Author's Note: There's dicks in this chapter. And I don't just mean their personalities this time. Lemons with vitamins C & A. If you're not into that (understandable) skip this chapter.

Also: "scute" here refers to snake-like scutes, not croc or turtle scutes. Smooth scales.

Also also: no spellcheck, we die like (horny) bastards.


"As there is no set season, the frequency of a mated pair coupling is determined when the mating criteria has been met… However, when a newly bonded pair begins sharing territory, mating can be an effective way of marking their new den as a shared one." ~ Dragon Historia, pg. 26 + 71

Chapter Eighteen: A Good Different Experience

Cobra felt an almost feverish heat building under his skin as his scales fought to make themselves known. When his scales were rebellious and prickly, so hot under his skin, especially when Gajeel was nearby, they gave off a particular scent that seemed to drive the iron dragon crazy on an instinctual level.

And the thought of being on the receiving end of those instincts again, of being held by toned, strong arms and rough hands on his skin, magic ebbing through them both… Arousal flooded him just imagining it.

Slit-pupils grew wide in pools of red as gloved hands gripped at the white sleeves of Cobra's coat, smelling the musk that was coming off of him.

"Gajeel," Cobra uttered the other Dragonslayer's name.

At that signal, the dark-haired man was again on the redhead, pushing him with a needy intensity against the wall. Metal scales littered his skin as he worked Cobra's coat off, where it fell to the floor at their feet. Kissing him with a fervor, as if he could express everything ever unsaid by pressing his mouth to his mate's.

Again kisses and bites trailed until Gajeel's mouth found a particular, familiar spot on the nape of Cobra's neck. He nipped at it until fangs and hot tongue settled into place, hitting a nerve and sending lightning down Cobra's spine - arching his body against Gajeel's. Maroon-streaked violet scales and milk-white scutes came forth, spreading the length of his body once more.

A light frustration pulled at his mind that another shirt would fall victim to his own scales, aided by iron claws making quick work of the remaining threads. Cobra, in turn, began working on Gajeel's belt, and, not quite succeeding at trying to remove the metal-studded garment, decided that claws were no good for such a task. He hooked a finger underneath and it dissolved in his acidic grasp before the remaining bits clattered to the floor to join Cobra's coat.

Gajeel pulled away to blink down at himself. "Is that how we're playing?"

Using a finger, Cobra trailed a claw up the taller man's chest from his navel, the black tunic falling open to expose the iron-scaled muscle underneath. "Not playing if I'm getting even."

Those words strained Gajeel's patience. A heat swimming through his veins, through his head, it was growing thinner as he grew more attentive to his mate's half-bare form. He pulled away abruptly to finish undressing: his pants and boxers, what was left of his shirt, all followed his belt and boots onto the floor.

Narrow eyes flicked to watch him. Cobra bit his lip as he watched the way the taller man's firm cock bobbed as he stripped.

The playful eagerness from before was suddenly gone, replaced by something more urgent, more lustful as Gajeel lifted him into his arms in an uncoordinated motion that banged Cobra's foot into the wall.

Gajeel paused only a moment, glancing to Cobra for confirmation that he was okay. An unspoken agreement passed between them to ignore the minor mishap. So their falling into bed again wouldn't be neatly done. So what? Nothing about their being together was. They weren't going to start now, not with something that wasn't supposed to be neat to begin with.

The iron dragon didn't set the poison dragon down so much as fall with him onto the bed; and he didn't pin Cobra down as much as he lay on top of him, tugging lightly at the hem of unwanted red pants. A pleased, inhuman chuff sounded from his chest as Cobra wiggled under him to remove them, shifting further on the dissolving blankets as he spread his legs enough for Gajeel to settle between them.

Flesh pressed against flesh, scales on scales. There was no pinching or tickling but Gajeel's hands wandered plenty, exploring every inch of exposed skin, just as his tongue explored Cobra's lips and mouth and fangs. Making needy, wanting sounds that were more dragon than man as he felt clawed hands on the back of his neck pull him closer - wordless, primal praises uttered for his mate's sharp ears alone.

Just like before, so caught in it all, the iron dragon was finding it harder to pull himself away. Gajeel bucked against Cobra, the need to mount mounting more and more. But something nagged at the back of the still-functioning part of his mind: he couldn't just mount... Didn't they need something else before that?

"Fuck," Cobra swore as he broke their kiss and Gajeel's heart skipped a beat. His head fell back against the melting blankets. "Of course there's no lube."

It took a minute longer for the words to pierce the hot fog of Gajeel's headspace. Red eyes shot to the dresser across from the bed.

"Drawer," he said, his voice shot and gravelly as he switched back to using his mouth for more human sounds. A violet hand pressed against his metal chest and, shakily, he rolled off of Cobra.

Besides, Gajeel certainly didn't mind watching the redhead walk across the room. No, not at all. Gajeel marveled at how maroon dusted over violet on Cobra's shoulders and joints and hips and the tips of his ears, how those paler scales tucked into his inner thighs and underarms, how there were little yellow spots along Cobra's spine - ending right above the swell of his perfect ass...

"Is this the same one from the hotel?" Cobra's brows furrowed as he looked at the shriveled tube held carefully between his claws, keeping it away from his finger scales.

Gajeel could only give a half-hearted shrug. "Does it matter?"

Cobra's pointy ears perked and he fixed him with a look that could be read as a flat, sarcastic what do you think? Just then Gajeel had the strangest desire to bite the tips of those ears. "It's a little weird that you went back to get this," he said, waving it at Gajeel as he walked back to the bed. "Sit against the headboard."

