A/N: This was a commission.


It starts with Childe on his knees.

Zhongli sits in a chair before him, one leg crossed over the other. His elbow rests against the armchair, his chin against his knuckles. The air is thick and heavy with his pheromones, choking the room with sage and sandalwood.

Childe looks caught. On edge. Even though he kneels so well, arms behind his back, he is ramrod straight. Ready to run, to dart, to rear back and bare his teeth. Zhongli's gaze washes over him, taking in Childe's whole visage. Wild, blue eyes. Flared nostrils. He squirms, ever so slightly, but—

Remains in place.

Good boy.

Zhongli doesn't say it yet. Childe has to earn it and though he's on the right path for Zhongli to tattoo it into his skin, there is still work to be done. "Pet," he says. And then, warmer, his mouth curled up at one end. "Darling. Look at you."

"Zhongli—"

"Ah. Not yet." Childe's mouth snaps shut and Zhongli's smile widens. "Sweet thing, aren't you? Come here." Childe's alpha must dislike that, being called sweet. But Childe answers Zhongli's whim, shuffling closer.

"You worked hard today," continues Zhongli. "I know that her crew sets you on edge."

Childe growls at the mention of them. "The Harbingers—" The Tsaritsa's presence never fails to set him on edge. Cute.

"You were one of them, once."

"Once," barks Childe.

Zhongli's hand darts out and curls around Childe's jaw in a bruising gasp. A soft whine as Childe squirms. Zhongli's grip loosens and he sighs softly. "You did well, holding back. I am proud of you, you know. I always am." Childe hums, easing against his hold. That flare-up, the sharpness of his being, the gashing of his teeth—they all melt away.

"There we go," says Zhongli. "Relax."

Even he is not immune. Even he has to tell himself to calm down, to pull back the raging alpha inside that wants to snap back at Childe's outburst. It is always push and pull with them, but Zhongli finds that he loves the challenge. Loves the acrid taste of Childe and the way his scent stings when close. Loves when Childe gives in, or when he is the one to lay himself bare.

Makes Zhongli feel alive, blood boiling in his veins, and arousal pulsing through his being. His cock twitches in his trousers as he watches Childe heel at only a request and the touch of his hand. Usually, there is a bit more fight. He must be more tired than Zhongli initially thought.

"Darling," he says again, "you should rest."

"I want—"

"In good time. For now, rest." A gentle tug pulls Childe's face into Zhongli's lap. Childe wriggles a little as he tries to settle. His shoulders roll. His mouth opens and a soft snarl threatens to pull at his lips. A flash of fangs, and— "Ajax."

Childe stops. Zhongli combs his fingers through his thick hair, scraping his nails against his head. Another whine, a keening sound that Childe looks embarrassed to release.

Zhongli smirks, petting him. "Good boy," he finally says.

The effect is instantaneous. Childe shifts, back arching as he presses his face against Zhongli's hand. "I'm…" A gentle rut of his hips. Zhongli can feel the line of Childe's cock against the toe of his boot. "Zhongli."

"Not yet." Zhongli pulls his foot away.

"Alpha," tries Childe.

Zhongli grasps his chin again, this time sweet and light-handed. He sweeps his thumb across Childe's bottom lip, tracing the chapped skin there. "Did that hurt for you to say? Is your alpha itching?"

"I'm—"

"What lengths would you go to, hm? Shall I make you beg?" Zhongli only means to tease.

Childe's jaw tenses and he nips at Zhongli's fingers, teeth sinking into the knuckle until it stings. Zhongli's expression cools. "Cruel, aren't you? So feisty. Tell me, Ajax, what will you do for me to give in? Would you worship me?"

"Yes." The reply is immediate. Childe's tongue laps at Zhongli's finger, soothing the bite marks left in his wake. No blood—he didn't bite hard enough—but it's easy enough to imagine.

So loyal. Good, good boy. Zhongli's heart warms with how much he loves this man. It isn't easy. Their natures are volatile and even if Childe's words are sincere, there is still a bite to them, a bitterness that always lines everything. His alpha both loves and detests Childe, drawn to him in a perverse sort of way, craving both the fight and the heel.

