(The following takes place at the end of "Hell Week: Part 2")

Greatness

I opened the door to Xero's room, the one place in the Palace I'd yet to step foot in. I saw Xero sitting up on his bed, propped up by a couple pillows, staring intently at his petrified foreleg. The room was lit with a single candle, casting long shadows all across the room. It made him look even more tired and worn-out than when he was out in the throneroom.

Three Moons, why was my heart pounding already?

"Hey there," I greeted, more nervously than I meant, "How're you feeling?"

"Fine," He sighed, "Besides, well... everything. Batty said they should've worn off by now. My shoulder itches and my arm feels numb, but..." He shrugged his free arm, and sighed again. "I really fucked up this one."

"I think I know how that feels," I replied, briefly remembering old fights and shouting matches of my old life. I shook my head - that dragoness might as well be on a moon for all I cared. I walked up to his bed slowly and purposefully, assuring myself that I knew what I was doing, and with a quick hop I was laying next to him. He watched me as I scooted up to his side, curious but amused. I started snuggling him, rubbing my body against his, nuzzling his neck, my paws roaming across his chest and belly. Anxiety and fear washed away, as I let my instincts take over, and felt his warmth on my scales.

"What're you doing?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. Noticeably, he wasn't trying to stop me.

"What do you mean?" I asked coyly, nuzzling his cheek. He'd been working on those flowers and perfumes for Batty so much these last couple days, it was starting to stick to him. The scent of lavender and sandalwood clung to his scales, tickling my nose, relaxing me. No wonder Batty had a thing for scents.

"Well, you're acting very... lovey-dovey all of a sudden," He replied, sounding more curious than embarrassed. I scooted closer, and he wrapped his good foreleg over my neck. I took a breath, steadying myself for what I was about to say.

"Maybe it's because I love you."

There it was. How I managed to keep the shake out of my voice, I have no idea. My breath caught once or twice, as I waited for his response. There was a pause that seemed to stretch on forever, and all I could hear was the beating of my heart in my ears. Then he tilted his head, and something changed in his eyes, like he was allowing himself to relax just a tiny bit.

"You... you do?" He seemed surprised, but in a gentle, almost pleased kind of way, like he asked for ten lychees and got eleven instead.

"Yes... I do." I leaned closer, feeling his heartbeat against mine. We were so close now our noses were almost touching. I stared into those deep brown eyes - so sweet, so warm. I thought back to the "experiment" from earlier. I needed to know. "Kiss me."

He hesitated, and for a moment I started to fear the worst. But then he leaned in the rest of the way, and our lips touched for the first time. The whole world came to a stop. It was beautiful, magical, amazing, like flying for the first time. Like I'd been missing something my entire life, and now it was mine. I lost myself in the feeling and the moment. All my worries, my anxieties, the ghosts of the past, all of it simply melted away as I gave all my love and passion to him in that kiss.

I held that kiss as long as I could. When I finally broke away, we were gasping, nose to nose. I stared into his deep brown eyes, hoping he enjoyed it just as much as I had. He surprised me with the most wicked grin I'd ever seen him give.

"You're a good kisser," He complimented, and my heart fluttered.

"Oh? You want more?" I offered, giving a naughty smile of my own.

"I think I do." He said, his paw stroking my back. He glanced down at his petrified limb, and his expression darkened for a moment. "Although, I must warn you that I'm not at 100% tonight. I'm a little unarmed at the moment."

I hummed, thinking it over as I stroked his cheek. "Well then," I teased, "I guess I'll have to take the lead, won't I?" I climbed over him, straddling his hips, looking down at him as he stared back with wide eyes and a playful smirk. I gave him a wink as I leaned over and blew out the candle, leaning back down to kiss him again.

The kisses became more powerful, more enthusiastic as we went on. Our tongues met and danced together, wrestling and writhing in our mouths. I swore to the Moons that I'd find some way to thank Maggy and Batty, both for giving me this night and teaching him to kiss like this. I wrapped my forelegs around his chest, pulling him closer. His one good foreleg went down my back, his paw gently caressing my rear and stroking the underside of my tail. A purring moan erupted from my lips, his touch setting a fire between my legs. My hips rolled and pressed against his all on their own, delightful thrills running up my spine. Even as I pulled away to breathe, I kept kissing and licking his neck, the taste of the desert and his warmth tickling my lips.

"Ahh," He gasped, "I, uh, take it this is your first time?"

"Yes," I said, nuzzling his cheek.

"You honor me, Princess."

"There's no drake I'd rather give my virginity to."

As I continued rolling my hips, I noticed something hot and hard poking against me. I looked down between us, and I felt my cheeks flush at what I saw. "Is that…?"

"It is," He confirmed, following my gaze to his emerging drakehood, "What do you think?"

"I've… never seen one in person before," I admitted, sliding back to see it better, "I've read some medical scrolls and love stories, though." I started to reach down when I realized what I was doing, and flushed. "Sorry," I said quickly, "May I?"

"Please," He gestured down, "You can touch me if you want."