"I wanna do it."

"I don't want half a tube of ice-cold lube shot up my ass this time," Cobra snipped. "You're going to sit and watch."

Gajeel's eyes widened at the command, his instinct-hazy mind balking at being told what to do yet, strangely, also finding it very, very hot. He crawled to sit where he was told, thinking loudly that it was unfair and you're lucky I like ya, bastard.

Cobra sat on his knees on the bed, facing the sulking dragonslayer. He squeezed a reasonable amount out into his hand and worked it between his fingertips to warm it, before leaning back to work himself open with slick fingers.

At the sight of those fingers disappearing, of his mate's form moving in the dim light and his cock plumping as he pleased and stretched himself, Gajeel swallowed hard - iron claws almost shredding the mattress he was gripping. If he was hard as iron before, he was hard as diamonds now. It seemed as if Cobra was fingering himself forever before he finished prepping and crawled closer, using the remaining warm slick on his fingers to coat Gajeel's member in a tight, teasing grip that drew out the air from his lungs with each stroke.

When Cobra swung a leg over Gajeel's hips, the iron dragon came-to a little more and moved his hands to grip Cobra's thighs. He sure as hell wasn't going to miss seeing his mate sit on his cock.

With care, he guided the wet tip of Gajeel's rod to his hole and sank down on it, pressing his scutey palms against Gajeel's knees for support. A quiet, hitched hiss escaped him as he did so, taking his time as he got used to the stretch.

Gajeel stifled a groan as the feeling of hot, tight silk surrounded his cock, his fingers sliding to cup Cobra's ass, suddenly more conscious of the noise he himself was making - as if being too loud would disturb Cobra and make him stop.

"G-give me a sec," Cobra finally breathed. He righted his hips, shifting so that his knees were under him, and sunk down further, his own cock perking once the man under him was fully seated inside.

Gajeel hummed in blissful adoration. "Mm, feel good?"

Even with a dick in his ass, the haughty redhead had the nerve to look him right in the eye and utter: "You know… I can't tell if it's in yet."

A growl tore from Gajeel's throat. He gripped Cobra's hips and pulled him down, rolling in small motions as he ground himself inside his mate - making sure the cocky dragonslayer felt every ridge and bump, felt just who was inside him. His growl melted to a heady chuckle as Cobra's claws dug into the iron of Gajeel's knees, a whining growl escaping him as he grew desperate for wanted friction.

"Can ya feel that, Slitherfuck?" Gajeel displayed his fangs in the most shit-eating grin. "Thought you wanted it in...?"

"I'm going to make you feel something, you- ah!" Cobra's voice caught in his throat as Gajeel continued his tiny, teasing thrusts. "Metal jackass!"

He'd always thought Cobra was on the thin side, but, now so close once again, Gajeel thought maybe thin was the wrong word. The poison dragon was lithe, sure, but also more… compact. Muscles that were better suited for movement rather than strength. And - as he started moving his hips - holy fuck could he move.

As he rose on his knees and sank back down, over and over, Gajeel was more than a little stunned at the way his cock was practically sucked back in each time. Hot pleasure clouded the iron dragon's mind as he started rocking up into the motions, not wanting to miss a second of being deep inside his mate.

Hooded amethyst eyes narrowed down at Gajeel as the redhead continued undulating sinfully like he was the sole star of the show - and, lost in the throes of their lovemaking, Gajeel couldn't disagree.

The tempo of Gajeel's thrusts increased, he pulled Cobra back down onto him as he thrust harder, and he watched Cobra sneak a hand down to touch himself.

"Fuck," Gajeel panted his approval at the sight. He pressed his mouth against the smooth milky scutes of Cobra's chest in a messy kiss. "Cobra, I'm- I wanna-"

"Not yet," Cobra breathed, begging him to hold out a little longer. "Not yet, together."

Those seemed to have been the magic words, because Cobra's eyes widened as he felt Gajeel's cock grow inside of him, not lengthening but swelling. His own cock twitched in his hand as new bumps rubbed his inner walls, repeatedly running over his prostate, thick lips parting as he moaned while being fucked into.

Gajeel let out a choked noise that could have been his name, holding Cobra's hips in a bruising grip. "Need to-!"

A breathy pant and a hasty nod was all Cobra could manage, red bangs sticking to his face with sweat.

Without any further conscious thought the iron dragon managed one last powerful thrust as he shoved himself as deep as he could into the poison dragon, pushing the thickest part of his cock inside of him, and came harder than he ever had in his life. Cobra keened as he came over his own knuckles, convulsing hard around his boyfriend's shape inside of him, and making a mess between them as his cum painted iron scales white.

Strong arms hooked around the smaller man's middle and gathered him closer, pressing a studded nose to his sternum and breathing in their combined scents, murring approval of their deed.

"Fuck," Cobra finally breathed as he came down. Gajeel only hummed in agreement, closing his eyes in bliss as Cobra carded his fingers through his hair.

They stayed like that for a while, until their scales began to recede and Cobra squirmed at the feeling of being so full for so long. He rose on shaking legs so that Gajeel could pull out. A rush of the iron dragon's deposited spending dribbled down his inner thighs, but he collapsed into the pillows beside him, a nearly-boneless mess as Gajeel slid down to join him.

Cobra buried his face into the pillows. "Next time your ass is mine."

"Next time...?" Gajeel's body buzzed with the promise of it all happening again.

… At least until his mind processed what exactly Cobra meant.