A/N: Though Dehya may not be meta, she's a charmer like all the female Sumerians~ Hope this one does her justice~

Do enjoy~

Hot and Bothered

The Sumeru Desert was a big place.

Probably the understatement of the century, but the statement remained true all the same – it was a big, big place. So much so that even with regular patrols bandits were still a major problem in the region, especially for merchants that travelled between distant settlements or even other nations entirely,

As such, and considering his good reputation and habit of beating up any bandits he came across with relative ease, Aether was hired to help cull their numbers a bit. Kill them, knock them out and arrest them, chase them down until they got tired and surrendered – how he did it was of no concern, so long as he got the job done. A job that Dehya was tasked with helping him with, though in truth it was more him helping her, due to her better knowledge of the landscape.

That was how Aether found himself out in the middle of the desert, perched atop a small mountain and peering down at the bandit encampment far down below. The sun was out in full as it so often was in Sumeru; not a cloud in sight and leaving him sweating under its baleful gaze, not helped but the humid winds. The only mercy was that said winds were fast, giving him some mediocre relief, but any such relief was short-lived when a gust of sand blew over him.

Dehya endured the same weather without so much as a complaint though, so he kept his mouth shut. Instead he lifted the binoculars to his eyes and peered through them, having to look about a bit before he found the gate guards of the small camp. It was a bit grand to even call it that; it was a collection of red tents in a small C-shaped alcove in the mountain, with a bunch of sharpened logs stabbed into the sand to form a spiky barrier against any creatures, leaving just one way in or out – a sliding panel of wood used as a gate. Thin enough either of them could probably break right through it, he noted.

''They're mostly equipped with crossbows and rapiers.'' Dehya noted then, disturbing him from his thoughts. ''Bastards probably robbed a Fontainian merchant given their weapons.''

''Rapiers take skill though.'' Aether noted, switching to who he presumed was the bandit chief judging by his barking of orders. ''Which means they're either talented... or complete idiots.''

Dehya snorted. ''I wanna say the latter, but idiots don't survive out here for long. Then again, if they haven't had the chance to practice with them, they might just treat them like a normal broadsword.''

Aether hummed in agreement. ''Shouldn't be too hard, though the crossbowmen might be annoying.''

''True. You go for them since you're quicker, I'll help clear a path.'' Dehya raised her head as much as she dared, aware too big or fast a motion would attract attention. ''Hm... it's still late afternoon so we have some time until sundown, but...''

She trailed off, catching his attention as he raised his head too – and nearly did a double take as he looked at the horizon to the west. To where a giant wall of gold laid, churning and morphing. He wiped at his eyes but it didn't fade, though the golden lustre given by the sunlight did fade, leaving it a duller rusty hue.

''A sandstorm?''

''Yep.'' Dehya hissed through her teeth. ''My fault. An astrologer friend of mine warned me we'd be getting one, but I thought she meant in the evening, not this soon.''

''Maybe she miscalculated?''

''Nah, that's on me. I didn't ask for clarification.'' Dehya admitted somewhat bashfully; a thorough shake of her head dispelling such embarrassment. ''Either way, we should back off for now. Sandstorms in this region are dangerous, but fighting in a sandstorm is even more so.''

''So we're just going to... let them go?'' Aether uncertainly answered. ''Surely we could-''

''No.'' Dehya disagreed immediately. ''Judging by how far the storm is, I'd say we have... twenty minutes.''

''Twenty?! It looks like it's an hour away...''

''You'd think so but trust me, storms move a lot faster than you expect.'' Dehya crawled away from the mountain's edge; standing only when she was sure she was out of sight of the bandits below. ''C'mon, they won't dare leave during the storm either. If they plan on relocating at all they won't do it until the morning; we'll come back during the night if the storm subsides or ambush them in the morning.''

Aether hesitated, warring with his desire to bring justice to a bunch of ne'er-do-wells, but in the end his trust of Dehya outweighed it – and so with a sigh he obliged, squirming back from the edge and following her as she began a light jog down the slope. The sand and rock made it uneven and risky, perhaps why none of the bandits themselves had put an outpost all the way at the top, but with how experienced both of them were with traversing hazardous landscapes they managed without even a stumble.