Zhongli dips down as he leans forward. They share breaths for a moment, lips barely touching. Zhongli kisses him softly, a sweet peck before he says against Childe's mouth, "To the bedroom, then."

#

They fall into the bed in a mess of limbs.

Childe is quick to action, pressing his face into Zhongli's nape as he looms over him. A sharp inhale. A soft, breathy sigh as he takes in Zhongli's scent. "Gods, you smell—" A grunt as Zhongli's fingers curl into his hair to yank his head back.

"You tease," says Zhongli. "I do think I said that I asked for you to worship me. For this moment I am your god, not your boss." Or mate, or darlings, or woefully in love—Zhongli could call themselves many things and everyone would be true. And even he is tired today, the inner workings of his gang pulling him thin and exhausted. He rests against the pillows and thinks that perhaps he needs this.

Childe nips at his collarbone, his teeth dragging over the sensitive skin. Gooseflesh rises. It's Zhongli's turn to squirm slightly, wanting more. But no. He'll be good too. What good is a man in power if he cannot behave as well? It's a game that goes both ways.

"I am," says Childe. "This is worship."

"I do think that you could show more devotion. Didn't the priests of Rex Lapis start from the feet?"

Childe pulls back then. He hangs over Zhongli, expression bright and vibrant. "If you have a request, then make it, my Lord."

Zhongli leans back in the silken sheets and spreads his legs. He's already undressed, skin on display, cock half-hard and twitching between his legs. Childe swallows, his gaze traveling the length of him.

"Lavish me, then," says Zhongli finally, resting on his elbows. "Treat me like your alpha and take your time doing so." A soft growl. Childe tries to hide it in Zhongli's nape, nuzzling the skin there. Zhongli smiles. His fingers curl into Childe's hair again, pulling just slightly. "Darling," he continues, "do you not wish to share your devotion? We are more than together, than just in love. Show me."

That's what will always get to Childe. His devotion rules him and Zhongli knows that he's swept off his feet by the thought of it. He stills and huffs. Presses a kiss to Zhongli's throat before sliding down.

"Annoying," he mutters, mouthing at Zhongli's collarbone next. "You know how to get under my skin."

"Yes."

A kiss to Zhongli's sternum, to the swell of his pec, to his nipple, tongue swirling around it. Zhongli's alpha flares—he likes it, but he shouldn't. He shouldn't. But Childe makes it hard to ignore the way that he sucks and pulls at it with his teeth.

And then he's gone. Childe slides down the length of him, ignoring his aching cock. He settles at the foot of their bed, prostrated before Zhongli, chest nearly flat to the mattress.

Zhongli's brow furrows. "Childe—"

"A show of devotion, you said." Childe lifts Zhongli's ankle and kisses the arch of his foot. "As much as part of me hates to bow for you, the other part loves it. And I love you, and so those feelings will always win. But—" His mouth opens. A flash of fangs. Childe drags them against the rise of Zhongli's ankle bone. "I can't promise that I won't bite back."

Oh. Zhongli grins something darker. Sultry. This is what he loves about this man, how Childe lays between his legs, uncompromising in his nature. Pulled between, just like him, giving into those urges but also rearing back and remembering just what they are. A beautiful, cruel, devilish dance.

"I have it on good authority that, perhaps, your partner loves to be bitten."

Childe smiles against his skin. "My god," he corrects. His eyes glimmer like the ocean in the low candlelight of the room. "Isn't that a more apt descriptor? After all, you've asked me to worship you."

"Which you are doing a subpar job of. Do you want punishment?" He wouldn't, not for this. Still, Childe's eyes narrow slightly. Then, he sinks his teeth into the tender flesh of Zhongli's ankle.

Zhongli hisses, his back arching, but as soon as the pain lances through his leg it's gone. Childe laps at the mark, soothing the smarting sting. Only a little blood, enough to tinge his lips pink. Zhongli sighs as kiss after kiss is pressed there in sweet apology.

"Lost myself for a second."

Zhongli snorts. "I'm sure you did—ah."

