Despite the fact that he fought not to show a sign of distress over yesterday's 'gossip,' somehow, Senri knew it anyway and before G'raha could even think to get dressed and face the day, his lover whined in his most bratty, spoiled tone (that no matter what, he couldn't resist – finding it waaay too adorable) that he wished to lazy about in their 'lair' today. To buy his compliance, his beautiful Warrior fetched a foray of snacks and drinks from the kitchens and before redheaded Seeker even woke up, his mate set up a feast.
Pretending that he didn't understand his lover's goal (and that he wasn't all too eager to avoid others – at least until the sheer… disappointment and shame is easier to bear), G'raha all too easily gave in and let his mate distract him. That his Senri seemed utterly in bliss to spoil and take care of him… was embarrassing, yeah, but he couldn't help but absolutely love him for that even more.
And when Senri suspiciously 'innocently' demanded a massage, he pretended reluctance – just to tease, really – but the idea was not only beyond tantalizing – but simply nothing could distract him easier than full permission to worship his lover's gorgeous body. And the sight his Warrior made – naked and comfortably splayed out on his stomach, with his wrists crossed under his chin… wicked white, but there simply couldn't be a more beautiful sight in existence. Before he even gingerly settled astride the back of his mate's thighs and spread a fittingly apple-scented oil over his hands, he was brutally aroused – but taking that as a practice in self-control (and perhaps a bit of foreplay, if he was being honest) – with real pleasure he set to carefully work over his gorgeous mate's taut muscles.
That, in a mere few strokes of his hands, Senri's turned into a blissed-out heap of almost too loud purrs and mewls of appreciation… Yes, definitely a great test of self-control… But to keep it longer – because simply feeling under his palms all that power coiled in his lover's frame was beyond intoxicating – G'raha asked a question that he was wondering about for a while now, and since his mate looked so relaxed and content…. Well, he knew it wasn't Senri's favorite topic.
"Snark… do you ever think of going to visit your tribe?" he strived to keep a nonchalant tone – knowing it was a touchy subject – especially when his lover stilled utterly and all that already lax muscles instantly grew taut. "I do know… you miss your mother, my heart."
He wasn't surprised by a long, long moment of silence and made sure to look only at his hands as his fingers slowly kneaded the muscles on his lover's back and forced them to relax again, simply waiting. The tip of Senri's long tail – while the appendage was coiled around his waist – flicked a few times with apparent agitation, its long, ink-black fur feeling like tongues of fire on his skin… but he fought to ignore it and focus.
"Not yet," finally his mate murmured quietly and sighed, slightly curling into himself as his tail tightened around him ever-so-slightly. "I'm not ready yet."
"How so?" he asked delicately, blushing furiously when he shifted slightly and choked down a moan when his raging erection brushed against his lover's beautiful behind as he leaned forward to place a soft, soothing kiss on his lover's neck. That Senri didn't tease him instantly… was a sign of his distress with the topic – and made his heart ache.
"I'm…" his Warrior hesitated, swallowing thickly, then sighed with a hint of resignation and went utterly pliant under him. "I'm… scared, Raha," he finally finished in a tiny, quiet voice.
"Of…?" he whispered, closing his eyes and resting fully against his mate's back – offering his heat in comfort - while delicately nuzzling his cheek against the back of Senri's shoulder.
"That…" his lover sighed again, then chuckled sadly. "That all I did… it's not enough. To makeup, I mean, for the… way I left," that his deep voice shook slightly – not to mention his words – had G'raha's heart weep.
For the way you left, he thought feeling his throat tighten painfully and his eyes burn under the closed eyelids, or for not being able to be what they wanted…?
He cleared his throat delicately, then tilted his head and pressed a tender kiss on his mate's throat.
"It was never your fault, my Snark," he whispered delicately, and ignoring the fact his hands were covered in oil, sank one in his mate's black hair and gently petted his lowered ear. "You have nothing to feel guilty about, my heart. You couldn't choose your preferences or the place you were born… no more than I could choose to be born with the Eye. But tell you what…" he added softly, smoothing his free hand soothingly over his mate's side. "…now, I wouldn't change a thing, Senri. Not one detail… that led me here, to you," G'raha admitted, believing that with whole his heart.
