Jim barely contained the moan that tried to come unbidden from his throat as William unwrapped the bandage around his shoulder. His eyes went wide and he looked over at Will quickly to make sure he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

William only pulled a face at the depth of each individual tooth mark and pressed his fingers gently on the surrounding skin, "Jeez man…"

A shudder ran up Jim's spine and a whimper slipped out.

At least it wasn't a moan this time.

Jim felt like he should be ashamed of the way his body kept reacting, but he wasn't... He'd never been so…he hated to admit it, but he was horny. Like…he remembered getting hard at the slightest breeze when he was a teenager, but this was almost worse because it was when anything touched the bite mark. Even the constant, barely present rub of his shirt on it set him off.

He was a hot, whimpering, sweating mess. All he could think about was that stupid giant Zora with his dumb big muscles and how hot it was when he growled and purred in Jim's ear and how much Jim wanted him to pin him down again and-

" AH! "

William jumped at the intensity of Jim's shout and he met his gaze sheepishly, "Sorry, didn't mean to pull it that tight…"

"It's fine!" Jim answered way too quickly. He needed space. Needed…needed to get all this pent up… tension …out of his system. Eight days of holding it in and he was starting to feel like he might actually give in to William's very subtle and tentative advances. If he closed his eyes and put pressure on the mark as William took him from behind he might be able to trick his mind…

God no…I'll kill myself before I give in like that…

The other man looked at him with raised eyebrows as he stood up and pulled his shirt back on all the way. Jim couldn't help the heat rising on his face, "I…I'm going to take a walk…"

"We should be heading toward the next coordinate…"

Jim waved a hand dismissively, "It's fine, we've already found three! Just…just give me an hour to…clear my head…"

"Last time you had an hour alone you got bit-"

"I'll be fine!" Jim was already walking away. He tried really hard not to run. And he tried even harder not to already get a hand on himself to relieve the building pressure.

He walked for longer than he wanted to, and surely had gone a mile or more at the pace he was going, and Jim finally stopped at the edge of a pond. His hands hesitated at his belt.

"What the fuck am I waiting for?"

Jim threw off his clothing as fast as he could. It was hot. He was hot. And the water- "Oh, fuck that's nice…"

He slipped into the pond and snuck into the tall grasses. No one would see him…right?

The sensitivity of the wound when he ran his fingertips over it and his aching erection had him whining and gasping instantly, "Oh…oh fuck…"

It only took a minute and a few pumps before he reached his climax and he had to bite down on his lip to keep from crying out. Jim gasped and leaned back against a rock. He wasn't even remotely satisfied. He needed more…

"Fuck me…"

"If you insist-"

Jim leapt to his feet in shock and reeled back, stumbling and thrashing as he tripped over his own feet. He fell into the water and tall grass and gazed up in horror at the big crimson Zora as he rose out of the water in front of him.

He brought his hands up and a shy expression went over his face, "Sorry! Sorry I was, oh you're-"

"Get away from me!" Jim tried to cover himself and simultaneously run to his clothing. His face was burning; embarrassment, shame, confusion…desire…

"Wait- let me- uh- h-here-" The Zora was right on top of him again and Jim wanted nothing more than to-

Jim moaned when the Zora's hand went around his waist. Then the look on the other man's face almost completely undid him; his pupils dilated and a look of determination and lust filled his features. And then Jim was on his back on the bank of the pond, and he arched under the touch as the Zora kissed down his chest and stomach toward-

"Ooooooh-" the sound that rushed out of him was low, deep, yearning as the Zora - Sidon - wrapped his hands around his legs and pulled them around his wide waist. It almost hurt how far he had to spread his legs open to accommodate the Zora's body.

Sidon pressed his mouth to Jim's throat and growled possessively, his voice coming out at some point to form the word, "Mine…"

"Yours…" Jim whispered back. He couldn't even think, he just said it. It felt so natural. So right . He wanted to be Sidon's…

It seemed to be the permission Sidon was waiting for. He purred and kissed up along Jim's neck to his jaw and he rocked his body down and pressed them together. Jim whined at the pressure. He was rock hard again. His shoulder ached . He needed…needed Sidon inside him…

"P-please…please Sidon…"

Sidon's purr intensified. He rocked forward and Jim felt his length on the inside of his thigh.