I nodded, swallowing nervously. None of the love stories I read really got too explicit in the intertribal pairings. The science texts were more open, however, about those differences, and had said (somewhat dismissively) that Sandwing drakes were the second smallest, only larger than Rainwings, and not enough to properly satisfy a Nightwing. Yet looking at his pride, I wondered if Xero was larger than most, or if all fun had caused him to grow, or even if the scrolls were lying. An average drake's penis is supposed to be about as tall as a scavenger, and his was maybe a head taller. It was pinkish-red, almost tapering, with several bumps along the underside and ending in a rounded tip.

As I grabbed him at the base, I saw he was about a paw-and-a-half, his flesh even warmer than his scales. He shuddered at my touch, and I recoiled.

"I'm sorry!" I said quickly, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, not at all," He assured me, "It's just sensitive, that's all. Just be gentle, and you're fine. Your paw is really soft, by the way."

"Oh, um, okay. Thank you." I felt my cheeks redden, as I started to stroke him. It felt slick as I moved up and down, firm yet giving. Xero leaned back, half-lidded eyes watching me, humming contentedly as he watched me.

I breathed, and noticed an odd scent in the air. There was his perfume from before, now mixed with this faint, musky smell. It reminded me of a desert oasis in spring, life emerging from the sands after a rainstorm. It should've smelled gross, but something about it tickled a primal part of my brain, fanning the flames of my growing desire. As I stroked him, my hips moved on their own, rubbing my slit back and forth on the base of his tail. It tickled and tantalized me in the most perverse ways, like when I used to hump my pillow during my first heat.

"You're enjoying this?" He asked, a slight purr to his voice.

"Yeah," I said, ""I think so."

"I can feel you getting wet on my tail."

My eyes went wide, and I stopped. "Oh my goodness!" I cried, embarrassed, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"

"Greatness, it's okay," He assured me, giving me that cute, smoldering smile again, "It's not gross. I kind of like it. It just means that you're enjoying this as much as I am." His free-paw caressed my thigh in a gentle, reassuring way, exciting me yet steadying at the same time.

I exhaled, leaning forward and rubbing his shaft again, if a little slower. I timed my movements with my paw, my hips grinding in time with my strokes. We gasped and grunted together, sharing our pleasure, staring into each other's eyes.

"Xero," I gasped, "You feel so warm! It's like I'm rubbing against the sun!"

"You're so soft," He sighed, giving my rear a squeeze. I squeaked in surprise and delight - no one had ever touched me like that before. "Your paws, your scales, your rear. You're just… amazing."

His tail lifted up for a moment, grinding against my loins, brushing my clitoris with dazzling heat. I moaned, the sensations overwhelming, making me crave more and more.

"Xero," I cried, "I, I want more! I want more! I…" I licked my lips nervously, not believing what I was about to say, "I want you inside me."

His brows rose, his drakehood twitching in my paw. "Are you sure?" He asked, "We don't have to go all the way-"

"I want to," I replied, "I think. I, I need to show you how much you mean to me. I want you to… to make me feel like a Queen."

I scooted forward, his length grazing my slit, tantalizing heat tickling my 'Nesshood. Xero's paw held my rear, guiding it, holding me up. I could trust that he would stop me, if I was doing something that might hurt him.

Speaking of which…

"Will it hurt?" I asked, unable to hide the slight tremble in my voice, as his point brushed against my slit, "I read that the first time can be painful."

"It can," He admitted, "At the beginning. Just go slow, take your time to get used to it. You're big enough that I shouldn't be too much for you."

I nodded, and looked down, watching as I started lowering myself. His tip pressed against me, my slit holding firm. For a moment, I feared that he wasn't going break through, but then-

I gasped, as pleasure I'd never felt before rang out like a dinner bell. His tip slipped in, breaching my entrance. Warmth caressed me, beckoning me onwards. Gently, like walking into a warm pool, I eased myself lower and lower. My breath would catch as I adjusted to his size - he was bigger than my talons, and I'd never used my tail for anything more than rubbing against. He stretched me further than I'd ever gone before, and while it was painful, an erotic thrill was mixed with it, dulling the worst of it. I felt his crotch touch mine as I landed, the base of his member stretching me out even more. A pained, happy whine slipped past my lips.

"You alright?" Xero asked, concern in his eyes.

"Ye-yeah," I stammered, "Yeah. It hurts, but it feels good too."

He smiled, his paw reaching up and caressing my cheek. I leaned into the rough warmth. I shifted here and there, squirming as I got used to his drakehood inside me. As the pain eased, my insides squeezed around his length, earning happy grunts and whimpers from my lover.

"Is it good for you?" I asked, squeezing away the worst of the pain.

"Oh yes," He sighed, his smile becoming downright dreamy, "You feel amazing. I'm ready whenever you are."

"Okay," I said, swallowing down the last bit of nerves, "Here we go."

I leaned forward, placing my paws on his shoulders. Bracing myself, I lifted myself up, a dull empty ache following his spear pulling out. I got until only the first bump was still in, and then I pushed down again. I gasped, lightning bolts of joy racing up my spine and tickling the base part of my skull. I repeated the motion, those delightful bumps hitting all the right spots. I did it again, and again, and again, finding a rhythm.

