Here we go, guys! You've waited over a year for this and I'm proud to present the sequel to Chasing the Flame. I give you…

(btw smut after the second line break to the end of the chapter)

Protecting the Flame

It had to be some time after midnight. He just knew it. But he didn't care. No. What he cared about was the fact that he'd been shipped halfway across the country without his consent to living with his grandparents for his final year of high school. Really? Take him away from all of his friends in what was supposed to be the best year of his life? Take him away from his passion and thrill?

Thanks, Mom and Dad. Totally feeling the love.

The teen kicked a rock and muttered a curse as it skipped across the empty street. He couldn't help but feel that the rock was him and his foot had been his parents; completely and harshly dumped in the filthy gutter. This entire place was his worst nightmare. All business and efficiency instead of the fun and partying of New York. What a bore.

"Stupid parents," the boy muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets and hunching his shoulders. "Stupid grandparents. Stupid life. There's nothing wrong with me. There's something wrong with parenting these days. Seriously, you kick me out because you're a bunch of uptight, conservative, ignorant mother fuckers. Who are wrong, by the way." He kicked at nothing, trying to vent some of the resentment he felt. "Why don't you just leave me on the street? Just get the balls and tell me you're done with me. Is that so hard? No. So you're really a bunch of uptight, conservative, ignorant pussies. God, why did I even have to have you for parents? It's kind of obvious that you don't want to be parents. So just come out and say it. But you can't. So you ship me across the country in the hopes of avoiding a talk. What's wrong with honesty? What's wrong with owning up?"

The teen gritted his teeth and kicked a can viciously, watching it skitter down the sidewalk to the busted window of an abandoned building. This city seemed to have them in abundance outside the shiny towers of the business and retail district.

He shook his head and ran a hand through his moderately long and styled hair, debating whether he wanted to go home and sleep or keep walking. He wouldn't be surprised if his grandparents sent the cops after him if they found out he was gone. His parents seemed to have no problems turning him in to the police.

"Shit, where did he go?" a faint voice yelled, startling the teen. He jumped and looked at the abandoned building in confusion. Was there someone in there?

He blinked and turned towards the building when there was a flash of red light, followed by…growling? Then there was a muffled curse and a crash of something metal and heavy.

"There's your answer, kid!" another voice called, older than the first one. There was another growl, a flash of yellow, and a curse from the younger voice. The older one seemed to laugh.

The teen rubbed his ears as the sounds faded back into silence. Had he really heard all that? Was he sleep deprived? It was a long drive. But what on Earth was going on in there? Curious and wondering if someone needed help, the boy approached the building, carefully hopping through the busted window. He winced when some of the glass cracked under his footsteps, but he walked into the building, squinting to try and see through the darkness. "Hello?" he called uncertainly, coming around a stack of…something. He could barely see and his hearing wasn't giving him anything useful. "Is anybody here?"

The teen stopped in the middle of wherever he was, looking through the inky blackness and then back at the window, which was the only thing he could see. When nothing happened, he huffed and scowled. "Whatever." He turned on heel and began walking back towards the window.

Only it was gone.

The boy blinked, squinting. He could've sworn he'd seen the streetlight coming through the window just a second ago. Did he turn the wrong way?

Before he could start looking around he blinked when the darkness seemed to…move. He flinched when a low rumbling started to gain volume and he backed up as something began to glow in front of him. He stumbled back as his eyes followed the deep and menacing purple glow from the wall that had appeared in front of him up and up and up a long serpentine length to the very end of it. To the head. To the gaping and hissing teeth-filled mouth.

"What the…"

The thing suddenly roared and he backpedaled so fast he lost his balance and landed on his rear, gaping up at the god damn dragon that was looming and snarling at him, glowing a demented purple and staring at him with no fucking face. Why did it have a mouth but no face? How did that even work? And why was it even here?!

"This is a bad dream," he muttered, refusing to believe that a dragon was in front of him. "A bad dream."

He froze when a new light appeared at the base of that long purple neck. A red light. And it was moving up and up that neck to the jaws of the dragon until flames licked the maw of the beast. Fire. It could breathe fire. "Shit," he whispered before curling up in a ball when it reared back and roared, fire pouring out of its mouth.

This was it. He was going to be roasted alive by a dragon of all things. He wondered briefly how his obituary was going to sound. His parents would be overjoyed.

All he could hear was the air roaring and crackling as fire split through like an unrelenting tsunami. All he could feel was the blistering heat bathing his skin, instantly making it feel tight and cracked.

But, after a moment, he realized he could still hear and feel.

Wait. Wasn't he supposed to be a nice crisp by now? Cautiously, he peeked through the arms he had thrown protectively in front of his face and his jaw dropped.

There was a young man—a teenager like him—standing on two feet in front of him, holding what appeared to be a blue glass shield and was parting the stream of flames like Moses frickin parting the Red Sea. The boy blinked when the fire suddenly disappeared and the newcomer straightened from where he was straining forward to keep from sliding back from the push of the flames. The blue glass shield suddenly blinked out of existence with a flick of a wrist, showing a strange gauntlet thing on the other's arm. And then he turned.

The new boy was maybe 5'8" and his entire body was corded muscle and strength despite his slim stature. He wore black, clinging pants that fell into sleek yellow and black footwear. His entire midriff was bare until some kind of yellow shirt covered his pecs with a high collar and long sleeves, showing off every shape and rise of the muscles on the young teen's upper body. Short blond hair topped the boy's head, with strange, long, black bangs defying gravity by standing up straight, laying along the top of the boy's head and waving faintly. But what struck him the most were the six, curved things hovering next to the blonde's back, waving and brushing against each other in an almost relaxed and comfortable manner.

