Presents

"Lay on your back, knees up," Ares said as he walked over to an empty spot on the mats. His attention stayed glued to his opened omni-tool while he waited on Charles to do as he'd been told. "We'll do a breathing exercise I found on the extranet."

Awesome.

Charles took his place on the mat, drawing his knees up so his feet pressed flat against the floor. The movement, though simple, wasn't without its own difficulties. Despite making significant progress, even returning to work, he was still nowhere near a hundred percent, and he hated every minute of his weakness. So did his beast.

Letting the air seep out of his nose, slow and measured, he adjusted to the new position and warned himself against whining and bitching, too. "Here good?"

Ares rumbled and nodded as he closed his omni-tool. He looked down at Charles for a moment before kneeling beside him. A soft smile quirked Charles' lips. It helped, having Ares down there on the mat with him. Ares could've just guided him through the exercises while standing or sitting on a workout bench, but he stayed with Charles. Went through it with him, and fuck everything if it didn't make Charles fall even deeper in love with the turian.

"One hand on your stomach, the other on your chest." Ares waited for Charles to follow the directions before continuing, "Inhale, focusing your attention on raising the hand on your stomach but keeping the one on your chest still. Breathe deeply through your nose."

When a sudden flare of pain caught him off guard, Charles froze for half a second. He pushed himself to keep going, though. The last thing he wanted was for Ares to doubt his commitment to getting back to full-strength. Omega called his name incessantly; the beast long past patience. He needed to spill blood, but he had to recover enough for Ares to let him go to the shithole space station, first. Continuing to fill his lungs as much as possible, his diaphragm trembled as it expanded. He held his breath and watched Ares, waiting for further guidance.

"Purse your lips." Ares pointed to his own mouth plates. "Slowly breathe out, feeling your hand on your stomach slowly lower first before any movement in your chest."

Okay, no big deal. Kinda like that Lamaze crap women have to do when they go into labor—which has to hurt way worse, so just do it. Now. Just do it, Charles. Damn it, just fucking do it.

He dug deep and steeled himself against the pain, puffing out his cheeks as he let the breath seep out of his lungs. Surprisingly, it didn't really hurt all too badly. He arched his eyebrows at Ares, ready for the next step.

Ares gave him an encouraging nod. "Keep doing it …. Then, we'll add one of your other exercises with it."

Fuck me.

Charles returned the nod and turned his attention back to the exercise, filling his lungs once again. He tried to let his mind wander, but inevitably, the twinges of pain drew him back to the moment. He wondered what, exactly, caused the pain at those specific points. The wounds themselves were all closed, his flesh stitched back together, so why was there pain at all? His understanding of human anatomy was far more suited toward cutting people open, though, and not really how everything functioned inside.

After a few more breaths, Ares hummed and stood, offering Charles his hand. "Good, now we'll implement it into your shoulder exercises."

Biting back a groan, Charles dragged himself to his feet with Ares' help. Ares let go of his hand and took a few steps away to grab the youth barbell off of the smaller weight bench he'd set up for Talik. He slid the weights off of the ends and brought the bar itself back over. Without a word, he held it out to Charles. Grasping one end in each hand, Charles began the simple exercise routine, slowly lifting the rod above his head and holding it for a few seconds before lowering it again. The muscles in his arms told him the bar weighed next to nothing, but the areas around his injuries said it weighed a half ton.

He figured it was best to inhale with the lift and exhale while bringing the rod back down. What he didn't expect, however, was how much more difficult and painful the stupid exercise would be while doing the breathing crap at the same time. Fuck, he'd be glad when he finally healed completely.

Ares sat down on the weight bench and rumbled. "Try holding your breath for a second or two when you have the bar up. Keep inhaling on the lift and exhaling as you lower, just like you're doing."

He watched Charles for a moment and hummed, but the sound cut off when his omni-tool pinged. Opening his omni-tool, he poked at the screen with a bare talon and stared at the message. His mandibles twitched a few times before he chuckled, a deep rumble in his throat. Closing the omni-tool, he stood and looked at Charles.