It was… Three Moons, it was like the first time I flew, or when I learned to dance. I was discovering something that was new and brilliant and beautiful, yet was a part of me I'd always had. My wings half-extended, offering me a little more balance as I bounced on his crotch. I stared into Xero's eyes, watching waves of pleasure cross his face in gasps and grunts, and I wondered if I had the same intoxicated look on my face. His paw held onto my rear as I moved, and I tried not to dig my claws into his shoulders as I held on for dear life. The room was filled with the sounds of our labored breathing and the jingling pearls from my horns, and the musky-sweet smell of our lovemaking.

"Ah! Ah! Xero!" I cried, my voice catching with every bounce.

"Greatness!" He grunted, "Oh fuck! Greatness!"

The fire inside me burned hotter, and I made myself move faster. I felt myself getting closer and closer to something amazing, and yet…

My legs began to ache; not with pleasure, but with exhaustion. I wasn't much of an active dragoness before I came to the jungle, and even then I was still out of shape compared to all my tree-climbing friends. That I'd chosen to take one of the most exhausting positions a female can take only made things worse. I tried to keep the pace going, feeling myself get so close to release. But the closer I got, the more my legs hurt, and my frustration built as that climax was just out of reach. After what felt like forever, I had to stop, my wings and neck dropping as I caught my breath.

"I'm sorry," I panted, looking away in embarrassment, "I can't… I couldn't keep up. My legs are so sore and, and…"

"Hey," Xero assured me, caressing my cheek, "It's okay. It's your first time. I wasn't much better, and you got us most of the way. In fact…" He looked me up and down, a seductive smirk on his muzzle, "…Mind if I take it from here?"

Panting, exhausted and desperate, I nodded. His paw went lower, lifting me up by my rear. I leaned forward to brace myself against him, my legs having enough strength to hold myself up. Xero spread his legs out beneath me, and before I could figure out what he was planning, his hips bucked.

I yelped in surprise and delight, feeling his meat fill me so swiftly and strongly. He did it again and again and again, finding a rapid rhythm supported by his tail. He gave a needy, whiny growl, his crotch slapping against mine with gusto. My legs felt tingly and strange, but now it complimented the growing ball of tension building within me. He might've been close, but I was much closer, and I knew I was going to reach it first.

And so I gave myself to it.

My first true orgasm was magical, spiritual even. For a moment, it felt like I was outside my body, my spirit enveloped in ecstasy and joy as I watched my body react. I felt myself tense up and release, a wave of bliss filling me from nose to tail. My back arched, my tail squeezing his. My wings shot out, fully extended, giving Xero my full tapestry of the night sky. A wordless, shuddering whimper slipped through my lips, as my once virgin pussy squeezed and massaged his wonderful spear.

But as I flew through my rapture, Xero was getting closer. As he thrusts became quicker, his grunts and growls became louder, more desperate. His cock was feeling warmer, throbbing with urgent need as his crotch slapped against mine.

"Oh Greatness!" He moaned, "Greatness, I need, I need to… HNNNKGH!"

He made a noise like I punched him in the gut. His paw squeezed my hip, thrusting his hips as deep as they could one last time. His member pulsed, and I had the briefest moment of realization that I was about to be bred, when I felt something hot and wet and thick fill me.

I came again. Harder this time. My memory gets hazy here - I might've howled, I might've purred, I might've shivered in total silence as my mind faded in and out of reality. When I came back down from Heaven, I was laying atop my Sandwing, gasping for breath, staring into his big brown eyes. He was panting too, a little tired smile gracing his muzzle.

"Enjoyed yourself?" He asked, caressing my back gently. I was about to respond, when I saw a smoldering leaf slowly float down to the ground. Looking up, I saw a patch of the leafy roof that looked a little crispy and smoky.

"Did I just torch the roof?" I asked, tired and amazed.

"Yeah," Xero chuckled, "It's something we firebreathers do during particularly strong orgasms. I did the first time Batty and I…" He paused, his eyes going distant. Through the pleasant afterglow, part of me felt guilty for not telling him Batty's agreement with me. Even so, I decided to keep quiet about it - that was something I felt that they would have to work out with each other. Instead, I reached over to the nightstand, grabbing a mug of water and tossing it at the burning leaf. It sizzled and steamed, but the embers went out, and a crisis was averted. I dropped the mug, and then dropped on him, my legs completely and utterly spent. He grunted as I landed on his chest, and I could feel some of his essence leak out of me (which only reminded me how delightfully full I felt).

"Is sex always this good?" I asked, resting my head next to his.

"With the right partner," He said, wrapping his good arm across my lower back, "And a little bit of practice. Even an okay session can be good if it's with someone you care for."

"Like you and me?" I asked.

"Like me and you," He agreed, letting out a big yawn. I yawned in return, closed my eyes, falling asleep to the gentle rising and falling of his chest.

And there we stayed, tightly wound around each other, for the rest of the night.

And that night, I truly became a Queen...