Bright blue eyes held his green ones for a long moment before the blond, who seemed to be glowing a bright and kind yellow aura, smiled sunnily.

He nodded in a direction. "You may want to get out of here," he suggested casually, completely ignoring the growling and stomping dragon behind him. The teen could only watch as he reached straight out from his body, hands out and waiting for nothing. Then two wicked looking yellow and black blades appeared out of nowhere. A blond eyebrow rose as he held the blades with familiarity and pointed with one. "Seriously, things are about to get messy. Best to leave before you get killed."

The teen jumped, hands bracing on the floor to get up, when there was a sudden and strange gunshot and something red hit the head of the dragon, causing it to whip its head around to its unseen attacker, roaring. "Bee!" that older voice shouted impatiently. "Get your ass moving!"

'Bee' smirked and waved one more time. The teen finally got his senses and gained his feet, sprinting blindly in the direction the blond kept pointing in, which happened to be a door. He didn't slow down as he burst through the rusty metal door, looking back only once to see the blond lifting off the ground in a bright yellow glow, flying.

His heart raced faster as he faced forward once more and booked it down the street, cursing his parents even more. They just had to pick the one city that had stranger shit than New York.

I watched the red head teen with blond streaks in his hair run for the exit. He looked vaguely familiar, but it would have to be something puzzled out later because the dragon construct's attention was back on me now. Deep Memories whispered faintly in the back of my head, telling me to twist and bend this way and that way to avoid the sudden torrent of fire. My body moved easily while I concentrated on both the crystal dragon as well as my surroundings. It wouldn't do to crash, now would it?

"About time, brat," Ironhide grumbled over the headset and I noticed that his barrage of pistol shots had stopped as he withdrew to let me deal with this. "What were you doing? Chattin' up the stupid human?"

"I was making sure he got out alright," I retorted before dropping nearly to the floor to avoid a tail swipe of the construct. "Now are you going to tell me how to take this thing down? 'Cause I get this feeling that it's not as easy as destroying Peons."

Gabe snorted and muttered, "Demanding, ungrateful, brat." A dramatic put upon sigh came next and I began to suspect that he was purposely dragging this out for his amusement. "Alright, alright. Because dragon constructs are so big that means there will always be an error in there making. It'll look like cracked glass. Hit there and you'll be good."

"You make it sound so simple," I pointed out in slight irritation as I pulled back from the lunging and snapping construct, eyeing its body as a whole as I brought my spark forward more, brightening the darkness in an attempt to find this 'cracked glass' my escort-for-the-night spoke of. Nothing immediately jumped out and I resigned myself to working around an irritated and violent dragon. I flew back towards the crystal construct, bringing up my energy shield with a flick of my wrist when it blew fire once more, the body length piece of technology protecting me even if the force of the fire shifted my flight a bit.

"How's your doodad holding up?" Ironhide asked casually and I could almost picture him sitting back with popcorn and watching me work.

"Working fine," I answered absently, eyes straining and flicking across the large, moving body for anything that looked cracked. "Seeing how I'm still alive."

"That's true. How long did you work on it again?"

I deactivated the shield again before sliding and flipping myself around the dragon's neck like a pole. "Can we talk later?" I demanded. "Kind of busy here!"

"Oh, fine. Snub me. I'm just trying to make conversation." I could hear the amusement in his voice. The old bastard was enjoying seeing me struggle.

"While I'm fighting a dragon?"

"It's not that hard."

"'Not that'…You know what? Just shut up. Shut up and let me be." It was as I was flying, back to the floor, under the beast's belly that I finally saw the flaw in the normally smooth crystal surface. Cracked glass. Right underneath the dragon's right forelimb. Okay. Now 'hit it and I'll be good'. Twisting and changing direction quickly, I reached for the dragon's weak spot and stabbed one of my knives down before drawing it out and getting out from under the construct before it could rain sharp crystal on me.

Only it didn't shatter. It roared and curled, shielding its injured side while hissing at me, fire licking at its jaws. I brought up my shield again just in time for the flames. "What the hell, Gabe?" I yelled over the flames…and laughing? "I hit it! Why is it still alive?"

"'Cause dragons aren't that easy, Bee," the veteran answered between his belly-deep laughs. "Your little stingers are gonna have to hit it a few times."

"Oh, now you tell me!" I flew to the right, deactivating my shield and darting forward, searching for an opening to get under the beast again, which was decidedly harder seeing how it was furious now. "You are a horrible teacher!"

"Hey, I don't have to escort you, you know. I could be at home with Seb and enjoying some brat-free time, but I volunteered—yet again—out of the goodness of my spark to make sure you get out in the world and get some experience." Despite the offended tone those words would usually have, Ironhide sounded amused, chuckling underneath all of it.

If I wasn't so focused on trying to read the dragon's behavior I would've rolled my eyes. "Who are you foolin', old man? We all know you get your jollies from seeing me get thrown around." More laughter just as I followed the tip of the construct's tail down to where it attached to its body, flying underneath the belly of the beast and aiming for the cracked crystal once more. This time, I drove both my daggers into the flawed area, using my flight to press my body firmly against the dragon while hanging onto my daggers for dear life as the dragon screeched and bucked, claws and teeth scrabbling futilely to get me off. I wasn't sure if I was surprised or not that it still didn't shatter when I lifted one dagger and stabbed down again.