"I have something really important to do, but it won't be long." He tilted his head, flaring his good mandible. "And if you keep working on your physical therapy, you should be done by the time I call." He grabbed the PT band off the shelf and carried it over to Charles. "No doing a shit job just to finish sooner," he warned, tossing the rubber exercise band over Charles' shoulder and leaning in close. "I have it timed out," he rumbled in Charles' ear, "and know within a small margin when you should be done."

Charles huffed out the last of his breath and tracked Ares as the turian moved around him and toward the door. "Bring me back presents."

He thought about asking Ares where he was going, but he knew better when it seemed job related. Ares said he wouldn't be gone long; good enough for Charles. Shit, he was just happy to hear Ares' laughter and see the man focusing on something other than fretting over Charles or channeling his fears into destroying, God only knew how many, punching bags while not sleeping at night.

"It's what I'm counting on," Ares called out while leaving, the cryptic statement piquing Charles' interest.

Sitting down on the edge of the weight bench, Charles wiped sweat from his face and neck. His arms shook, lung burning and shoulder aching. He felt like a worthless piece of shit for being worn out by such simple activities. He knew it wasn't his fault, but still …. Looking at his wrist when his omni-tool rang, he flopped the towel over his shoulder and opened the screen. It only took half a second to recognize one of Ares' extranet addresses, so he answered the call with a smile.

The screen shifted to the sight of a human, the man bound and gagged in what looked like one of the keeper tunnels. Charles felt the beast looking through his eyes, salivating at the image, licking its chops as the man squirmed. Ares stepped into view, gloves covering his hands, but his jacket nowhere to be seen. Grinning, he held out his arms, a very wicked looking combat knife in his hand.

"Thought you might like a different kind of reward for your PT besides that shitty, carbonated, liquid sugar you drink," Ares said, flipping the knife through the air before catching it again. "So, may I introduce …" He turned, motioning to the man. "... the first of our fucking assholes responsible for your shooting right here, Richard Kovich."

The man whimpered, squirming again as he tried to wriggle away from Ares. Charles licked his lips, throat dry with anticipation as the monster within him snarled. Dragging his gaze back to Ares, a slow smile spread across his face as he stood.

"Best present ever." A soft chuckle slipped out despite his pain and exhaustion. "Fuck, I love you." He made his way to the bedroom, thrilled Talak decided he wanted to spend the night with his duct rat friends, leaving Charles alone in the house to enjoy the show.

Expression turning stern, Ares moved closer to the camera, looking over Charles. "You did do your exercises, right?"

"Of course," Charles said, all too aware the rumbling purr emanating from his throat didn't really come from him but from the beast. "But only to make you happy." He smirked again, moving to the bed and sitting down on the edge as he adjusted the pillows. Throwing his feet up, he leaned back, making himself comfortable.

Ares grunted and turned back to his prey, the camera following closely behind him. "Now Richard," he said, voice more of a coo than anything else, "how about I give you the right of final words?" He crouched beside the sniveling man and plucked the gag from his mouth.

The man gasped. "Please, God—"

"And that's enough," Ares interrupted, shoving the gag back into the man's mouth. He leaned closer, stage whispering as he continued. "You're going to need to be a lot louder if you want anyone to even have a chance at hearing you."

The man screamed when Ares pulled the dirty cloth from his mouth again, "Somebody help me!"

Shoving the gag back into place, Ares looked around. His head swiveled as he scanned the tunnels and hummed thoughtfully. "Mmm …. No, I don't think they heard that, either." He flicked his mandible and tapped the tip of the knife beneath the man's chin, and just that tiny bit of contact made Charles' cock twitch. "You'll do better, I promise. And hey, maybe someone will hear you in this …" Ares paused and waved his free hand. "... Big. Empty. Echoing. Maze of tunnels." Smirking, he growled. "But I doubt it."

Charles' heart thumped a little harder against his ribs, the beast snarled and paced in the back of his head. "I'll hear it," he muttered, "and I'll love every fucking second of it."

"Hear that?" Ares cupped his hand to his ear canal as if straining to listen. "He says he can hear …." Leaning closer to the man, he mocked a whisper again, "But like hell if he's going to help you." Ares stood, hauling the man to his feet without giving him the chance to respond. "Now, where should we start? Oh, I know," he said, ripping the gag from the man's mouth and lifting him into the air until his bound feet no longer touched the floor. "What do you fear, human?"