It did, however, cut into their travel time, and by the time they reached the bottom of the mountain the sandstorm felt much closer than before – its looming, churning mass of sand and debris like a wall from heaven to earth. It was a bit intimidating to be honest but Aether kept his mouth shut on that front, looking to Dehya for guidance. As the Sumeru native she'd know better than him, after all, and they hadn't exactly planned for a sandstorm.

''We'll have to find shelter until it passes.'' Dehya answered his unasked question. ''Ideally we'd head back to camp, but that's too far – we'd get caught up in the sandstorm long before we reached it. We'll have to find a cave or something. With me!''

The rallying call spurred him into action, the instinctive need to salute nearly overtaking him – but he quenched it, opting instead to run behind the mercenary as she led him through the desert. The rolling hills before them were devoid of further mountains but they could see a cluster of taller hills in the distance; enough that the sand slid off and revealed raw rock, the indents within possibly enough to hide them from the storm.

Minutes bled away before they got remotely close, their feet patting across the golden sands – but one good look foiled their plans, as the cracks in the hills revealed themselves to be just narrow things barely a person or two deep. That option foiled Dehya took a right, their pace evolving into a sprint in order to outpace the storm making its way towards them.

Alas upon cresting the dune there was only more dunes beyond, the next mountain easily ten minutes of running away, if not more.

There was, however, an abandoned village much closer – only a tiny handful of sand-covered buildings remaining with one or two standing, their white stone walls marred by age and their wooden posts long since eroded, but it was better than literally nothing.

''Let's go!'' Dehya called out.

Aether uttered an agreement, already moving and keeping pace with his companion. The sky had started to darken and from the corner of his eye he could see the storm nearing, the winds around them picking up and bits of sand hitting his clothes, but he endured any such discomforts – his sprint slowing only when they neared the white-walled building, cubical in shape and modest in size.

The architecture wasn't his primary concern though, nor Dehya's – the mercenary woman all but busting open the flimsy wooden door and scanning the interior with him just a step behind. Nothing living was inside, mercifully, be they bandit or animal. With that in mind he followed Dehya inside and shoved the door shut, looking around for something to block it and finding an old dirty corner table; wasting no time in pulling it over and shoving it up against the door.

''Will this be enough?'' Aether had to ask.

Dehya hummed from behind him. ''Maybe. Use your sword in place of the draw bar, should keep it stuck shut – even a storm like this won't be enough to bend metal.''

Taking her word for it Aether summoned a Dull Blade and eased it into the empty barricade slot where a block of wood usually went. A good tug of the handle confirmed it wouldn't be opening anytime soon but to play it safe he applied a tiny amount of Geo to the sword; forming clumps of rock that attached it between the wall and sword. Small enough they could break through with pure strength, but solid enough to stop the sword from rattling about and possibly falling out.

Turning away from the door he scanned the room itself – and 'room' was really the best descriptor, as the whole house was just one big room. A square window off to the left that Dehya was closing up with some scraps of wood, a worn couch and corner table by the far wall, an old-fashioned kitchen off to the right with a bed beside it – it looked like this place hadn't been inhabited for decades at least, if not over a century. If nothing else though it was relatively secure.

Not too soon either, as the storm was practically upon them – the howl of its winds audible now as sand granules battered up against the walls of their new home. He sighed at that, allowing the tension to leak from his shoulders and becoming aware of how damn hot he was – the sun, humidity and now the sand all combining to leave him exhausted, to the point he pulled out his water flask to splash his face a bit.

''Don't bother.'' As if reading his mind Dehya interrupted him. ''The water will be so warm it won't help, and we don't know how long we'll be stuck in here – best to save as much water as you can.''

Huffing Aether complied, opting to take a quick drink instead before pocketing it once more. It helped clear his throat but did little for his temperature, and as he peeked at Dehya herself he noticed she looked quite flushed too, one hand brushing through her fringe to get the hair out of her eyes.

''Hm?'' Dehya noticed his staring. ''What is it?''

''You not hot?'' Aether gestured at himself.

Dehya made a noise of understanding and scratched at her cheek. ''I mean yeah, but not much that we can do about it.''

Aether sighed an agreement at that, but an idea came to him – one he gladly did. Namely removing his cape. It wasn't much but exposing some more skin helped take the edge off the heat, the humid airflow enough to soothe... but unfortunately that was the only 'excess' clothing he wore. He couldn't exactly remove his pants and top right in front of her, could he?