"There ya go, Bee!" Ironhide cheered. "Get him!"

I gritted my teeth, not sure if I wanted to break my concentration to shout at him to shut up. I especially didn't want to say anything when the dragon suddenly dropped, rolling. It was trying to crush me. I dissolved my dagger and flexed my wings, somehow getting out of being crushed. Silence reigned for a moment as the dragon stared me down, tail flicking like an angry cat, though how it stared me down with no face or eyes was beyond me. It hissed, digging its claws into the cement floor and I braced myself, recognizing a pounce when I saw one.

"Ooh, you better run, Bee," Ironhide said. "I think you pissed it off."

"You think?" I retorted before jumping up, flying for the metal rafters of the building. The dragon roared and I felt it with my sensitive wings that it leapt to follow me. For a moment, perched on a metal beam and looking back to see the dragon aiming for me, claws and teeth ready to tear me to shreds, I felt a bit of fear and terror, but I used determination and planning to cover up the faint hiccup in my focus to fly for another beam, trying to lead the construct into a tight spot that would allow me to go around and stab it again.

But, as it pounced easily from rafter to rafter, it seemed that it was leading me into a tight spot. I just didn't realize it until I flew through a gap in a rafter and the dragon leapt onto the rafter at the same moment, making it collapse while I was still passing through it. I gasped as I started falling, wings failing to get me out of my uncontrollable descent. Despite my instinctive gripping on the metal that trapped me, one hand went behind my hip and grasped the handle of the gun strapped to my lower back. A grunt left me as the metal crashed into the floor, but I ignored the pain as my back bent over the metal beneath me and brought my pistol up. I gripped it with two hands and started firing as the dragon pounced down from its high perch. Two of my shots hit it on the stomach, but I watched as my last shot flew true and hit right in that patch of spider-webbed crystal.

The form of a lethal and deadly dragon diving to kill me changed into a shining and twinkling rain of shards of crystal. I turned my head and closed my eyes as the tiny pieces fell down on me, chiming and pinging against metal and concrete. Holding my tense posture for a moment after the sound stopped, I blew out a breath and allowed myself to relax, hanging limply from my pinned middle, head hanging upside down. For a long moment, I just stared through the darkness, eyes flicking without interest. Then footsteps sounded on the other side of the metal wreckage sitting on top of my stomach, meaning I couldn't see the newcomer.

"You okay, kid?" Ironhide asked, partly worried and partly amused as his eyes just barely cleared the top of the fallen rafter sitting on me.

I lifted my head and quirked an eyebrow at the older man. "I'm amazing, Gabe," I grunted sarcastically. "You know, just hanging. How are you?"

His hazel eyes told me he was smirking. "I'm doing good. Thank you for asking. So, you ready to head home?"

I rolled my eyes and kicked my feet a bit, managing to land a weak hit on the burnet. "I would love to, but I don't think I can move this on my own. Mind lending a hand?"

"Hmm." Gabe's eyes disappeared from view and I felt him poke my exposed stomach.

I instantly flinched and hunched, grunting when my skin chaffed uncomfortably against the heavy and rusted metal. "Hey!"

"I don't know," he mused thoughtfully with a smile in his tone. "I think Eric would love to have you like this."

"Yeah, after he's done roasting your ass for letting me face a dragon construct on my own," I countered, putting my hands on the beam and trying to move it myself. My only success was shifting it a little. "A little help?" I wheezed, arms trembling from the effort.

I felt Ironhide's spark suddenly become clear like a light in a dark alley as he brought out his wings. My burden became lighter and, the second I could, I wiggled from my spot. I stood up as Ironhide dropped the beam, running a hand over my clothes and body, ridding myself of the sharp crystals. I looked up and saw Ironhide smirking at me, arms crossed. "Entertained?" I asked with a quirked eyebrow, flicking my wings before molting them.

The smirk turned into a grin as the older man's wings fell away in tattered rags. "Yes," he admitted shamelessly before coming forward and brushing a hand through my hair and getting rid of more crystal shards. "It was a good night."

I hummed and looked at the mostly intact building and the crystal all over the ground. "It was, wasn't it?" My ears perked at the sound of distant sirens. "Let's head home. Prowl would not be happy to bail you out again."

"One time. It was one time."

"Still funny to see you get arrested."

"Just wait until it's your turn, brat." I swatted the hand that came to give me a noogie as we jumped out a broken window.

"No thanks. I think I'll take the dragons and peons instead." My smile faded a bit as that sentiment lead to another thought. "Though I gotta wonder who's making them. I thought you said Megatron was the only one who could make them." My blue eyes went up to meet orange eyes in a quiet plea for reassurance. Megatron was supposed to be out of commission if not dead. That thought made me look away in slight guilt and sickness.

It had been almost two months since the battle where the Allspark was destroyed, Eric was killed and revived, and Megatron got his arms taken off by me in a fit of grieving insanity. It had been two months since Eric and I found a shard of the Allspark in the park and we began our search for more shards. In those two months we've only retrieved three other shards and have seen little activity from the Decepticons. The only evidence that they were still around were the constructs that appeared occasionally. This dragon attack made this the fifth attack since the battle and the only dragon attack.

If it had been anybody else 'escorting' me tonight I doubt they would've let me face the dragon on my own. 'Escorting' was something we came up when I kept bugging them on going on patrol with them. I would go out but only with one of the guys to make sure nothing bad truly happened. It actually made for some interesting nights despite the stifling nature of the rule. So now I was a bit more confident and controlled when it came to fighting, which was something I was very happy about. No more struggling with my emotions to remain clearheaded about what to do in a fight.