"Help!" the man yelled, but it just wasn't satisfactory. After all, he wasn't in agony, yet.

Humming again, Ares shook his head. "No, don't think that worked. Here, let me help." He flipped the knife in his hand as the man started struggling again. Reaching up with one smooth, swift motion, he sliced off one of the man's ears. "Louder!"

The first real, delicious scream tore a hungry whimper from Charles. Blood dripped from around the man's exposed ear canal, and Charles tightened his free hand into a fist, almost feeling his fingers wrap around the handle of his razor. The beast roared, pulling at its chains and rattling the bars of its cage. Fuck, it really wanted out, and Charles really wanted to let it out, too. He licked his lips, throat drying, as the man continued to scream and flail, desperately trying to free himself from Ares' grasp but getting nothing more than a few, amused flicks of the turian's mandibles.

Tossing the man face first on the ground, Ares moved to stand over his prey before the man could scramble away and yanked his head back by a fist full of hair. "How about I carve you up like a—what is it—pumpkin?" He grinned, cupping the man's forehead to hold him still, and then, with a growl, he slowly slid his knife through the man's nose, from base to bridge.

Blood gushed, pouring down the man's face in thick sheets. It filled his mouth, making the sonofabitch cough and choke, driving his face further down onto Ares' blade and finishing the job by taking his nose off completely. Still, he tried to get away. Charles knew the man couldn't really help himself, his instincts were going haywire, and it made it all the more satisfying to watch.

The beast growled and snarled. Cock hardening, Charles wished he was there to see it in person. Even if he were forced to just sit on the sidelines. Having the opportunity to be there and just smell the metallic manna filling the air would've made the experience so much more thrilling.

Cleaning his blade of blood, gristle, and skin with a flick of his wrist, Ares rumbled and looked up at the camera. "How about we let the Spirits decide the next cut?" Jerking the man's head back again, he rested the blade of his knife against the bastard's carotid and waited, watching Charles.

A dry, raspy chuckle slipped past his lips, and Charles said, "I don't think the Spirits want him to die too soon."

"Oh, too bad." Ares pulled his knife away from the man's throat and held it in front of his victim's face, humming and pretending to think. "What about …" He pressed the tip of the blade against the corner of the man's mouth. "… here?"

"Perfect." Charles licked his lips, gaze glued to the bleeding man. "What's a jack o' lantern without a smile?"

"True." False pity painted itself across Ares' face as he looked at the man in his grasp. "Looks like your fellow human is teaching this turian how to do it right."

Adjusting his grip on the handful of hair held tight in his left fist, he slowly dragged the blade through the man's left cheek. Ares purred, the pleased rumble just audible over the gurgling sounds of the human choking on his own blood. Flicking blood off his blade, he moved on to the opposite side, a look of extreme concentration on his face as he cut the man just so.

Charles licked his lips, fists clenching and releasing, clenching and releasing as he imagined the feel of his razor sliding through fat, muscle, and tendon. Cock growing harder and harder by the second, he moaned as the wounds gaped apart with each desperate scream forcing its way from the man's mouth. Tears cut tracks through the blood, watering it down along the edges before being consumed by the crimson tide. The man was weak, the fight in him already starting to abandon him; Charles almost felt the flame sputtering. Soon, all too soon, shock would take over, and he'd lose consciousness.

"He's fading already," he said, disappointment heavy in his tone.

Sure, he'd passed out fairly quickly after being shot by the asshole and his friends, but it was different. He couldn't fucking breathe, and if he couldn't fucking breathe, he couldn't give his brain the oxygen it needed to remain awake. His suffering didn't end there, though. He didn't get the escape of death like the fuckwad bleeding out at Ares' feet. Why should the sonofabitch get off so easily?

"Pity." Ares huffed and dropped the man's head, none too gently, as he stood. Drawing his pistol, he aimed it at the man as it whirred to life. "You can think about what brought you here in your final moments," he said before firing twice, once in the man's arm and another in his chest, neither fatal.