Childe licks from his heel to his toe. It is ticklish. Zhongli kicks a little, but Childe holds his foot firm, nipping at the ball of his foot. "Be still—"

"Are you telling me what to do?"

"I'm asking. Please, be still, otherwise, I can't ravish you."

Zhongli falls still and lets Childe do as he wishes. He hums as he works, dotting kisses across the expanse of Zhongli's foot. Kitten licks over the arch as he tastes, breath warm he nuzzles every inch.

"I was joking," says Zhongli, finally. "About the foot thing—"

"Do you dislike it?" No. No, he does not. Zhongli says nothing, just regards Childe with a pinched look as he sinks his teeth around a toe. Then, Childe laughs, warmly before pulling off. He presses against the other foot, lavishing the same sort of attention.

"Ajax—"

"And you called me impatient. How can I show my devotion if I don't take my time?"

Zhongli's alpha coils tight with annoyance. He did this to himself, didn't he? Goading Childe is fun, especially when he resists but Zhongli is now reaping what he sowed. Childe is slow with his attention, drawing out every kiss, every lick, every fleeting touch.

His cock aches, hard between his thighs, leaking a mess of precome—and Childe knows it. There isn't a movement he makes without his gaze trained on Zhongli's face, watching every reaction. Zhongli's alpha squirms, dying to reverse the tables, flip them over, and press Childe into the bed, to take what is his and his alone.

But then he keens, a soft sound that flits from his mouth as he melts into the bed. Childe looks so good on his knees for him. What a good alpha. A twinge of something acrid fills his mouth.

Childe's arousal hangs in the room. Zhongli can see his erection tenting his trousers, still annoyingly half-dressed. He smells like the ocean, something dark and metallic, deep and heady. Divine. Zhongli's mouth goes dry, itching to pull him close and shove his nose into Childe's scent gland. Ripe for the taking, perfect to bite.

Kisses trail up his leg, Childe's tongue tracing his lips. It is chaste—but there is an undercurrent of lust there, making such a simple thing seem truly debauched. Childe's fangs drag over the sensitive flesh of his calf, raising goose pebbles. He noses at the crease and presses a kiss there too. He marks Zhongli up, suckling at him, staking his claim.

Zhongli's gut heats at the thought of it, wearing those purpling marks for everyone else to see. Strange bedfellows they make, mates who shouldn't be so comfortable, who push against the flow and enjoy every moment of it. Childe wears his collar, hiding the messy scar tissue that shows his claim.

"What are you thinking?" Childe has moved to his other leg, giving it equal attention as he nibbles at the bend of Zhongli's knee.

He'll be honest. "That infernal collar of yours."

Childe barks a laugh, short and clipped. "I thought the whole point was to show that I'm yours? That I bow so prettily for you." He draws back just slightly and hooks his fingers into the leather band.

"I want to see my claim upon you." Zhongli's head tilts back and then to the side. "You have a beautiful view, but I—you are so nearly perfect, pet."

Childe's breath hitches at the near praise. Those fingers between his neck and collar pull at the leather. The clasp is undone quickly. The leather band falls to the side, abandoned in the sheets. Zhongli's gaze darts to the length of Childe's neck and his mating mark.

A brutal thing, raised flesh from where Zhongli sunk his teeth in and latched on. They'd wanted it—Childe begged for it—but his instincts kicked in and he'd fought back. And it isn't that Zhongli is less hostile; Chidle's mark on his neck is neat and pristine, a set of marks cut deep into his skin. Their wants and needs were and are different.

Still, Childe is so handsome. He dips close again, this time his cheek resting against Zhongli's inner thigh. "You smell amazing," he says, his words slightly slurred. He blinks slowly as if drunk on Zhongli's scent, nostrils flaring as he sighs softly.

"If you need a moment, take it." Zhongli's voice is soft and reverent.

Childe hums but moves, getting back to work. He bites harder at Zhongli's thigh, teeth leaving clear imprints, bruising little things that are pricked with blood. Zhongli moans, spreading his legs wider, eager for more of Childe's mouth on him.

"Like that," he murmurs. "Ajax, like that—" The next bite has him crying out. His alpha rages, thick in his skin, but gods, it burns well. It's easy to lose himself in the way that Childe just eats him up, tonguing at the bite marks and the blood that wells on his skin.