Or could he?

Dehya seemed to have the same idea, her cheeks flushing pink as she removed her shoulder armour and gloves – keeping them by the couch should she need to put them on quickly for a fight, but otherwise laying them to rest for now. He turned away slightly to offer some privacy but couldn't look away entirely – besides it wasn't like she was getting naked, she was just taking off her armour and gauntlets, that was it.

But it planted the seed of an idea in his mind, one he did his best to ignore as Dehya removed her boots too, leaving just a pair of thin socks to cover her feet – but they too came off, if only because the floor was a mix of sand and stone with no jagged rocks. Seeing that he dared to do the same, leaving them by the door and leaning against the wall, the stone somewhat cool against his back. Though it also exposed him to the storm more, as tiny bits of sand flitted in through the gaps in the door and brushed against his back, forcing him further into the room to get away from it – and in the process, closer to Dehya.

The mercenary woman looked over at him but broke eye contact just as quickly; suddenly flustered. It awoke the same feeling in him and he awkwardly fidgeted in the quiet, trying not to look but still feeling the urge to strip some more-

-when Dehya spoke. ''You can take your shirt off, y'know. I don't mind.''

''But...''

She snorted. ''In Sumeru a lot of men don't bother with shirts unless they're planning to be out in the evening – too hot most of the time. I've seen my fair share of bare-chested men, Aether.''

Mumbling something incoherent even to himself Aether obliged, stripping his top off and tossing it over the back of the couch. It was cooler without his shirt on but he couldn't help but notice how much more Dehya stared at him, her eyes tracing his pectorals with an intensity he found embarrassing – his flusterment in turn flustering her as she looked away, scratching her arm absentmindedly.

She still looked quite bothered by the heat though. The sandstorm should hopefully drop the temperatures a bit but given they were in the height of summer and the air within the house was already warm he doubted it'd become cool very fast, prompting him to speak up.

''You can undress a bit too...?''

Warmth flushed at her cheeks, pinkness becoming a rosier hue as she looked him over, as if searching for signs of mischief. When she found none, she was the one to smirk. ''Is that your way of saying you've seen plenty of topless women, hm?''

''Ah, no, that's not what I meant-!''

''Haha, I'm just teasin', Aether.'' Dehya cut him off, amusement rich in her eyes. ''But I guess if you're fine with it...''

Her fingers hooked under the cups of her cross-top and pulled, lifting – and then her breasts jiggled free. Plump and embarrassingly alluring Aether forced himself to look away lest he stare inappropriately, though that didn't stop him from glancing back at Dehya as the Sumerian beauty did away with her black shorts too – tossing them onto the couch and sitting down upon it, left in nothing but a pair of plain black panties to hug her curvy hips.

Seeing as she'd dressed down he did so too, removing all but his boxers. It felt... nice, he had to concede. Feelings of embarrassment aside it made the heat much more bearable, the thinness of his boxers helping with that, though he was already predicting he'd be finding sand everywhere for the next few weeks. Curse of Sumeru, he supposed.

The mirthful thought did little to distract him though. Being mostly-naked wasn't entirely new to him – he'd skinny dipped during his journey or shared baths with male friends, such as the onsens in Inazuma or the pools in Sumeru, but the key word there was with male friends. He'd caught glimpses of his female friends in the nude of course, mostly at the aforementioned onsens, but he never thought much about it. It was an accident, end of story.

But this wasn't. Though their need for nudity was to avoid fainting from overheating, it was hard to ignore Dehya's state of dress – or his own, for that matter. She was a beautiful woman already but to see her casually lounging on the couch, tits out and caramel skin unhidden by cloth... it was making it hard to think of anything but her. Or the lewd little ideas that dared spawn themselves in his mind, daring him. Daring him to do things he would never do, but some primal part of him craved.

''Heh. You're not that familiar with nudity, eh?'' Dehya's teasing words snapped him out of his thoughts.

''Erm, what do you mean?'' Aether made a point to look her in the eyes and not an inch lower. No matter how tempting it was to just glimpse-

''You've popped one.''

The quip left him confused for a moment. Until a light wind blew through the home and he felt his boxers brush against his erection, bringing a deep red blush to his cheeks.