All in all, summer vacation was incredible even if it had started with a horrific and traumatizing event. I still had nightmares about the battle even if I didn't regret crippling Megatron; hence why I felt sick. What kind of person was I to want to hurt someone? Fighting peons and dragons was one thing, but actually hurting someone and wanting them to suffer? That wasn't me, but, after some long and silent contemplation on the fact, I resigned myself to the fact that I was going up against people who wanted to kill me and I was in a war. During the battle I'd been ready to kill Frenzy. Hell, I'd probably disemboweled him after stabbing him in the back. There was no room for hesitation. Not if I wanted to keep my family safe.

And they were safe now. Safe and happy. Gabe was more relaxed and willing to let me fight my own battles despite the danger. Example A, tonight's fight with the dragon. He was still a drill sergeant when it came to training me, but he wasn't harsh. Just firm. And I loved that he was putting forth so much time and effort to make sure I was trained to the best of my abilities. Thanks to just the training this summer I was able to stay in a fight with Gabe for a few minutes. Something I was incredibly proud of. My goal for being able to go out on my own by Christmas was looking more and more realistic.

Seb was still a fusser and worrier even if he was snarking and quipping with me most of the time. He berated Gabe and I for going so hard in training and had been the one most against the 'escort' idea. After the battle he wouldn't let me leave the house for any reason, yelling at me if I even left Eric's bedroom. I let him mother-hen me to his content even if I still got out of bed and went around the house. My spark was fine almost as soon as I woke up, but my big brother was still scared half to death. It helped that he treated Gabe and Eric the same way. Despite his somewhat prickly nature and words, I still went to him if I wanted to hang out, working on cars with him if I didn't have one and even volunteering a bit at the hospital he worked at. The nurses loved me.

Jazz and Prowl…Primus they were so frustrating some times. Jazz's marriage was getting tenser and tenser by the day. Even I could see that Jazz was getting beyond stressed. Jazz had been darker and closed off during recent months, but Prowl is always there to bring him back to his old self. I think it might have had something to do with the fact that Prowl staunchly staying at his side. Even letting Jazz room with him on more than one occasion. But that was the extent of the relationship much to everyone's displeasure. It was so obvious from the looks and smiles that they wanted each other so badly but they didn't get together. It was enough to make me want to shove them in a closet if it wasn't for the fact that Jazz could get out in three seconds flat. I knew this because I actually did try much to the cops' irritation. But we all got a kick out of seeing the two flustered and embarrassed. Even if I did get a swirly and cold shoulder for a week. My only regret is that it didn't work.

But something else was working. Eric and I. What could I say about that? We were closer than I ever thought possible for two people. In two months we'd gone on regular dates and just…got closer to each other. There were days when I could just look at Eric and know what he was feeling without sensing his spark and days when he did the same to me. There were times when we just spent hours flirting and teasing and kissing. There were moments when we just held each other close and basked in each other's presence. Gabe called us romantic saps, but he could go fuck himself. He and Seb were worse. Just the thought of Eric sent pleasant thrills through my body and made a ridiculous smile come to my face. One was even quirking at my lips right now.

"Kid? Earth to Alex…Are you even still there, Bumblebee?"

I blinked and looked at a slightly concerned and exasperated Ironhide. "What?"

He snorted and rolled his eyes, cuffing me lightly on the back of my head. "While you were off in your own little world I said that there are others capable of making constructs."

My mind almost audibly changed gears. "Really?"

"Yup. I think Prime can make constructs even. Fire ones, but constructs nonetheless. But I can think of three other 'Cons who can make crystal constructs. Shockwave, Soundwave, and Black Out." He shrugged and looked at me with a tiny flicker of worry in his eyes. "Each one is a pain in the ass, but last I heard they were back on Cybertron."

Cybertron. I hadn't really understood that there was an alien planet that was actually my home planet until I'd been pulled into a biannual meeting where we went to base and made contact with Autobot forces on Cybertron. Imagine my shock when a blue skinned man that reminded me a bit of Prowl's stoicism looked out of the screens and greeted Prime formerly. The first order of business had been to introduce me to this Ultra Magnus and I'd almost been stunned into silence when he bowed and spoke to me like one would a king. And it was then that I was reminded that all six of us were sort of kings. The City-Leaders were the stewards of the Allspark. If it weren't for the fact that our cities had all been razed to the ground and the war was still going on we'd be ruling and controlling those cities under the rule of Optimus Prime, the leader of all Cybertronians. It made my head hurt thinking that I or any of us could hold such responsibility on a planet we've never set foot on.

"Then that must mean one of them are here," I murmured, thinking about what that could mean for us. If it took someone like Megatron or even Eric to make constructs then what would these new players be like?

"At least," Gabe agreed grimly. "But we can't know who for sure until they show their ugly faces." I stumbled a bit when the man suddenly bumped shoulders with me and I looked to see that he had a reassuring and confident smile on his face. "But I do know that the next time we fight them that we're going to hand their asses to them. You've come a long way, lil Bee."

I blushed lightly at the praise and looked away. "Thanks. Hopefully it's not a test like last time."

"Yeah. Me too, kid."

I sat on the couch, leaning forward to look at the papers I had strewn about the coffee table I'd dragged closer. It was Sunday and the shop would have barely any activity today, so I'd decided to stay home and do some summer-extra-credit for school. It was nice to not have to do anything today. After this small assignment, I didn't have to work on cars or even go to the diner later tonight.