And then Zhongli falls cold as Childe pulls back. He smiles, cocky. Drags a finger down Zhongli's cock, watching the way that it twitches. "You've made a mess, My Lord." A pause. A kiss to the crease of Zhongli's groin, tantalizingly close to his dick. "Or do you prefer Xiansheng?"

The sound that falls from Zhongli's mouth is embarrassing, a high-pitched whine unbecoming of beasts of their nature. Let alone a man like Zhongli in a position of power. This entire thing has been a fun game of power and even though Zhongli still holds the dice, Childe shows that he can throw in a wild card at a moment's notice.

"Ajax—"

"I'd ask for you to beg, but I think that you might dislike that—ow." Zhongli's fingers slip into his hair now that he's within reach and he pulls. Childe grunts, his mouth curled into a grimace. Zhongli's grip eases but pulls his head back until his neck is on display. Childe grins, nothing but sharp teeth and lips tinged pink from his earlier bite marks.

Zhongli lets go, cupping Childe's cheek. "I would have rewarded you," he says, sweeping his thumb over his face. "But now, you'll have to wait longer."

"We'll see about that. I'm not done with you."

"Ajax."

"No, you've done this to yourself. I'll worship you until you're begging for more." Childe drops then, licking the length of Zhongli's dick.

"Ajax—"

Childe is cruel in the way his tongue swirls around his cock, suckling at just the head before popping off. He presses it back, flat against Zhongli's stomach, kissing one of his balls. Zhongli is suddenly on high alert. He stills as Childe nibbles the skin there, laughing as Zhongli squirms.

"Look at you," coos Childe, voice warm. Entirely at odds with the way he devours Zhongli, sucking a testicle into his mouth and rolling it across his tongue. He massages the other in his hand, testing the weight of it in his palm.

Zhongli falls back into the sheets, unable to focus on anything other than Childe's mouth, and how he moans around his ballsack. Debauched. Horrifically licentious. Childe suckles at him like he's a fine meal, pulling off only to lick at him instead.

Down the seam of his sack, around the underside of each testicle. All the while he thumbs across the smooth skin underneath, petting Zhongli's perineum as he feasts on the rest of him. Wet and sloppy. Childe's saliva drips everywhere because he's uncaring of the mess he's made.

Even Zhongli's alpha enjoys this, soaking up devoted attention, and purring at the devout way that Childe works at him. Childe is tense, but moans like a whore, which means he loves it. Zhongli will have to reward him well.

A thumb dips between Zhongli's asscheeks, pressing against his hole. He manages to wrap his lips around both of Zhongli's balls, tongue tracing the underside as he just about swallows them whole.

Zhongli chokes on a breath. He'd rather his cock be shoved down Childe's throat, but there's something about the sordid nature of the way he drools all over his balls. How his thumb presses against his hole, causing his alpha to flare up in his chest.

But gods, he wants. And Childe knows it, must see it on his face, and feel it in the way that he bucks against that damned thumb. "Ajax, I want—"

That thumb is replaced with a finger that sinks in slowly. Too dry. Stings. But Zhongli forces his hips down to take it to the knuckle despite that, wanting to feel the way the touch sears through him. Childe laughs as he pulls away, kissing the soft inner spot of his thigh. He curls his finger, finding the perfect spot, and Zhongli's thighs quake with pleasure.

Zhongli's hand finds his hair again. "Ajax," he hisses as Childe pauses to slick his fingers, fumbling around for the bottle of oil hidden in the sheets. He groans at the loss, at Childe taking his sweet, fucking time. And there's a part of Zhongli that would rather not this, but most of him craves to be filled, for Childe to fuck him properly at least—

But all Childe does is press two fingers in. The pressure is heavy. His fingers spread wide, sinking in, scissoring Zhongli open at a clipped pace. Childe licks his balls again, nuzzling them as they draw up tight against Zhongli's body.

"Close?" Childe asks as a tease, knowing the way Zhongli's body reacts better than he himself. He hooks those fingers, curling them right against his prostate, and Zhongli growls at how good it is. Childe suckles his balls again, slurping at them. "Gods, you're perfect. Worth the worship. Xiansheng."