The bark of gunfire sent a jolt of adrenaline through Charles, while tearing a whole new chorus of screams from Ares' prey. With the man's head freed, his airways were a little clearer, making the beautiful sounds so much richer. Only distantly aware of his own actions, Charles brought his hand to his cock and started stroking himself through his sweats.

"Fuck," he muttered with a whimper.

Running a hand through his still damp hair, Charles lit his third cigarillo of the day and sat down on the edge of the bed. Eezo hopped up beside him, and he buried his fingers in her thick fur, scratching along the nape of her neck as he smoked. Agonized screams still echoed in his ears, making the blood in his veins thrum. Despite cumming several times while he watched his very own, personalized, live snuff vids, he didn't quite feel satiated. He wanted to fuck. Hard and fast with Ares teeth in his shoulder and talons digging into his hips. Damn, he couldn't wait until he was all healed up.

Ears perking, Eezo turned her head toward the bedroom door and let out a soft growl. A second later, the front door hissed open, and the dog's tail started wagging as she launched herself from the bed. She bolted from the room, and Charles chuckled.

"Calm the fuck down." Ares' gravely voice carried down the hall. He appeared in the doorway, holding a small, metal box in his hand. "Got something for you," he said, crossing the floor to sit down next to Charles.

Pulling the cigarillo from his mouth, Charles grinned and took the tin from Ares. "Oooooo, presents."

He flipped open the lid, smile growing as he took in the blood-spattered trophies inside. He picked up a silver necklace, still damp enough to leave a smear of crimson on his hand, and held it beneath his nose. Closing his eyes, he pulled in a slow, steady breath. He savored the metallic scent of fresh blood, not even bothered by the pang in his chest. Letting it back out with a groan, he opened his eyes and settled the chain back into the box. Between drags from his cigarillo, he used his ring finger to move things around, examining each of the personal effects inside.

"Citadel Souvenirs sure as hell doesn't sell souvenirs this good." He chuckled and looked back up at Ares. "Thank you." Voice soft, and maybe a bit too sappy for Ares' taste—but he'd get over it—Charles watched him intently. "For taking care of them. And for letting me be a part of it. And," he said, closing the lid on the box and carefully setting it aside, "for bringing me back something to help keep me focused." Reaching out, he wrapped his fingers around the turian's sleeve, tugging to urge him in closer.

Humming, Ares turned and wrapped his arm around Charles before hauling him into his lap and cupping his head. He drew Charles in closer until his face rested against his keel. "Don't mention it," he said, laying his chin on Charles' head. "I didn't know what you'd want, but I—what do you say?—went with my gut."

Nuzzling in against Ares, Charles hummed contentedly. "Your gut chose perfectly." He took a drag and let it out slowly, directing the smoke away from Ares. "You're perfect."

"I know," Ares said with a proud rumble, wrapping his hand around Charles' wrist, and pulling up until he could reach to close his mouth plates around the cigarillo between Charles' fingers.

Letting himself be puppeteered with nothing more than a chuckle, Charles said, "Good. Don't ever forget it. You're perfect, and you're mine."

Smoke drifted through the room as Ares exhaled and laid his head on Charles' scalp. He slid a hand along Charles' leg, moving up to spread his fingers out against his chest. Breath catching in his throat, Charles tensed for a fraction of a second as Ares started to gently caress the new scar on his chest.

Stilling, Ares rumbled. "Pain?"

"No." Charles shook his head. "More like … flashback."

He loved the quiet, tender moments when they happened, and he thought Ares did, too. So rare for the turian to instigate shows of affection, Charles hoped he didn't ruin it before having the chance to soak it in. It was icing on the cake, and Charles wanted to lap up every last ounce Ares had to give. Turning his head a little, he kissed Ares' keel and rubbed his face along the edge of the turian's cowl.

Ares hummed, the tone conveying understanding. Shifting his hand, he traced the tips of his talons along the scar instead with featherlight touches. It didn't bring the same wash of terror it had a moment before, in fact, quite the opposite. He'd never felt safer in his entire life … never felt more loved, either, but he knew hearing those words from Ares was a no-go. Didn't mean he couldn't say them, though.

Smiling, Charles wriggled a little until he could get his arm wrapped around Ares' back, beneath the jacket. He slipped his hand under Ares' shirt and splayed his palm out against Ares' warm hide and plates. "I love you," he said softly.