The diner.

A small smile quirked my lips. As much as I loved working in the garage with the guys and having a hot piece of machinery under my hands I don't think I'd ever willingly give up my job at the diner. I just enjoyed it too much. The place was constantly upbeat and energized. I was practically smiling through my entire shift every single day and chatting up the customers who were coming in was always a plus. Especially when they were regulars and were happy to see me. To everyone there I was just a happy kid doing my job.

Dan and Marsha were always up there with me when it came to energy and hype. Marsha was constantly playing music in the kitchen and Dan was joking and bantering with me as we worked the tables and register. For their old ages they sure were acting young.

And a younger crowd kept coming into the diner. It seemed like every day there was another teenage couple or a rowdy group of friends coming in for the good food. They weren't the best tippers, but they were okay most of the time even if it meant I was working harder for the larger number of customers. Dan and Marsha seemed to think that I was the one bringing them in, but I didn't think that was the case. Word of mouth must be getting around.

Anyway, the older couple was talking about remodeling the restaurant, making it bigger and giving it a more modern look. I merely smiled and let them plan amongst themselves. I was just an employee—unofficial employee—so I didn't think I had any say in the future of the diner. It was just my responsibility to keep coming in and working.

I shook my head before pulling my assignment closer and answering another question on American history.

I was just turning to my textbook to double check an answer when arms came up from behind me and wrapped around me. One arm secured a hold around my shoulder and the other slipped around my side so a large, warm hand could press possessively to my stomach and slowly slide down. The only reason I didn't stiffen or startle was because the second my spark mate had entered my range—wings out or not—I knew he was coming towards me and feeling a bit…heated.

Eric had also gotten the day off today. I think Seb was returning the favor from when we'd set him and Ironhide up for an entire day and night of alone time with his spark mate.

"This is hardly fair," I stated with a smile pulling at my lips. I shifted slightly when I felt fingertips just brush over the waistline of my jeans.

"How so?" the older man asked nonchalantly, fingers moving to tease the button to my pants.

"I've got homework," I pointed out, feeling my body begin to react to the light attention.

I felt more than saw Eric's smile as he rested his upper body against my shoulders, putting his chin on my shoulder. I turned my head enough to look at him and my smile grew when he met and held my eyes. Primus, those eyes. I loved those eyes; such a beautiful shade of blue that reminded me of the ocean. That ocean could be calm and sparkling or turbulent and black. Right now his eyes were shining with love and amusement and sparking with heat and lust. It was that look that made me want to melt into a gooey pile of fluff and happy feelings because I knew that I played a part in making him feel so happy. And I didn't even have to do much. I just loved the man and did things I thought would make him happy. That got fun for the both of us half the time.

Despite being together for four months and sexual with each other two-and-a-half of the months we'd never taken the last step and entered one another or shared our sparks. It wasn't that we didn't want to; it was just that we haven't gotten there yet. I don't know how Eric felt or thought on it, but the past two months had just been filled with getting to know each other and feeling each other out, both literally and metaphorically. No matter how many times we got together in bed it seemed like something new was introduced to our relationship and I felt that why should we skip out on this awesomeness by rushing to completely do the dirty deed? We were having tons of fun as it was and we had the rest of eternity. There was absolutely no rush and that thought made me giddy. I had Eric all to myself for however long we both lived. All mine.

My spark mate turned and pressed his lips to my neck, humming lowly before lifting his head a bit to blow a hot breath across my sensitive ear. "If you let me have a few minutes I could convince you to forget about it," he replied, smirking when my eyes fell half shut at the pleasure.

"Promises, promises," I said with an enticing smile before turning on the couch to face him more. Optimus took that as enough invitation and hopped over the back of the couch he'd been leaning over. It was a bit of a surprise, but I let his weight push me to lay down on the couch. Eric settled between my legs with easy familiarity as I relaxed against the cushions of the couch, enjoying the wonderful feeling of my spark mate blanketing me. I brought my arms up and looped them around his neck, stretching to pepper kisses across his face. "I swear you're still hyped up from your birthday last week." It had been…delicious. The fresh memory immediately made something twitch strongly in my pants and Eric smirked as he felt it, pressed so closely to me. That meant I also felt that a large something was already pretty hard in his own pants. Just feeling it and knowing what was coming next made me shiver faintly and get more excited.

A soft purr started up in my boyfriend's chest as he leaned down a bit so I had better access to continue raining kisses on him. "I will admit," he began with a lecherous smile that made me laugh. "That is partly the truth. But can you blame me when you were so good to me?"

I smiled pressed a kiss to his nose. "You have always taken care of me. It was the least I could do. Besides, you make it so easy. Sexy." I dropped a kiss to cheek. "Hot." A kiss to his jaw. "Mine." I finally let my lips press to his and it instantly became more than the chaste kisses I had been giving him. A soft groan left me as I melted into the taste and presence of Optimus as my tongue danced with his and our bodies pressed more firmly against each other, which had me gasping when bulging denim practically humped my shaft through a couple layers of clothes.

The kiss eventually broke as the need for air came across both of us. Eric pressed his forehead to mine and smiled softly. "If you keep complimenting me my ego isn't going to be able to fit through the door." I chuckled softly and nuzzled my cheek to his. The older man sighed and pulled back, leveraging himself up on one hand and leaving me a bit confused as he looked me over with a content and…lost look. "What did I ever do to have you?" he murmured quietly as his free hand came up and brushed my cheek, making me smile. "You are everything I could ever want and more. Kind. Happy. Selfless. Strong." The free hand moved to my chest and pressed right over where my spark was before slowly dragging further down my body, making me shiver and purr when he purposely flicked my hardened nipples and emphasized our difference in body size by practically covering my waist and stomach with one hand.