I want it…I want you…

"Jim…"

For some reason, hearing his name coming out as that purr got Jim even hotter and he heard another desperate noise coming out of him, "Oh God…give it to me…"

Eight days of near constant daydreaming about Sidon putting his hands all over Jim…eight days of being so sensitive and aroused that he could barely breathe…eight days of waking up gasping and panting and yearning and having to hide his erection from William so he wouldn't get the wrong idea…it was all coming to a head now and Jim was so ready to give in and finally get that release his body was aching for.

He didn't know what dragged him out of the wild desire to let the Zora have his way with his body, but as soon as he snapped from it, he was painfully aware that this was…so very wrong. They didn't even know each other- why was his body acting like this? Why was he so desperate to give in to this longing?

"S-stop! Hold on!" Jim heard the panic in his own voice and Sidon stiffened against him.

The Zora jerked up off him and they stared at each other, just as startled as they had been the first time they'd met. Sidon's face flushed as deeply as the rest of his body, "I-I'm sorry! Le-let me get your clothes! Wait here!"

Jim yanked his legs up against himself and waited obediently, though he wasn't sure why. I should run… Where to? Completely naked? How the hell would he explain this to William? How would he push away William's advances now?

"Here-" Sidon thrust Jim's clothes at him. "I-I'm sorry…"

While part of Jim really wanted to finish what they had started, the rest of him knew…what did he know? That this whole reaction his body was having wasn't normal? He yanked his clothing on and tied the laces of his boots. Sidon knelt in front of him, hands on his knees, expression lined with apprehension.

"So…do Zora…have a poison bite or something? What…what's going on with my body?"

Sidon looked shocked for a moment and he gaped at Jim, "No! No, we aren't poisonous!"

He sounded a little offended and Jim raised his hands, "Hey, man, I don't know! I've only met a couple of you before and never really got to talk to any Zora before. I just- why is my body reacting like this?"

"We're soulmates."

Jim looked at him blankly, "I…we're…WHAT?!"

"You've never…heard of that?" Sidon sounded more confused than he was.

"Of course I've heard of soulmates!" Jim stood up and paced, running his fingers through his hair. "I just…I didn't think that was real!"

He turned suddenly and gave Sidon a hard look, "How did you know my name?"

"I heard your friend shouting it, I just kind of figured it was your name," Sidon shrugged. And then a look of realization passed over his face and he tilted his head to the side, "How did you know mine?"

"Heard your friends calling yours…" Jim felt dumb for not putting two and two together. Sidon looked like he felt just as sheepish.

"You're…so what now?"

Sidon looked up as if he didn't know what Jim was asking. Jim motioned between them, "You're a pirate, right?" Sidon nodded and Jim continued "And I'm Navy…unarmed…and painfully under matched to your size and strength…so…what now? You gonna take me back to your ship?"

"No," he said it so decisively that Jim was taken aback.

"Why?"

"I…it's my job as your mate to protect you…"

Jim's face flushed so hot he felt he must be glowing. His heart had never felt so full…he rubbed the back of his neck and whipped around to hide his expression. He was sure he would melt, "I…I should go before Will comes looking for me…"

Sidon's hand found his and he turned back around to gaze into those beautiful golden eyes. Their faces were so close…Sidon sounded desperate, "Will I see you again?"

"I…sure?"

"When?"

Jim bit his lip. His heart was beating so fast. What do I say?

"Three days from now. I'll…I'll go for a walk or something and we can meet…"

The elation that went over Sidon's face made Jim want to lean in and kiss him even more. The Zora stood and Jim craned his head back to see watch him, "I'll see you then-"

"Wait, don't you need a coordinate or something? Wait...how did you find me today?!" Jim called after him as he ran off.

Sidon looked over his shoulder with a grin, "Your shoulder; I smelled your blood. I'll see you in three days!"