A third finger. The sweep of his tongue, tracing loose skin, rolling his testicles across the length of it. Zhongli bucks against his hand, driving those fingers deep into his writhing insides. Pleasure builds, coiling in Zhongli's gut, settling in his balls right where Childe sucks them dry.

His cock aches. It twitches, wanting release. Childe murmurs praise into Zhongli's skin as he laps at him, tasting sweat, spit, and Silk Flower oil. He fucks him slowly, contrasting to the assertive way he works Zhongli's testicles, his fingers lazy as they smooth over that bundle of nerves until pleasure snaps and everything goes white.

Zhongli hates and loves coming like this; loves the way he loses every thought; hates how his alpha shrinks back, hissing. Childe moans between his legs, watching as Zhongli spills himself, mostly untouched. Childe drags himself up to lick away his spend, tongue tracing every dip and valley of his abs.

His cock throbs, satisfied and hungry for more. Zhongli needs to knot, he needs to—

A growl. The gnashing of teeth. Childe stills then, on high alert, watching Zhongli with a guarded gaze. Not hesitant, just wary.

Zhongli moves quickly, using his strength to wrestle Childe onto his back. Childe fights, pushing at him, refusing to go down easily—but then he falls quiet when Zhongli presses his face into his nape. "My darling, darling pet," he says, inhaling deeply, drowning in Childe's heady alpha scent.

It's his turn to drag his teeth over skin, to sink them into soft flesh, and relish in the sounds that Childe makes. He forces Childe's jaw up with a tight grip and nips at the scarred flesh there. "My precious mate. Do you remember the night I gave you this?"

Childe whines, baring his neck in a way that satisfies something deep inside Zhongli's chest. "Good boy. Celestia, how I love you."

"Please. Zhongli, please—"

"That being said—" Childe's gaze turns sharp then, narrowing as he shoots Zhongli an annoyed glance. Zhongli hangs over him, a knowing smirk spread across his face. "You teased me a little too much. I'll please you, of course. Take care of you in the best of ways, but it won't be what you ask for."

"Wait, that's—"

"Be good."

Childe sinks into the mattress at the command. Zhongli leans back, straddling his thighs. He presses a hand to the thick bulge in Childe's trousers and clicks his tongue. "You didn't even properly undress."

"Let me—"

"No. I'm fine with you staying as such."

Chide swallows, his throat bobbing. "I am not."

"Perhaps you should have thought about that when worshiping me. While I do love your teasing…" Zhongli squeezes Childe's cock through the fabric, pulling a ragged moan from his mate's throat. "I also love to tease you back."

"Zhongli, I want to come. I'm—Gods."

Zhongli hums thoughtfully. "You will. After I've had my fun with you."

"How much fun can you have with my dick still in my—" Childe chokes on his words when Zhongli flicks the metal of one of his nipple piercings. He smooths over the nub with his thumb, watching the nipple perk up and harden. Childe's eyes are wide. His nostrils flare, no doubt struggling with his inner alpha over how much he loves such a simple touch.

Zhongli settles over his lap properly, Childe's erection pressed against his ass. Close but so far. And Zhongli aches, wanting it inside him, Childe's knot pulling at his rim. Later.

"Divine as always," he says, pressing his nose against Childe's scent gland. Dark. Heavy. Tempting with its sharp, ocean salt smell. Zhongli's teeth sink in enough to bruise. He sucks at Childe's neck, reclaiming him in the most instinctual of ways.

Childe keens, a soft, breathy moan. He bares his neck, begging for more as he scrabbles against the sheets.

"Sensitive," murmurs Zhongli, sweeping knuckles over the other nipple, ensuring that it pebbles in the exact same way. "Always so. I love it. Come on, darling. Let me hear you."

The next sound that tumbles from Childe's mouth is louder. Desperate and needy. Raspy with want as he sinks into the pillow. He holds Zhongli's hips in a tight grip, trying to grind against his ass, to get any sort of friction to ease his aching length.

Zhongli purrs. "Did I say you could do that?"