"So handsome." I blushed a little at the almost awestruck look on his face as his eyes looked me over head to toe, leaving no detail of me without taking it in. "You with those sexy, strong thighs, slim waist, chest and shoulders of a swimmer. Face of an angel. So beautiful. I could watch you all day. Take you all day." My smile came back a bit and I moved my hands to cradle his cheeks, moving my thumbs back and forth in a caress. Eric turned his head and gently kissed one of my palms even if his eyes never left mine. "And you still want me. How can you want me when you could have anyone you want?"

I hummed, bringing up my legs and wrapping my 'sexy, strong' thighs around his waist and bringing him even closer, eyes fluttering at the bolt of pleasure I felt from having my slightly hardened shaft pressed to the man I loved with everything I had. "I want you, Eric Phoenix, Optimus Prime, my boyfriend, my lover, my spark mate, mine." Using the hands I still had on his cheeks, I brought his face down to mine once more and tenderly kissed him, trying to convey the sappy and molten love I felt for the man. "I've never come close to feeling this for anyone ever before. You are the man I come to when I need help. You are the only person I could ever imagine having me in a relationship and in having me in bed. You are the warrior I want to have my back and make sure I come home. You are the one and only person I could want and need. No one else can have me when I have you."

Eric growled and ducked down, slamming a savage and passionate kiss onto me. I mewled and clung to him, restlessly shifting my legs as my arousal was stimulated even more. I met him passion for passion, showing him I loved him just as he loved me. My back arched, chest pressing to his, when his rough and calloused hands dragged down my back to grab my rear, holding me still as he ground his erection to mine.

I gasped and moaned, moving my hands to weave through his longer hair and grab tight. Eric hissed in what could've been pain if my spark didn't detect the flare of pleasure my action caused. I was moving to continue kissing him when instead he ducked and moved in a very familiar way and I turned my head to accommodate him. A whimper escaped me when he started giving attention to my ear, licking, tugging, and sucking. My thighs pulled him tighter against me in a desperate attempt to get more of that pleasure, which just ground and thrust my rapidly growing erection against him and caused even more pleasure.

My mind felt on fire with how swept up and frantic we were to pleasure each other. It almost reminded me of the first time we were ever together, but this was so much more needy and passionate. I clawed my nails over Eric's back, bunching up his shirt before changing my motive altogether and reaching down between us to where we ground against each other. The gasp and shudder I wrung from Eric when I slipped my hand between our erections and molded my hand to his bulge made me smile as I began to massage him with my fingers.

Even if Eric could no longer do anything but hold himself over me, I took equal pleasure in just watching those normally sharp blue eyes fog over with passion and pleasure as he thrust into my hand with the power and strength that made me melt and purr.

It actually surprised me a bit when my spark mate actually lifted away from me, holding himself on all fours away from my body. I looked up at him in confusion, wondering if I'd done something wrong or hurt him, when I caught the look in his eyes. They were practically alive with lust and heat, but also restrained with the sheer force of his will as he looked at me, waiting. Waiting for permission.

I didn't know what in particular he was asking permission for, but I trusted him. Whatever he wanted to do I would do with him. He would never hurt me.

I smiled up at him and nodded before leaning up to place a small, slow kiss on his lips to try and entice him back to me and away from his sudden reservation. My smile grew when he growled and returned the gesture with equal slowness if not more passion before moving his arms under me and picking me up.

My legs wrapped more tightly around his waist to keep myself secure as his arms pressed firmly to my back. He stood up with ease and strength, never breaking lip lock with me as he moved and walked, molding and moving his hands over my back as I alternately lifted and ground my erection against his, exciting both of us in the hopes of bringing us back to the hurried and hot pace we were at when on the couch.

But Optimus seemed determined to go slow as he gently laid me down on his bed and pulled my shirt up and off before quickly divesting himself of his own. I wiggled and smiled as I unbuttoned my jeans and started pushing them down, watching as Eric pulled off his own pants and underwear. I could feel my body temperature rising as I watched that massive and familiar cock spring out and stand proud by my spark mate's flat and toned stomach and my temperature rose a few more degrees when I saw the absolute intensity Eric was looking me over with as I lay on the bed, waiting for him. I smiled, not feeling the slightest shred of modesty or embarrassment of being on display, and reached out a hand to touch his hip.

My hand was caught up in a much larger hand and my smile grew as Optimus finally came forward and crawled over me, lifting my hand to kiss the palm. Eric seemed to love doing that. My legs spread and lifted so he could lay on me and I pouted and whimpered when he held himself over me carefully. Optimus chuckled and smiled at my pout and subsequent squirming to try and get him closer, but he just shook his head and pressed a kiss to my jaw. "We do this my way," he murmured directly into my ear, making me shiver before I twitched when I felt something probe my rear.

I blinked in confusion before shivering when I felt a single, wet finger slip inside me and I suddenly understood what he was asking permission for. The thought both excited me beyond belief and made me nervous, but I pushed it away and trusted Eric to make this feel good.

I wiggled silently, getting used to the intruder as it moved slowly and carefully inside of me before lifting my hands and lightly dragging my nails down the strong chest hovering just above me. Eric shivered slightly and growled as I traced my blunt nails over his nipples, but I ignored him and lifted my head to lick and nibble at the expanse of skin before me. The want to go slow and take my time seemed to have spread to me as I leisurely laved attention to my lover's chest and shoulders.