A gentle rumble rolled through Ares, and he flattened his hand over Charles' chest. "I need to get cleaned off. Do you want me to take you with me?"

After taking a drag, Charles turned the cigarillo over in his fingers and offered it to Ares. "I'm clean already, but I'd love to join you anyway."

"I can tell." Ares took a drag then handed it back to Charles. "You smell like your hair soap."

"Shampoo," Charles said absently. "Yeah, between the sweat and a ton of jizz, I needed a shower pretty bad."

"Understandable." Ares shifted, wrapping Charles up in his arms as he stood. "How much did you work today? Do you hurt?"

Charles smirked, tipping his head back to look at Ares. "Not enough I don't still want your cock inside of me more than just about anything else."

Ares chuckled, something dark and heady in his subvocals, as he started walking. He dipped his head, nipping and licking Charles' skin. Charles rumbled and exposed more of his throat to Ares. He wrapped an arm around Ares' neck and dug his fingers into the hide beneath his crest.

Letting out a soft growl, Ares nipped his way along Charles' jaw. "I don't like when you smell like your soap," he said, voice rough, as he used his shoulder to turn on the bathroom light.

"Mmm. All the more reason for you to fuck me, then." Cock hardening, Charles kneaded the back of Ares' head a little more fervently.

Kneeling, Ares sat Charles down on the edge of their fancy hot tub—he really did spoil Charles—and then stepped back. "You turn it on while I get these clothes off."

"Sure, how hot do you want it tonight?" Charles asked, leaning over a little to adjust the knobs.

"Make it comfortable for you. Not too hot or too cold." Ares started stripping off his clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket.

"Okay." Charles watched Ares undress from over his shoulder while dipping his hand into the water and blindly adjusting the temperature. He took his time, leering at the long, lean muscles flexing and gliding beneath the turian's exposed, scarred hide. The soft, metallic sheen of his plates danced in the light as if putting on a show just for Charles. "I wish you really knew just how sexy you are."

Ares snorted and turned his gaze on Charles, head turning ever so slightly—seemingly unconsciously—away from the mirror as he stalked closer. He knelt next to Charles and checked the water with his fingers. "That's good there. Can you stand that?"

Moving his wet hand to Ares' cheek, Charles caught his gaze. "I'm serious, Ares. I think you're incredibly sexy. So … deal with it," he said with an ornery smile, "and yes, the temperature's fine."

Ares hummed and climbed into the tub. Despite being big enough to sit four, normal-sized people, he needed to to keep his knees bent as he stretched his legs out. Turning, he held a hand out to Charles. Accepting the assistance with a smile, Charles slipped down off of the edge and into the water, letting Ares guide him down to straddle his lap.

Thrumming, Ares ran a hand through Charles' hair, tugging at the nape of his neck. Charles let out a soft moan and leaned into Ares. He wrapped his arm around Ares' cowl and slipped his hand beneath his crest, kneading Ares' head and neck as he pressed his lips to Ares' mouth. He scooped water up with his free hand, drizzling it over Ares' side and rubbing it into his hide.

Ares twined his tongue around Charles', pulling it into his own mouth to caress. A moment later, he broke the kiss and took Charles's hand, turning it over to nip at the pulse point on his wrist. He licked and nibbled his way up Charles' arm and shoulder before licking his collarbone. "When's the kid coming home? Soon?"

"Not 'til tomorrow." Voice cracking as he spoke, Charles licked his lips. "He's spending the night with his friends." In the moment of silence after, he rocked his hips just a little, rubbing his growing cock against Ares' stomach.

Ares chuckled. "Someone's still eager. I'd have thought you'd spent yourself watching me work."

"I'd have thought so, too, but here you are." He grinned and rubbed himself against Ares again. "And there it is." He rested his forehead on Ares'. "I told you, you're sexy. And … I haven't had much of you since … before." He didn't want to talk about being shot, not right then.