Childe stops. His arms bulge as he strains but he holds himself still. His scent bleeds with annoyance and want, and Zhongli loses himself in it. He grinds back, rolling his hips, offering a little relief. Childe's fingers dig into his skin, the sharp pinpricks of his nails carving into his sides.

"Be good for me and there will be more of that. But first—" Zhongli shifts to lick a nipple.

Childe's back arches, pressing closer. "Oh, that's—"

Zhongli wraps his lips around it, sucking the hardened nub into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the metal pierced right through it. His teeth graze reddened flesh and Childe hisses—but his cock twitches against Zhongli's ass, signaling his need for more. Zhongli smiles, suckling at him, treating him like he's a wanton omega.

Childe is embarrassed, flushed red from his face all the way to his collarbone. His pale skin is flecked with freckles and scars, old things from fights with other alphas, and his work as part of Zhongli's gang. Zhongli's fingers trail them, taking in the dip of puckered and stretched skin. He could map Childe's body with these spots; freckles, scars, even the kiss marks left in his wake.

He tweaks Childe's free nipple, pulling at it whilst he mouths at the other.

A hand curls into Zhongli's hair, scraping against his scalp. "Zhongli," starts Childe; but then he stops, words lost in a groan as Zhongli's teeth graze his nipple, biting at it. "Oh, oh gods."

Childe's hips buck, grinding his hard cock against Zhongli's backside. Zhongli gives him a sharp look and digs his teeth into his nipple harder. His hand grabs onto the piercing of the other, pulling at it until Childe yelps in both pleasure and pain.

"I warned you," says Zhongli, letting go, smoothing the sore spot with his thumb. He kisses the nipple underneath his lips then pulls back to admire his handy work. A perfect mark at the swell of Childe's pec, framing his swollen, puffy nipple. The metal glints in the low light of the room, taunting Zhongli. "Beautiful," he murmurs next, voice low, full of arousal.

His cock is hard again, thick between his legs.

"Zhongli." Childe's voice sounds raw. "Are you going to fuck me? Please—"

"No."

Childe growls, a true one, dripping with warning as his lips curl around those sharp fangs in his mouth. A snap of his teeth, his alpha huffing and puffing at being denied his request. Childe's nostrils flare. He watches Zhongli with a dark, shrewd glance.

Zhongli still straddles his waist. He laughs at the display, amused by his behavior. "Cute," he teases.

"I'm not—"

Zhongli palms his own cock, stroking his length to the sight of him. Childe watches. Childe stares, his eyes trained on the base of his cock, waiting for it to swell.

He licks his lips and says, "I want your knot. I want—"

"Not today." And it kills him to say that. There is nothing more Zhongli wants than to shove his knot into Childe's tight hole and watch him become a drooling mess in the silk sheets. To see him writhe in the bed, begging for more, tears leaking down his face as he just sobs and sobs in pleasure.

Another day. Zhongli will take his pleasure and then make Childe fuck him in return. It'll be loving, even if his alpha rumbles, even if his instincts are pulled in both directions, Zhongli will love every moment of it.

For now, though—

Zhongli smiles, dragging a hand down Childe's sternum. He grinds his cock against Childe's stomach.

"That's unfair. Zhongli, that's unfair."

"You'll be fine. And you'll be good for me, yes? You can come like this, just from me toying with these precious things." He flicks one of Childe's piercings, watching the skin draw tight around the metal in arousal. "From just the thought of taking my knot."

The veins in Childe's neck bulge with strain. He doesn't hold Zhongli by the hips anymore, his hands pulling at the sheets until they nearly tear. "I—" His throat sounds dry. He licks his lips, trying to swallow down a pathetic whine. His chest rumbles underneath Zhongli's hand where it rests.

"Can you be good for me?" Zhongli asks quietly, sweetly, his voice hushed as he tries to soothe the raging beast underneath Childe's skin.