''...s-sorry...'' Feebly he apologised.

Something that made Dehya laugh. ''For what? It's a normal guy thing as far as I'm concerned.''

Her long legs stretched out before she rose to her feet, and this time he couldn't resist a glance down at her bust – boobs so plump yet so perfectly shaped, as if meant to be held and caressed. Such sinful thoughts were pushed aside though as Dehya reached him, her index finger curling under his chin and lifting it up, her mirthful eyes meeting his bashful ones – and his heart skipped a beat as she gently pushed him against the wall, her tits pressing against his pectorals.

''You ever done 'it' before, Aeth?'' Dehya murmured, the nickname sending a shivering up his spine.

''No... you?''

''Believe it or not, I haven't. Never met a guy I trusted enough, among other reasons.'' Her finger left his chin but it didn't dip with its absence. ''So, since we've got some time to kill, and we're stuck in here together... why not have a bit of fun?''

He swallowed, thoughts racing a million miles a minute – but a soft, daring agreement slipped past his lips all the same. An agreement that brought a sexy smirk to her lips right before she kissed him, their lips connecting and instantly purging his mind of anything but Dehya – a groan arising from the very back of his throat as he reciprocated the kiss. It felt right in ways that words failed to describe, his hands settling on the small of her back as he held her into it, dragging the kiss out.

Their lips drifted apart only to reconnect just as quickly, a chain of smooches filling the house with the noise – until Dehya pulled back. She didn't leave for long though as the mercenary pushed her face into his neck – and a gasp escaped Aether as she bit him, marking him with a hickey. He groaned at that and daringly ran his left hand up her stomach, feeling the taut muscles underneath her skin before settling his hand over her right breast, cupping it and giving it a squeeze.

His grope drew a hum, nay a purr, out of Dehya, emboldening him to do it again. She sucked his hickey better and worked her way down to his shoulder, kissing along it before marking it with another hickey, the behaviour almost possessive in a way that turned him on – his other hand coming up and getting a nice feel for her breasts, their shape and malleability engrained into his mind.

''Mm... you're the handsy type, huh.'' Dehya murmured against his bitten flesh.

''And you're the bitey type.'' Aether fired back.

A chuckle was her answer as she leaned back, allowing her lips to meet his own. The kiss was less impassioned but no less intimate, the affection behind the gesture true despite her possessive love-bites. He relished it, his heart pounding a million miles a minute even as he fondled her chest like she was the last woman on the planet, unable to get enough of feeling her up. It was that wild need that coaxed his right hand away from her boob and down her side, soon grabbing at her ass and pulling her close.

She cooed at that, apparently liking the ass-grab. Her lips left his and she went for his chest instead, bending down as she sucked at his flesh but never bit, working her way down – until she dropped to her knees before him. Her fingers cheekily dug into his boxers and the next thing he knew they were around his ankles, leaving nothing to hide his stiff cock; the sight of it earning him a coo from Dehya herself, though her blush told of her unspoken embarrassment.

''Not bad Aeth.'' She purred, fingers curling around it and pumping it. ''Lemme help you out, yeah?''

Aether breathed an agreement, eyes on Dehya and Dehya alone as the Sumerian woman stroked him off, leaning forwards in her seat – and her groaned as she kissed his tip. It was almost chaste but preluded but a much more bold one a second later, her lips grazing along his twitching manhood as she kissed down the shaft and then back up it, her lips parting for the very tip.

And then she took him into her mouth. Her plump lips grazed his shaft as it slid between them, her tongue welcoming him inside and slithering over the tip and sides, lubing him with her saliva. Just over half went between her lips before she sucked back up to the tip, his cock exposed for barely a second before she took him back in once more; humming around his shaft as she bobbed her head. Though there was a slight hesitation to her motions at first it was steadily replaced with enthusiasm, her eyes gaining a cocky glint to them.

''Ah, crap... Dehya...'' Aether moaned out feebly, running his fingers through her hair.

The dark-haired woman hummed, the vibrations teasing his cock pleasantly as she closed her eyes, focusing on sucking him off. Her motions grew more rhythmic as she got into the swing of things, those lips of hers gliding along his cock in ways that left him deprived of higher thought – able to just moan as she gave him head, her hands clutching onto his hips to keep him steady as she slurped her lips along his cock.