His lover's breath hitched slightly and he cleared his throat, then took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled slowly.
"Me, neither," he finally replied quietly. "And someday… when I'm ready, I'll go. But only… only if you go with me, Raha. So I can… I can show you off, my beautiful mate," he chuckled wetly, then sighed and shifted, reaching his hand back to smooth it up and down his thigh. "Out of all I achieved… having you… m-means the most."
"I'll be honored," he couldn't help but wrap his hand around Senri's and lace their fingers tightly. "You're… my Sun, after all… my powerful Warrior," he hummed, then to distract both of them… freed his other hand from his lover's hair, pushed back from his wide back, and smoothed his fingers down his spine to gather more oil to let them slide between his buttocks. Nudging the tight ring of muscles delicately, a slight, devious smirk tilted his lips when Senri moaned softly then jerked slightly to push back against his touch while his free hand fisted in the blanket under him. With premeditation pulling their still intertwined hands against his mate's lower back, G'raha shifted off him, with his knee meaningfully nudging his thighs apart. "…my Snark…" he purred, grinning involuntarily when Senri laughed breathlessly, then eagerly complied, granting him easy access and purring near-deafeningly in invitation. "…always so willing," he growled his approval then pushed one finger inside him, delicately loosening the tight muscles and groaning softly when his cock throbbed painfully, impatient at the feeling of the incredibly tight, hot squeeze.
"Raaaha," his lover whined, as impatient, then mewled with protest when G'raha pushed slightly harder on his lower back, preventing him from pushing back against his finger. He chortled at that, narrowing his blazing eyes at the sight of the muscles straining to fight against his grip uselessly. Listening to his lover's whimpers and feeling his Senri rut against the blankets for relief, he pressed another finger inside him and nearly expired at his mate's impatient snarl. It was so unbearably heady to be able to truly force his Warrior into submission – as strong as him now – and he felt his lover's arousal shot into overdrive when he really understood that he couldn't break free. "…m-more, please…" Senri turned to pleading, purring loudly and needily. So shameless, his Snark… "Please, R-Raha… fuck me, hard…" his mate mewled, trying, oh, so desperately to lure him in.
Gods, who could resist that…?
Involuntarily growling in the back of his throat, G'raha pulled his hand back and curling it around his lover's hip, roughly pulled him up to his knees. Senri merely gasped, purring louder and more intensely, shuddering with anticipation. And he couldn't help but reward his mate's eagerness… could he? Dropping his gaze and nearly choking on a whine of relief, he watch with life interest his aching, engorged flesh breach the tight ring of muscles. His ears twitched with delight at his lover's quiet mewls of bliss, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight, fascinated by the difference in the shades of their skin as he pushed inside him, licking his lips hungrily as his eyes devoured the vision of his dick sliding inside that beautiful ass. The incredible heat of an almost painfully tight squeeze of the muscles on his flesh choked out a breathless whine of pleasure out of his throat – but he wasn't even aware of that, drowning in the mix of sensations swamping his senses.
Between the sight that alone had his balls pulled tight against his body, the intoxicating scent of their arousal filling his head with every shaky, desperate breath, and the heady mewls and whimpers of his Warrior – so unbearably beautiful and helplessly at his mercy as he took him… claimed him… By the time he bottomed out he shook with the need to roll his hips, pull back, and fuck, fuck, fuck… Take, take, take… Show his Senri, his Snark, whom he belonged to… Who were the one and only person whom G'raha wanted, and needed…
He gasped, straining to hold still and ignore his lover's breathless pleading and begging – his deep, deep purrs and mewls that set his very soul ablaze – even as he felt his leash brittle away under the onslaught of sensations. His heartbeat so loud between his ears that he couldn't think, he took a deep breath and, oh, so slowly pulled back, still watching and nearly choking on his hungry growls… Yet, with the will alone he fought his body's furious need, wanting to drive his Sun out of his mind as he pressed back in as deliberately slowly…
A few strokes like that had his beautiful Warrior trash under him as much as his grip allowed, throwing profanities at his head and swearing retaliation… to soon mewl and gasp and whimper his painful need uselessly… And controlling his mate's body like that, dominating him like that… had him dazed with power. Intoxicated with it. Drunk on it as despite his own body begging, craving… he continued this torture, smoothing his free hand up his lover's back to fist his fingers in sweat-dampened, ink-black strands and pull, forcing a tiny, broken groan from his lover's throat.