Ares didn't seem to want to talk about it, either, because he kissed Charles instead, shoving his tongue past his lips. Cupping Charles' ass with one hand and his head with the other, he pulled Charles even closer. Moaning into the kiss, Charles pushed back with his own tongue, savoring the taste of his turian in his mouth. He scooped up more water, dumping it over Ares' side before rubbing his wet hand along the man's ribs, waist, and hip. Stopping, he trapped a handful of Ares' slim waist between his palm and fingers, squeezing and rolling the flesh in his hand.

Ares groaned, hard cock slipping free of his plates and pressing against Charles' ass. He pulled Charles in closer as he nipped at his lip, drawing a pinprick of blood before licking it away. The taste of blood on Ares' tongue drew the beast forward, making his need for Ares more urgent, but Charles pushed it back, still determined to savor every moment with his bondmate. He shifted and positioned Ares' cock so it slid between his ass cheeks as he rolled his hips.

Growling into Charles' mouth, Ares moved his hands to Charles' ribs and gently pulled him back. "Get the lube," he said with a jerk of his chin toward the bottle they kept in the bathroom. "I got you, just lean over."

Trusting in Ares entirely, Charles didn't hesitate. Watching how he stretched—making damn sure he didn't provoke shooting pains and ruin the moment—he pushed up onto his knees and leaned over to grab the bottle. He popped open the lid and took Ares' hand in his own, squeezing some out onto the turian's fingers. Closing the lid again, he sat the bottle on the corner of the tub.

Ares leaned in and ducked his head, running his tongue along Charles' cock while stroking himself with his lubed hand. Moaning, Charles pushed his hips a little more toward Ares' mouth. He flattened his palm against the side of Ares' head and then slid it down to rest on his cowl.

"I want you inside of me so fucking bad," Charles said, a pleading whine to his voice. A part of him still expected Ares to decide it was more than Charles could handle and to call it off before they'd even begun. Sure, he'd happily cum in Ares' mouth if that's all the turian gave him, but fuck he needed to feel Ares inside of him.

Ares hummed, the sound close to a growl, and took Charles completely into his mouth. Switching hands, he nudged Charles' thigh and reached behind him. Charles shifted his legs, bringing one up and bracing his foot on the edge of the tub to give Ares' better access. Ares spread the lube with a knuckle before using the pad of his finger to tease Charles' taint. Charles whimpered, feeling more than ready, and pushed against Ares' finger.

Despite Charles' urgening, Ares took his time and eased a finger inside of Charles, massaging his prostate and driving him crazy with desire. Charles kneaded Ares' shoulders, resisting the urge to rock his hips while Ares had an unsheathed talon inside of him, and just watched Ares work his magical tongue around his cock.

It still felt … dangerous, but Charles was starting to get used to the idea that Ares actually enjoyed having his head touched and crest squeezed while giving head. So, he clamped his fingers around the longest spike. Ares tensed, but before Charles could rip his hand away and apologize, the turian's eyes closed and he relaxed completely into Charles' grip, thrumming loudly. Charles let out a shuddering breath and adjusted his grip, but he only managed the subtlest of movements to direct Ares' head back and forth along his cock.

Apparently, it was all the encouragement Ares needed. He doubled his effort, picking up speed and twirling his tongue around Charles' cock in the most delightful way. Charles groaned and tipped his head back a second before returning his gaze to Ares. The pressure started to build, so Charles stopped moving, taking slow, steadying breaths to cool his jets.

Ares released Charles' cock and nuzzled his abdomen. "Come here," he said, voice rough, as he leaned back against the edge of the tub.

He took Charles' hand, guiding him into position as Charles moved to perch on the balls of his feet. Charles reached between them, wrapping his hand around Ares' cock and giving him slow, firm strokes as he scraped his teeth over the tip of the turian's mandible. He lined Ares' cock with his ass and started to lower himself, breath stuttering to a stop as he began to stretch around the warm, hard, slick protrusion. Pain tore at his lungs, and he let his pent up breath out with a rush, seating himself completely. Holy shit. He felt so full with Ares' giant cock inside of him. It'd been way, way too long.