Even when a second finger was added, stretching me slightly, I just focused on Eric even as I unconsciously squeezed down and flexed around the fingers. Optimus moaned softly as he felt my inner muscles working as well as one of my hands moving around his side to his back to locate the flame tattoos I knew were there. I scratched and massaged lightly at the slight rises and slope in his skin, making my spark mate shiver and shudder strongly.

Then a third finger entered me. I grunted and stopped for a moment, wincing and shifting at the burn around my entrance. Eric sensed the discomfort and moved. My focus was mainly on trying to get used to the moving and thrusting fingers. I was trying to feel only the pleasure they were causing because it was causing pleasure. Nerves I didn't even know existed lit up and made me twitch both internally and externally as lubricated fingers twisted and scissored expertly within my body. My legs twitched and shook slightly from the pleasure as I tuned out the slight burn and unfamiliar stretching.

I was so focused I didn't really see what Optimus was doing until his mouth settled strongly over my nipple and sucked while his free hand came up and wrapped around my shaft. "Eric!" I cried out, startled by the sudden and strong pleasure. The hand pumped on my erection and I whined when his teeth nibbled lightly. My hands, which had been resting motionless on his chest, clawed at his back as the pleasure literally made my world turn sideways. It felt like I was falling for a long moment and I instinctively clung to Eric even as I thrust into his ministrations.

"Easy," my spark mate crooned as I continued to writhe and twitch under his assault. "Relax."

"I-It's right th… I'm…" I panted and closed my eyes against the sudden vertigo, feeling my climax coming closer and coiling tighter in my lower abdomen. I hadn't even realized it had gotten so close until now and it made my spark beat wildly, sensing its mate hovering right over it as he continued to pay attention to my chest.

"Let me see," Optimus ordered and I opened my eyes to look down to see him looking at me like a man in the desert looked at water. "Let me see you. Now, Bumblebee." I whined and arched, feeling the edge right there as Eric alternately pumped and squeezed me and his fingers became more forceful in their thrusting, reaching deeper and deeper. "Alex," Eric growled, voice dripping in lust and want.

Then he hit something inside me and my whole body tightened just before my climax hit me. I cried out as that amazing pleasure hit me right in the spark, lighting up the room faintly with my natural yellow glow as my spark spun happily in my chest and my body exploded in pleasure.

"So strong," Optimus crooned as he continued pumping and touching me through my orgasm, splattering both of us with my cum. He leaned up and stole a dazed kiss as I slowly came back to reality, moaning softly. "So beautiful."

I whimpered quietly when I felt his fingers suddenly pull from me, leaving me feeling strangely open and empty, which was added to when I felt him move up and back from me. My hands shot out to hold him to me and I took me first look around after my climax.

I looked just in time to see Eric finish slathering lubricant over his red and angry shaft. My eyes watched in fascination as Eric moved to settle in between my legs, but in a slightly different fashion than normal. He settled on me lower and a bit farther back. I felt something warm and large nudge my entrance and I twitched when I realized what it was.

"Are you ready?" my spark mate asked, voice husky and deep as he waited and held his slightly trembling body over mine.

I was nodding before I even processed the question. Then that warm something was back and pressing against my slightly stretched entrance. It pressed harder, firmer until it started to press into me. I gasped and squirmed at the immediate stretch and burn from the larger member, but Optimus' hands practically slamming down onto my hips stopped any movement.

"Optimus!" I gasped, feeling the burn grow as he continued to press into me.

He shushed me and thankfully stopped pushing in, allowing me a chance to adjust as he leaned forward and nuzzled my cheek. "Relax, Alex. You need to relax your muscles." I gritted my teeth before experimentally flexing my inner muscles. A small cry escaped me as I accidently tightened instead of relaxing. It took a few moments before I finally figured out how to control my naturally tense and tight muscles and the entire time Eric hissed and moaned, trembling as I tested his self-control. "Good," Optimus praised in a strained voice before grunting and pulling out the small bit he'd pushed in.

My eyes widened and a startled yell escaped me as the pure pleasure that lit up my body at the movement. It was completely unexpected after the burn of him entering me and it instantly revved my body up even after a climax not too long ago. Eric chuckled at my startled and surprised look before leaning down and kissing me as he began to press in again. This time, I was more prepared.

It was still uncomfortable. I bit my lip and turned my head, hoping to escape some of the burning and stretching that shouldn't be happening in such an area of my body. Broken off moans slipped past my lips as it felt like my very hips were spreading as Eric continued to push in. If I thought he was large before he felt enormous now. And then he brushed against something inside me. That same something that sent me over the edge before. I bit my fist, trying to stifle the strangled cry of pleasure that felt like lightning up my spine.

And Eric kept on coming. My control to keep quiet finally broke after the pleasure from whatever he'd brushed against sank in and I gasped, moaning as I tried to wiggle again to soothe the growing ache. I tossed my head and fisted the blankets on either side of my head. "E-Eric," I started to plead.

His lips smashed into mine, silencing me for a long moment so he could finally press flush against me. I whimpered and frantically kissed him back, trying to distract myself. When he pulled back I could feel his panting breaths mix with mine. "It's okay," he murmured, nuzzling my sweat soaked hair in some measure to give comfort, pulsing his spark to try and add to it. "First time is always the hardest. The rest is easy."