"You're… such a good, good boy, my Snark," he said slowly, carefully keeping his pace even as his mate tilted his head slightly and bared his teeth at him in a silent snarl – instinctively challenging him to claim him. Chuckling breathlessly at the mind-blowingly delicious sight of raw rage and lust in the darkened, ice-blue irises, he gave him what he wanted. He gripped his hair tighter and tilted his head, then leaned over his back… Watching those nearly feral eyes grow dazed and glassy, G'raha bared his teeth in turn with a snarl and bit him, purring insistently and loudly when his lover arched under him with a choked whine of submission instantly. His quick, raspy breaths broken only by a pleading mewl-purrs, his Senri went utterly plaint under him, shaking and jerking in need… but so beautifully obedient – he could only reward his mate, really… He broke his bite with a gasp and nuzzled against it while cooing his approval before he pushed off his back again. Freeing his hand and hair, G'raha wrapped his arms around his lover's trembling abdomen, then on the next stroke, he made sure to slam his dick against the spot that had his Warrior choke on a wail. "My beautiful, obedient mate," he growled softly while his lover gasped for air desperately, fisting both of his hands in the blankets until his knuckles went white but otherwise not moving. Only his soft mewls and purrs grew a keening edge when G'raha chuckled breathlessly, moved his hands to Senri's hips then without effort – still stunned by it at some level – almost brutally pulled him back and forth, again mesmerized by the sight of his dick taking that beautiful, powerful body.
His Warrior merely gasped between his pleading noises and he rewarded him with rough, brutal thrusts – fucking him just like he liked. When Senri came with a keening mewl-purr of his name – he almost literally passed out but forced himself to pull back. Wrapping his hand almost painfully around the base of his cock, he whimpered in painful need to come but denied it until his lover sagged under him with near-deafening, sated purrs. When he did, G'raha snickered mercilessly and again grabbed at his mate's hips, almost whining in the back of his throat as he went back to fucking him –slow torture again that had his leash frying at a scary speed. Especially when Senri mewled with surprise, then soon gasped and scrambled to raise to all fours, pushing back against his cock eagerly. And because he was such a good, good boy… such a wonderful mate… G'raha broke, groaning quietly as he slammed into him harshly and came, shuddering and gasping desperately as he sagged against Senri's back and only rolled his hips, rutting into him and mewling his bliss as he pumped him full in thick, near-violent spurts.
Too dazed by pleasure in the aftermath, he merely whimpered weakly when Senri laughed breathlessly and then buckled, making him land on the pillows and blankets, then his mate rolled him to his back.
"That was… nice," his Warrior purred, instantly crawling on top of him and sagging against him bonelessly with his head against G'raha's chest. Still fighting for breath, he wrapped his arms around his lover's shoulders and ran his fingers through the damp, black hair delicately. Letting himself drown in their mixed scents and the heat of Senri's body – for a moment he simply let himself be – smiling a stupid, lovesick grin when his Warrior nuzzled against his skin with near-deafening, happy purrs.
"Only nice?" he rasped, sighing with bliss when his mate chortled quietly.
"Mhmm, very nice," his Senri chuckled when he delicately pinched the shell of his ear between his fingers. "Okay, okay… Loooved it," he purred, then sighed blissfully and went back to his happy purrs.
"Good boy," grinning even wider, with effort G'raha tilted his head a placed a loud, fond kiss against his mate's ear then let his head sag back uselessly, closing his eyes.
"Only for you," his Warrior whispered, with a slightly… strange note in his deep voice. "Only for you, my prince."
Too relaxed – feeling utterly warm, loved and beyond comfortable – he merely hummed with an agreement, tightening his arms around his lover and purring loudly in bliss.
Leaving his lover napping, carefully cocooned into blankets to keep him warm, T'senri sneaked out of the bedroom and stretched lazily as he headed toward Dawn's Respite. Wearing only pants – because it felt like a bother to dress just to head for more snacks worthy of his mate – he almost regretted that when he opened the door between the corridor and the massive room behind them. He almost backed away and went back for his shirt at the sight of Alisaie (parading half-naked to tease his mate was one thing… doing so around his friends seemed just… rude) sitting by the massive table with her boots resting on top of it while she balanced on two prongs of her chair – seemingly lost in thoughts as she stared at the ceiling.