Purring, Ares flicked the tip of his tongue against Charles' lips. "I'll help guide you, but you take it at your own pace. Don't hurt yourself and take three steps back in your recovery," he said, a stern look on his face but nothing but gentleness and concern in his subvocals. "I won't be happy if you—"

Wrapping his arms around Ares' cowl, Charles leaned in and pressed their foreheads together. "I know," he said softly. "I'll take it slow, I promise." Easing down off the balls of his feet, he shifted to his knees, but didn't move otherwise just yet. Instead, he closed his eyes, soaking in the perfectness of the feeling of having Ares inside of him, close and just … there.

"I missed this," Ares rumbled and nudged Charles' head up, capturing his lips before shoving his tongue into Charles' mouth.

Not really able to verbalize a response, Charles tightened his grip and returned the kiss, sweeping his tongue over Ares' with each pass. After a moment, he pushed with his knees, moving his body up a few inches. He shuddered and moaned as Ares' cock slid along his prostate. Taking his time, he eased himself back down again.

Ares' fingers twitched against Charles, talons digging into skin, but he only shifted his hips slightly, pushing up just a little as Charles came down. A whimper rolled through him, and he squirmed, finding more leverage while fighting the deeply-rooted urge to ride Ares' cock hard and fast—injuries be damned. He moaned again, tightening around Ares as he slid back down the length of his cock. After a moment, he broke the kiss, filling his lungs with air. Dipping his head beneath Ares' chin, he nipped at his jaw and neck, rubbing his face along the side of Ares' mandible.

"Just a little more," Ares whispered, sliding his hands to Charles' ass and using the grip to guide him up and down without rushing him.

Charles wasn't sure if Ares meant the words as encouragement or as a reminder not to push himself too far, but either way, he'd give Ares whatever he wanted. Ares' right hand let go of Charles' hip and wrapped around his cock instead, stroking him with a slow, firm grip.

"Fuck, Ares." Charles buried his face against Ares' throat and muttered, "I'm not going to last."

Ares growled and gripped Charles' ass tighter, pushing him closer to the edge. "Just do it."

Hearing the command in Ares' voice started a chain reaction. Charles tightened his grip on Ares and picked up speed, still showing amazing restraint, but there was no turning back. His balls tightened, and Ares jacked him off faster, focusing on his frenulum. The first wave hit Charles like a tsunami, ripping a growl from his throat and sending a wrenching shudder through his entire body. Ares took over, keeping Charles moving while he milked out every last drop, cum spilling out over his hand and into the water.

Slowing to a stop, Ares rumbled and scraped his teeth over Charles' throat. "You feel good when you do that."

Chest heaving, Charles lifted a hand to cradle the back of Ares' head. "I'm glad you think so," he said with a soft huff of laughter, "because I never want to stop doing that with you."

"Good," Ares said with another rumble before resting his chin on top of Charles' head.

Catching his breath, Charles kneaded the back of Ares' head and started moving again. "I know we can't get as rough as either of us would like, but I think this position is pretty stable for me." He nipped Ares' mandible and dropped his voice to a throaty purr. "Fill me with your cum."

Gripping Charles' ass with both hands and holding him stationary, Ares growled and thrust into him. Again and again, but still, he held back. It was probably a good thing, given the near-painful sensitivity Charles felt after cumming himself. Ares lapped and nipped at the pulse throbbing in Charles' throat.

Moaning at the sensation, Charles tipped his head. He knew he didn't have anything left in him, but residual waves of pleasure rolled through him, anyway. "You feel fucking amazing," he said, voice throaty as he urged Ares on. Raising his shoulder toward Ares, he offered his bondmark to the explorations of the turian's razor sharp teeth.

Ares closed his mouth over Charles' bondmark and clamped down, the scent of blood drifting into the humid air with the sharp pricks of pain. It did something to Charles. To Charles, not the beast … well, maybe the beast, too, but for Charles it was euphoric. Like … a renewal of unspoken vows. Growling, Ares pulled Charles flush, grinding his hips, and Charles almost felt the hot cum spurting inside of him with each twitch and spasm of Ares' cock inside of his ass.

When Ares released the bondmark, he gently eased Charles off of his cock. Charles leaned into him, situating himself against Ares keel and rested his head on the turian's cowl. Ares purred, lapping the blood from Charles' wound, and wrapped his arms around Charles and held him close.

Yeah. I know. I love you, too.