With every consecutive slurp she took him in deeper, only a hint of struggle seen on her face – before she took him down her throat. The lurid heat waiting for him at the back was intense, like a rush of heat that seared his tip and left him craving it even more. Dehya obliged his unspoken desire, her groan deep and husky as she shoved herself onto his cock even more, his tip hitting and sliding down the back of her throat with a frequency that left him gasping for breath.

''You so good at this...!'' Aether half-moaned, half-praised.

With a mouthful of dick Dehya couldn't quite reply but her hum spoke well of her delight, as it did her lust – her enthusiasm translating into her quickening pace. His shaft slid over her tongue repeatedly and her spit lubed him up aplenty, helping guide him into her humid mouth, the heat there so much more pleasant than the arid atmosphere around them. With so little in the room as well there was nothing but Dehya to catch his gaze; not that he could take his eyes off of her for long as it was, bewitched by her nudity.

When with a wet-sounding pop she let his dick out of her mouth. She was left panting from the blowjob and stroked his cock aplenty, her kneading motions making him throb in her hand; pre-cum glistening across the tip but his orgasm not quite there yet. It was perhaps because of that reason that Dehya stumbled back to her feet, her gait carrying her the few steps needed over to the couch. The same couch that she then plopped herself down onto, legs lifting momentarily as she pulled her black underwear up them and tossed aside.

Before with rosy cheeks and a slight smirk, Dehya opened her legs for him. ''Wanna do it?''

Why wouldn't he?

With lust coursing through his veins Aether stumbled out of his underwear and reached the couch in record time, his hands catching the back of the couch and leaving him atop Dehya, her cheeks rosier than ever and giving her a softer look. One he rewarded with a kiss, the sudden smooch drawing a moan out of his partner even as he got into position, his tip brushing along her womanhood – guided by her hand as she brought his tip to her entrance.

''Aether... right- ahh...''

And then he was inside of her, losing his virginity with Dehya. The thought brought a wave of primal satisfaction; one fuelled by the husky moan Dehya let out. Her insides were hot and a touch slick, easing him inside of her as he rocked his hips, each thrust inching him deeper into the Sumerian woman. He broke off the kiss for air but Dehya was hungry for more, like a starving wolf as she yanked him back into a kiss, her tongue invading his mouth and leaving him groaning; overwhelmed by the myriad of sensations assaulting him.

His left hand kept him propped up whilst his right dared to drop down to her breast, getting another feel of her tit. It was more of an idle grope though in truth, his focus further south as he pumped into her – her pussy like a tight vice that squeezed the sense out of him, able to only bury himself deep into the Sumerian woman and moan into her mouth. The need to breathe eventually forced them apart but all it did was let their moans be heard; her deep, husky voice making each one entrancingly erotic.

''Dehya...'' He ran his hand up to her cheek, caressing it.

The intimate hold made her purse her lips, suddenly so embarrassed, but after a second she leaned her cheek into his palm. It was embarrassing like a lover's touch but considering he was going balls-deep in her he hardly cared, groaning senselessly as her pussy tightened around him repeatedly, the quiver and clench of her insides enough to drain him of any higher thought. It was perhaps because of that that he released her cheek and snaked his arm under her lower back, holding her close as he all but laid atop her, their sweaty bodies close as he rutted into her.

''Nn- hah! Yeah, that's it, be rough. I can take it.'' She breathed against his jaw – a little whine escaping her. ''Right there. Fuck, right there!''

The curse sent a thrill shivering up his spine and he obeyed her without question, slamming himself into her tight, receptive pussy – fitting himself into her like a key into a lock, albeit with much more roughness. His orgasm built within him, her prior blowjob only having hastened it and making him pound her with hurried, desperate thrusts, wanting to enjoy this feeling for longer but struggling to resist the urge – nay the need, to cum.

One made all the more prominent when Dehya leg-locked him. He gasped, teetering on the edge of climax even as he slammed himself into the mercenary, the lurid squelch of their loins joined by the sticky, clamping heat around his cock, his tip aching for release-!