Seeing she was alone, he relaxed and stepped inside the room, waving when she looked toward him but heading toward the other door – focused on his mission and getting back to his lover.
"Hey, Senri," he heard her uncertain voice. "Do you have a moment?"
He almost denied it… then sighed and turned toward her with a usual smile and raised eyebrows.
"What do you need?" he asked easily, hoping…
"Weird thing…" she hummed, still balancing on the chair but narrowing her eyes at him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "…seemingly happened last night, you know? That woman, Suijin, was apparently found this morning near the stables with more than fifty stab wounds," she drawled and he tried not to flinch under her suspicious gaze. "Good riddance, I would say… if not for the weirdest fact that all of it looked self-inflicted. Strange, right?"
"Most unusual," he agreed with a nod, resting his hands on his hips and bouncing on his heels. "Your point being?"
Her chair slammed down so loud he couldn't help but flinch and lower his sensitive ears but simply stared while she stood up and rested her hands on the table, leaning toward him.
"Don't bullshit me, Senri!" she hissed, more than a spark of fury in her blue eyes. "How did you do that? I know both you and G'raha are hiding something… I didn't say anything, but this is getting just… too strange! Ascians coming and going as their please, G'raha is seemingly able to coerce them into doing whatever he pleases, and now this… What's going on?"
He looked at her for a long moment, then sighed with resignation. Ready? He asked in thought his immortal.
Told you, boy, Ares hummed with obvious amusement. So long as no one tries to exorcise me… I'm fine.
"It's a long story," he finally said with a sigh, then rubbed his chin. When Alisaie huffed with annoyance and narrowed her eyes further… he smirked. "Sit down and don't say a word," he said softly, using Ares's gift, and watched her eyes grow huge as her body complied against her will. Blinking in an obvious stupor, her eyes tracked him as he walked around the table and leaned against it next to her, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his pants. "This is how I did that," he admitted with a sheepish chuckle, watching understanding dawning in her eye and her jaw drop – but no sound escaped her mouth. "I told her to stab herself as many times as many she tried or did something like she tried with my husband… And I do not regret that, Firecracker. Fifty-six, exactly. More than fifty boys or men she tried to or raped… Can you imagine…?" he sighed, then crossed his legs at the ankles and narrowed his eyes at her. "Even if she didn't try that shit with Raha… she more than deserved that, in my book. You can't know how it feels, Alisaie… The helplessness and the thought that nobody even cares… because you're a man and they think you should be happy to have someone force themselves on you. Like you're a piece of meat – a cock – not a person with feelings… Isn't that just.. sad?" he closed his eyes tightly as his throat tightened painfully before coughing lightly to clear it. "As to how… I have an Ascian living inside me."
He chuckled humorlessly when her eyes widened in terror and she leaned away as much as she could without standing up.
"Yeah, that's the reaction I expected," he admitted, simply waiting until she settled down, watching him warily. "Done freaking out? Good," he sighed then crossed his arms over his chest. "Let's keep it brief since I don't want the others to know yet… and I want to go back to Raha before he wakes up – he's still pretty shaken about it," he said quietly, then sighed again. "Like it's his fault… Or like I would ever believe some bitch's lies… But no matter," he looked into her eyes and hold her accusing stare with a smile. Knowing that if she can't take it… well, she wouldn't remember it afterward. "I am not possessed, Alisaie, but I'm willingly hosting an Ascian, okay? You remember the story of our original world, the one that was here before Ve… Hydealyn broke it into fourteen pieces?" again he waited until she nodded reluctantly. "Good, because apparently, it's all true. And before the Sundering, each of us was… a piece of Ascians – though, perhaps Ancients would be a safer term," he hummed, rubbing his chin then chuckled at his distraction. "Anyway, the one that lives inside me, Ares, is my original incarnation. The Ascian I'm broken piece of – or seven pieces, anyway – and he was born inside me," when her eyes winded impossibly, he smirked involuntarily. "Yeah, crazy story… Apparently at some point in the future – though, he wouldn't tell me when – I'm supposed to travel back in time to that world and meet him. And because of my big mouth – Ares decided to have… someone create a spell that allowed this. Since you know… apparently I fucked up in that timeline… and killed Ha… Emet-Selch. And since Emet-Selch is Ares's younger brother… Yeah, he took offense to that and decided to make sure to fix that… misstep. He was born inside me – but he didn't 'wake up' until sometime before the Banquet… and since then, waited patiently. In the First… he finally revealed himself to me – and you could say we kind of… become friends."
