for his floor.

“Sixth floor…” whispered Cinis. She wasn’t talking to Lithio, but he could still hear her. Cinis repeated the phrase under her breath for the rest of the trip up.

As the elevator reached its destination, Cinis and Lithio hobbled out. By now, the hellhound’s excitement was beyond containment. The burden of weight had shifted back to her. In fact, she was practically carrying Lithio.

“Which way?! This way?!” asked Cinis, sniffing at every door handle they passed.

Lithio couldn’t didn’t reply. Cinis took this in stride, honing in on his scent on the door handle. At last, she found it. With a delighted gasp, she set Lithio down and began huffing at his door handle with reckless abandon.

“Room eleven! Floor six, room eleven!” muttered Cinis. She looked expectantly at Lithio.

With shaking hands, Lithio pulled the key from his pocket. It took several attempts to get it into the lock. Cinis was practically resting on him, sandwiching him between the door and her chest.

At last, he undid the lock and slipped inside. With all his might, Lithio tried to slam the door shut behind him.

Cinis caught the door mid-swing. Letting herself in, she pushed past Lithio and began exploring the apartment. Lithio stood in the doorway as he watched her scramble from room to room inspecting his abode.

“Wow!” exclaimed Cinis, opening his fridge. “There’s so much FOOD in here!” She pulled out a package of roast beef and tore into it without utensils or a plate. Looking around, Cinis gasped.

“Wahsh DAT?” she said through a mouthful off meat. Hurrying into the living room she began inspecting Lithio’s TV. “It’s HUGE! I knew you were rich!” said Cinis, her tail flailing behind her.

Lithio nodded and sat down on the couch. All he could do was let the temperamental hellhound wear herself out.

Cinis dashed into the bathroom. Lithio jumped to his feet as he heard the shower turn on.

“OOH! It’s this water is HOT!”

A damp Cinis reappeared using Lithio’s towel to dry herself off. Once she had blotted away most of the moisture, she took a deep whiff of the towel and draped it around her shoulders.

“You have a nice place!” said Cinis, taking a seat on the couch.

Lithio nodded. Cinis patted the couch next to her, inviting him to sit down.

“I uhh, I have to shower... You should probably go home now.” Said Lithio.

The flames around Cinis’s eyes flared. “Sit.”

Lithio gulped and took a seat next to her. Cinis stretched her arm around his shoulders.

“Ahh~ That’s better. You worry too much, you know that, Lithio? I can SMELL the tension in you.”

She rested her paw on his shoulder, and pulled him a bit closer.

“Lithio, I’m going to be honest with you. I think it’s best if we drop the pretense.”

Lithio’s eyes widened, but he didn’t dare look at her.

“I think it’s MORE than fair that I receive some sort of… ‘compensation’ for saving you. After all, if it weren’t for me putting my body on the line to save you, you would be getting sucked dry by some gutter trash manticore right now.”

Cinis’s arm retracted for a moment and she took off her jacket and the towel.

“First of all, I could use some bandages for these cuts.” She said, taking off her t-shirt as well. Her ample breasts flopped free one at a time. “You wouldn’t mind helping me out, would you?”

Lithio shook his head. With mechanical steps, he stiffly walked into the bathroom and retrieved the supply of antibiotics and bandages that he kept there. Cinis was sprawled out on the couch when he returned, grinning at him.

“Thank you, Lithio. These things have been throbbing ever since the subway~”

Lithio stood over her, unsure of how to proceed.

“Oi.” Said Cinis coldly. “Start. Now.”

Lithio quickly spread a dab of antibiotic ointment on his finger and applied it to a scrape on Cinis’s wrist. She cooed as the cool ointment made contact with the tender flesh. After the wound was sufficiently wiped down, Lithio put a comically undersized band aid over it. He readied another one, but Cinis stopped him.

“It’s fine the way it is. Move on to the next one.” Growled Cinis.

Lithio moved on to her stomach. Cinis squirmed as his fingers rubbed over her abs and obliques.

“Stop tickling me you bastard.” Hissed Cinis with a sharp inhale.

“I’m not trying too!” whined Lithio.