My legs twitched sporadically before I gave into the familiar urge to wrap them around my spark mate's waist and we both cried out at the change in angle. Eric panted and reached back to run a hand along my shaking and trembling leg, trying to regain control. "Just hold still," Optimus commanded. "Just let yourself adjust."

It felt like a long time to me before the tenseness and stretch that caused me to ache finally faded and by then Eric had taken to kissing wherever he could reach, nuzzling, and purring, trying to entice me to relax. And he felt it when I did. He rocked gently against me. "Oh!" I gasped, clinging tightly to his shoulders at the surprising and pleasant movement. When he didn't do it again I tightened my legs and rocked against him and moaned when I got the same feeling.

"You ready?" Eric asked again, nuzzling my throat and alternately licking and sucking my skin. I hummed in acknowledgement, focused too much on rocking against him.

But then he began to draw out. I was caught between disappointment and absolute pleasure at the movement and I quickly settled on pleasure when he thrust back in slowly. I knew he was watching me. He was watching as I closed my eyes in bliss as pleasure finally began to push away the last of the discomfort. He was listening as my breath caught and the soft moans that came after each time he sank in fully.

"Faster," I murmured softly, running my hands over him as I opened my eyes and gazed at him, high on the pleasure he was giving me. I tightened my legs on his waist and arched up when he grazed that one spot again. "Please!" I begged. I whimpered when he thrust back into me with more force this time and made sure to broadcast the pleasure I was feeling.

Moans and gasps of pleasure were easily spilling from my throat as my lover picked up the pace, letting go of some of his precious control, dark eyes half closed as he began to get swept up in his own pleasure. "Let me hear you," he growled lowly, slamming in particularly hard. "Don't hide from me. I want to hear how good you feel."

"Good," I moaned, lifting my hands to hang onto his strong shoulders. "It's so good, Eric. You're-You're so good to me!" My lover growled in response and I felt his go even faster, thrusting with enough force that I felt it continue up the rest of my body and I might or might not have heard the sound of the headboard hitting the wall. "A-amazing," I gasped out, tilting my hips as best as I could to give him a better angle. When he slammed in particularly hard in response I gave a short scream of pleasure before sinking back into the quickening rhythm he was setting. I was quickly losing my ability to do anything else but just ride the pleasure and hang onto Optimus. I gasped and mewled with each thrust, rocking into them. "Everything…Give me everything. I n-need you!"

"You'll have everything," Optimus grunted in an incredibly low and husky voice. "You'll be filled with me."

My mind, already fogged over from this incredible level of pleasure and heat, barely understood the words, but that didn't matter when Eric suddenly reached back, unhooked my legs from his waist and moved them to be hooked over his shoulders. The effect was instantaneous. The spot he would randomly brush and send lightning up my spine was suddenly being hit each time he thrust back in and he felt so much bigger. The combination nearly sent me over the edge.

I screamed and clung tighter, feeling the ball of heat and tightness coil in my stomach. "Eric!" I shouted. "Eric, Eric, Eric, please! Optimus, I need—Oh! Please! More!" The short and rapid thrusts hit that one spot mercilessly and my vision began to white out. The pressure kept building and building as I begged and pleaded for more of this. I needed more and I needed it now and Eric was only willing to give it to me over and over again until the pressure finally broke.

I screamed. I screamed and clung to Eric, body bowing as nothing but pleasure and heat and want flooded my mind and spark in a way that had never happened before. Vaguely, I was aware of Eric continuing to pound into me, prolonging my orgasm, until he joined me, slamming into me with a roar as hot liquid spilled out inside me. Just feeling my spark mate and lover climaxing above me and inside me sent me for another round. My voice cracked as my scream mingled with Eric's roar and my head spun as I was thrown into my third climax.

I collapsed back to the bed, body warm and suddenly too heavy to move. Eric's low voice buzzed around in my ears briefly before unconsciousness suddenly swept up and dragged me down.

When I woke up, it was slowly to a pleasant warmth and ache. I opened my eyes and saw the familiar sight of Eric's bare chest and I smiled faintly as the memories came back to me. Slowly, I stretched and shifted, wincing slightly at the ache in my backside.

Eric woke, feeling my movements. "You okay?" he asked sleepily. "Hurt? Sore?" He moved, probably to get up and check me over, but I stopped him by practically pushing and pinning him to the bed. A loud purr rumbled up from my chest as I claimed my usual position with him and nuzzled his scruffy cheek. "Amazing," I murmured, though if I was answering his question was a bit beyond me right now.

I could feel the pleasure and happiness practically radiating off of him as his arms came up and held me to him while I relaxed and went completely boneless over him. "I'm glad."

"We're doing it again before the others get home."

He laughed and I smiled as I rose and fell quickly on his chest. "How about we give your body some time before that, hmm?" He felt me pouting against his neck and I felt his amusement and humor through his spark. "Besides, don't you have homework?" I groaned and reached up to smack him only to have him grab my hand and kiss it, nibbling on my fingers until I was trying to wiggle away. "Go to sleep, little Bee. We've got a few hours."

I huffed at the fact that we would be spending those hours sleeping, but when weariness tugged at me I didn't protest too much. Besides, it wouldn't be long before I cornered Optimus and he resumed this endeavor. There was no way I was letting anything come between Eric and I for a while.

Welcome to Protecting the Flame. This has been my dream, nightmare, love, and hatred for the past year. Well over the length of Chasing the Flame, this is certainly something I kept going and I'm sorry for the long wait. But here we are! Please let me know what you think. Yell at me, rage, love it, or just go meh, I'd like to hear it.