He took a deep breath, then scowled watching her unreadable expression.
"No, he's not manipulating me," he said slowly, clearly – reading her mind. "He could… but instead he offered me coexistence – and something that meant to me more… than anything else. Raha," he whispered softly when she tilted her head and watched her eyes winded again. "For saving Emet-Selch and bringing back his… friend, he promised me a way to keep and bring him back here with us. To keep him safe and mine," he chuckled at the understanding in her eyes. "Yeah, for that – I would do more than agree to share my body. And as a perk… I get to use Ares's inborn gift – the ability to manipulate others, though I'm still learning its… capabilities. It's very… powerful and as you see…" he waved toward her. "…incredibly useful. But I do not plan to abuse it – and Ares swore to keep me in check… as much as he can, anyway. There's much more to that story," he sighed then narrowed his eyes at her. "But as I said – I want to keep it brief. So question is… can you live with that, Alisaie? If you do, I'll introduce you to him and we can go about our day… If you don't, I'll make you forget about all I just said and we will try it another time…" he trailed off, raising his eyebrows expectantly. "You can speak," he added with the gift.
"I…" she looked honestly stunned when she heard herself, but quickly steeled her back and expression and narrowed her eyes at him. "How… how do I know that it's true in any way… Maybe Senri I know is already long gone."
He rolled his eyes at that, then frowned.
"Just so you see the difference…" he said, then allowed his immortal take over, internally wincing when her eyes widened with terror again.
"Good day," Ares said, sounding quite bored though he could almost feel his amusement. "Pleasure to meet you, Alisaie, officially at least…"
"The mask!" she gasped, raising her hands and covering her mouth with them. "This first few weeks in the First… it was you!"
"Mhmm," he nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "We had some… difficulties with Senri at the time and I had to temporarily take over. As you see," he motioned toward his immortal, too-bright eyes. "Without it, I wouldn't be able to hide it. Hence, the mask," he trailed off, letting T'senri switch with him.
Alisaie was gaping with an open mouth when his eyes returned to pale blue and his irises thinned into vertical slits.
"So you see," he said slowly. "I'm me, just… with an extra passenger," he smiled crookedly, hoping that will help her relax. "And I quite… like him. He helped me more… than I have time to explain," he added, running his fingers through his hair. "So… can you be okay with that, Ali?"
She stared at him for a long, long moment… before she closed her eyes, swallowed thickly, and nodded slowly.
"If you're really… okay with that," she sighed, then looked at him with a frown. "Now… can I stand up?"
"You're free," he said with the gift, then exhaled slowly when she did, almost twitching nervously as she moved away slightly but pointedly raised her chin. "I'm still me, Firecracker… and I love y-you," he whispered softly with a slight blush the straightened and cleared his throat. "Raha knows… if you wonder. And he's okay with that, too," he added, sighing and heading toward the door leading to the common area.
"Senri…" her quiet voice stopped him and he looked at her again. "I'll need some time… to process this – and more explanations… but I l-love you, too. If you say it's okay… I'll trust you. Just… be careful, okay?"
"I always am," he winked at her with a reassuring smile, then headed out – knowing it was a lie.
He wasn't stupid – or so he liked to think, anyway. That gift was dangerous. Tempting. Making that woman pay – for every boy who experienced what he remembered too well… was too satisfying. Intoxicating.
If he could turn back the time… he would do that again. And again. And again. She deserved that – he was convinced of that with all of his heart.
But if Ares couldn't interfere when he was pissed…
You have a good, strong heart, my boy, his immortal hummed, and he briefly closed his eyes… praying he was right. Because part of him knew that with that gift he was beyond dangerous…
And it scared the seven hells out of him.