Cinis huffed and bit her lip. Her eye flames were getting bigger by the second. Lithio didn’t have time to apply the last bandage before she sat up and tipped him backwards onto the couch. She pinned him by the shoulders with her paws, straddling him.

“Lithio… You like me, right?” she panted.

Lithio choked out a squeak.

Cinis leered at him. “I said, you LIKE me, no? Surely, after EVERYTHING I’ve DONE for you, you wouldn’t have the gall to say that I was nothing but a CONVENIENCE, right?”

She squeezed Lithio’s shoulders. He shut his eyes and whimpered. Flattening herself against him, Cinis whispered in Lithio’s ear.
“We BOTH know that a few bandages isn’t proper conversion for saving your life. Not by a longshot. I think it’s time you pay me back. Properly.”

Lithio yelped as she nipped his earlobe. Cinis withdrew her head, hovering her face a few inches from his.

“You wouldn’t have any OBJECTIONS to giving me what I’m owed, would you?~” she asked.

Lithio stared up at her panting. He could feel the heat from her fiery eyes on his cheeks. Cinis frowned and squeezed him tighter. Lithio cried out and shook his head.

“Say it.” Hissed Cinis.

“No…” whispered Lithio.

“No WHAT.”

He looked away. “No, I’ll give you what you’re owed…!” said Lithio.

One of her tremendous paws grasped his jaw and forced him to look at her.

“Look at me. And say that again…” she purred.

Lithio shuddered. “I’ll do whatever you want…”

Cinis licked her lips. “That’s what I thought you said.”

In one swift motion Cinis was off the couch with Lithio slung over her shoulder. As quickly as she could, she made her way into his bedroom and dumped him onto the mattress. Lithio’s body hadn’t even settled before she pounced on him. Cinis stuffed her face into the crook of Lithio’s neck to take a deep draw of his scent, leaving him with a face full of hair. It smelled like soot, sweat and… watermelon.

“Mmm~ So good…” mused Cinis. She kissed his neck, and nipped at the sensitive skin. Lithio yipped and moaned at the prolonged torment.
“I can’t get enough of those sounds you make.” Giggled Cinis. “But soon you’ll be making sounds that are a bit more… throaty.”
The fabric of Lithio’s clothes tore in a few places as Cinis pulled him out of his clothes.

“Oooh…” said Cinis, finally freeing Lithio’s shaft from its cotton prison. “I think this might be just enough to make up for that fight~”

Lithio hid his eyes in shame. He was already at full mast from the combination of Cinis’s body pressed against him and the stress of the whole situation. Cinis shimmied up next to him on the bed and dragged him on top of her so that the back of his head rested between her breasts.

“Don’t think you can hide; you’re watching this.” Said Cinis. With one hand, she pried away his hands. With the other, Cinis reached down and began to gently scrape the sides of his cock with her claws.

Lithio squirmed and thrashed in fear.

“Ah ah ah!” chided Cinis. “If you’re not careful, YOU’RE going to get cut too~”

“Please be careful!” pleaded Lithio.

“I’ll do whatever I damn well please with MY reward.” Said Cinis. She pinched his member between her claws. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to emphasize her dominance.

Lithio took a deep breath and moaned. Cinis continued to jerk him off with her claws, alternating speeds and twists to keep Lithio from going soft. He twisted his head and groaned into her breast.

“Hmm?~ What’s the matter? Are you almost done?” asked Cinis mockingly.

Lithio’s only reply was a buck of his hips.

“Okay, I get it. Here…”

Picking up the pace, Cinis now used some of her palm to pump the sweat-slicked shaft faster. Lithio gasped and pressed hard into her hand. Cinis hummed in delight as he came, aiming his dick onto his stomach. Lithio panted, gripping the fistfuls of sheets in each hand.

Cinis slithered out from underneath him, careful not to disturb his body too much.

“What are you-“

Lithio’s inquiry was cut short as Cinis leaned over him. Her sinuous tongue unfurled from her mouth and she began to lick the semen off his stomach. Lithio flinched as the rough appendage traced the curves of his hidden muscles. Cinis retracted her tongue and swallowed the first gob of sperm.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who’s ticklish here~” she said.

