Takes Two To Tango

His heart was beating fast, partly because of the workout but partly because of his arousal. He began to pant, and the breaths came slower and required more and more effort. This wasn't good. His lungs began to burn and quiver within his cavernous chest, and he found himself slowing as she pranced to the right of him. "Oh I know I can nail you," he rasped with some difficulty, though it was missing some of the sarcasm he'd intended to put into it. Oh damn his lungs. He slowed even further as she serpentined around him, his head dipping low as he gasped for breath. "Mercy," he managed as he slumped to the earth in a cobalt heap. His lungs hadn't betrayed him like this in a long time, and he was ashamed that it happened now in front of her. He rested his head cockeyed on his front paws, eyes averted from her, shame creasing his features. Oh damn it all. His sides heaved with great effort as he fought the overwhelming need to pass out completely. He couldn't go out cold in front of her, he wouldn't. There were no words he could think to offer her, and none that he could utter if he did think of them. Breath escaped him, and for a moment he swore his eyes were starting to cloud. He didn't know where she'd gone, maybe she'd left completely seeing him like this. His ears lay back tight against his skull as he cursed the plague upon him.