Hesitation—not because Childe doesn't want to, but because he isn't sure he can. He wriggles underneath Zhongli's hold. Eventually, he says, "Yes." A pause, tasting the word. "Yes, I can… Gods, Zhongli, I can be good. I can, I can—"

Zhongli dips low to lap at his nipple again. Childe sighs, falling back into the sheets, eyes closing at the feel of Zhongli's mouth on him. His cock is hard against Zhongli's ass. It must hurt, must ache so much. Zhongli hums as he pulls that hardened nub between his teeth, nipping at it.

Childe moans, drawn out and liquid. But he doesn't buck. He's good, he just lays underneath Zhongli, tense in the sheets, letting Zhongli have his way with him. Zhongli praises him, whispers it into his skin, sweet nothings like Good boy, and So perfect for me.

All the while his attention remains trained on Childe's chest. Zhongli's cock begs to come again, hot and slick against Childe's stomach as it leaks everywhere. It twitches as he ruts against Childe's abs, the tip sliding against sweaty skin.

Childe's eyes are blown wide, blue irises swallowed by fathomless black. His sounds are raspy. He arches against Zhongli, his neck on display. His throat bobs as he swallows. He cries out, trying to say Zhongli's name but it dissolves into a blubbering mess.

Zhongli pulls at his piercings, just enough for Childe to be dragged to the edge. His tongue laps at them, tracing the bars, swirling around the round balls slotted on each side of his nipple. One and then the other, alternating between them. Teeth dig into soft skin, worrying the muscle. Bite marks litter Childe's chest, a show of possession that he takes so well.

"Ajax, you can do it," he says, nuzzling a nipple before latching on again.

"I—I—"

He's close. Childe's hands are curled around Zhongli's waist again, trying to ground himself, trying to keep from grinding against his ass.

Zhongli smiles against his skin, his alpha pleased that his mate is doing his best. "Should I reward you?" he asks, pulling back to sit astride his waist properly.

Childe looks as though he could cry. "Please. Please."

"Alright then." He presses his ass against Childe's cock. "This much at least. Because you've been so good."

That's all that it takes, that one utterance of approval, for Childe to pull Zhongli against his aching erection. It's still trapped in his trousers, pressed against the swell of his ass. Childe grunts in mild frustration but accepts the terms he's given, rolling his hips into Zhongli's backside.

"Fuck," he mutters. "Fuck, you're so—"

Childe sounds so lost, so delirious on his arousal. It makes Zhongli's chest burst with affection. Childe is only like this for him. He bites at others, nothing but sharp teeth and hackles, but for Zhongli, he heels, lays on his back, and takes what he's given.

All those instincts fade away until it's just them and the smell of sex in the air. Arousal. Affection. The sweet and salty smell of Childe as he barrels toward his end, rutting against Zhongli's ass like a madman.

He comes when Zhongli reaches out and pinches his nipples, the smarting sting pushing him right over the edge. He spends himself in his trousers with a cry of his name, a clipped tone that catches on his teeth as they are bared. Then, a soft whine.

Zhongli is still hard but ignores it, immediately pulling off Childe. "Shh," he murmurs, leaning close, inhaling his rich scent. Kisses to his face and little kitten licks at his jaw. Another kiss to his mating mark, which makes Childe sigh, suddenly loose-limbed and like jelly in the sheets.

He takes care of him, undressing Childe and wiping him down. When Zhongli slips back into the sheets, Childe pulls him close, curling around him like an octopus, nose buried into Zhongli's nape. Childe takes a deep breath. Hums softly, chest rumbling with happiness.

Then, he says, "So mean."

"You love it."

Childe pets Zhongli's hair, combing his fingers through the long strands as he coasts through the hazy aftermath of their lovemaking. "You didn't—"

"Later."

"Zhongli—"

"Later." He pauses. "I'll take your knot, I wanted to earlier, but you're tired and deserve the rest, so rest."

Childe purrs as they lay there, nestled together. His fingers scrape over Zhongli's scalp. He kisses Zhongli's forehead and asks, "Does this mean I get to call you a good boy later?"

Zhongli pulls back, his gaze narrowed. "What is that phrase? 'Fuck around a find out?'"

Childe could have grinned. He could have laughed or tugged at his hair or teased Zhongli at that moment. Instead, he just snorts, a soft little sound, and says, "I love you."

To which, Zhongli rewards with a long overdue kiss.