Going back for seconds, Cinis continued to lap up the remaining cum until nothing but spit remained on Lithio’s tummy. Moving farther south, Cinis carefully cleaned off his shaft as well. Lithio held his breath as her teeth scraped against him and her eye flames licked at his groin. Cinis met his eye and winked, letting his half-erect dick flop out of her mouth.

“Time to take what’s owed~” she said, straddling his hips.

Using one of her paws to line him up, Cinis slammed down onto Lithio. His back arched and he gasped as she hilted him without mercy. His hands shot to her thighs, desperate to grab hold of anything to keep himself from being swallowed by her.

Cinis moaned. Without any ceremony or pause, she began to pound away at the comically smaller man. Lithio clenched the muscle of her legs, trying to keep himself from flopping around too much.

“If you’re so desperate to grab onto… something…” panted Cinis. She leaned forwards and directed his hands to her breasts. “Try these~”
Lithio moaned and began to knead her chest. Cinis let out an appreciative hiss and picked up the pace of her thrusts.

“Gods, what a weak little human you are! You should be grateful I… unf… decided to help you!” said Cinis. “If it weren’t for me… You’d be…”

Her words tapered off as she came for the first time. But there was no rest for the dick-ed. Cinis resumed her humping and monologue after only a few seconds.

“But that’s alright, since you have ME now~ I’ll keep you safe. You just… ooh… go about your business without fear! Because I’LL take care of you from now on…”

She clasped his face with both paws, and pressed her forehead against his. Lithio’s eyes watered as her eye flames singed his face.

“… Husband~”

Cinis locked lips with Lithio as she hilted him again. He erupted into her depths, his cries muffled by her invading tongue. Cinis milked him for all he had, grinding against him even when it was obvious that he had shot the last of his load.

Cinis stretched, and rolled off of him. Lithio’s cock pulled out of her cunt, pulling a thin trail of juice with it. Wrapping her arms around Lithio’s (relatively) small body, she pulled his head up under her chin and cuddled him.

“Ahh… That felt good.” She sighed.

Lithio felt the strength drain from him as the adrenaline faded and his heartrate returned to normal. The scent of her fur was oddly comforting as he lay in her embrace. Still he felt a bit… sticky.

Cinis noticed him squirming. “What’s wrong?” she asked in annoyance.

“I want a shower…” said Lithio quietly.

“Ah… Now that you mention it…”

Cinis rolled off the bed with Lithio hanging down in front of her like a doll. It was a tight squeeze with both of them in the shower. Lithio only got hit by the water if Cinis crouched down.

“This shower is too small.” Huffed Cinis. “It needs to be bigger if we’re going to be sharing it.”

“Sharing…?”

Lithio stopped scrubbing himself. That’s right. She was his wife now, wasn’t she?

“You’re moving in here?” he asked.

Cinis’s ears flattened. “Uhh… I mean… I kind of figured I could live here. Since my house is…” She glared at him. “My house is great! Yeah, way better than this dump! But your commute would probably be too long so we can stay here.” Sneered Cinis.

Lithio grinned. “Oh, I see. I hope you can make do with the downgrade. Do you want me to help move your things out of your old house?”

Cinis’s eyes widened. “NO! Uhh, no. That’s fine! I can get it myself. I don’t have that much since…” She blushed. “Since I live a minimalist lifestyle! Yeah! Like a monk or some shit.” She said proudly.

Lithio poured some shampoo into his hand and began working it into the fluff of her chest. Cinis’s tail wagged violently at the unbidden attention. Water sprayed all over the ceiling and out of the shower. Looks like he would have to have the walls extended when they renovated the rest of the shower… At least the city subsidized wife-related house remodeling.

Cinis sniffed at the shampoo. “This stuff smells funny. Too bad I don’t have my conditioner…”

Lithio smiled. “Yeah, I wish you had it too.”

Cinis cocked her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lithio kissed her. “Nothing. I’ll get you a key first thing in the morning.

Cinis giggled and hugged him as they savored the warmth of the water.