Until he reached it, gasping as he blew his load inside of Dehya. Her legs locked tight as she moaned, one hand pulling his head into her shoulder as he nutted inside of her – his ragged, humping thrusts only amplifying his orgasm in that moment as he pumped untold amounts of seed into the mercenary, her shuddering figure telling of her pleasure, the consequences be damned. All that mattered in that moment was him cumming inside of her.

Slowly her legs loosened Aether took the chance to pull out, a moan escaping him as he stumbled off of Dehya and slumped into the empty seat next to her. Their heated activity left him hotter than before but in that moment he hardly cared, still riding the high of banging someone as attractive as Dehya, the novelty of everything still raw in his mind.

His attention was grabbed though as Dehya shifted closer, and then swung a leg over his. Warmth flooded his cheeks and he was instantly bewitched by the mercenary as she straddled him. Her own face was lit with a rosy hue but it didn't stop her from grinning at him, a hint of cockiness to her expression as she grasped his cock and stroked it – his sensitivity making it all the more intense.

''Up for one more round?'' Dehya teased.

Aether breathed out an agreement, his hands running over her thighs and caressing her hips as they rose up, his tip touching her entrance – and as one they moaned as she impaled herself down onto him. The previous creampie left her insides delightfully sticky, acting like a crude lube as his shaft filled her up once more, his cock kissing her depths for only a moment before Dehya sprung back up.

With how turned on she was going slow wasn't an option, not that he was complaining – his eyes roaming over her curvaceous, nude form with unabashed lust. From her toned figure to her ample bust to her flushed face, every part of Dehya was bewitching. His hands likewise couldn't resist the urge to explore her figure; from her hips to her ass to her back and her breasts, his palms touch all and left her groaning, her breasts kneaded aplenty in particular.

Dehya paid him back by grinding down on his lap, her smirk wolfish as she forced a feeble moan out of him. She switched back to bouncing just as quickly as she'd stopped, the lurid slap of their loins filling the room and tempting him to buck his hips, driving himself up into her slick pussy. A pussy that smothered his cock delightfully, the tightness practically begging for him to let out another load.

He resisted the desire for now, but with how sensitive he was he could already feel the stirrings of another orgasm mounting – one aided by Dehya as she dropped herself onto his cock, the weight descending on his cock preluding the wet heat that drove him wild. His eyes flitted away from her nether lips though and lifted to her chest, watching her ample bust bounce as she did the same, the entrancing jiggle tempting one hand up to grope her.

''Mm... haah, c'mon, be rougher with me.'' Dehya panted out. ''I ain't a soft woman.''

''You're pretty soft here.'' Aether couldn't help but joke.

Dehya snorted and shot him an amused look; one that steadily morphed into a look of hunger as she slowed, doing so long enough that she could lean against him. His hands naturally settled on her lower back and gravitated down to her shapely ass, groping her even as she revved back up – her bounces gaining a rough haste that they lacked before, hinting at her own impending orgasm. Eager to make her cum Aether bucked his hips, his rhythm matching hers as they chased their coming orgasms.

''Hah, crap Dehya...!'' Aether warned.

Dehya just jammed herself down all the more, her panting harsh and animalistic, chasing the friction that lit their nerves up – her insides seizing, his cock throbbing, their highs nigh-!

And then with a shout Aether blew his load. The sudden infusion of warmth was enough to push Dehya to her own orgasm, her rather sharp cry ringing out with only him to hear it – her tightening, clamping insides wringing his orgasm out of him. He bucked his hips all the same, senselessly driving himself up into the woman and spilling his seed into her womb, no thought given to the consequences of such shameless release.

Dehya clutched onto his shoulders then, a harsh breath escaping her as she grinded herself down onto him, her lips pursing briefly before they mashed against his – the kiss hot and rough, matching her perfectly as they came down from cloud nine, a moan shared between them as their hips finally ceased motion. His cock twitched within her unyielding grip but Dehya lifted herself all the same, inch after inch of him escaping – until with a wet pop his tip sprung free, letting her slump down onto the sandy couch cushion by his side.

''Damn.'' Was all they could say – unintentionally in-sync, at that.

Something that drew a snort from Dehya and a chuckle from Aether, the pair sharing bashful grins.

The sandstorm would soon pass, but the bandits wouldn't be cleared up until the morning.

After all... why waste this moment, when they were still so hot and bothered?

[END]