Chapter Two
Curran had always been drawn to Marlin. It wasn’t just the way he carried himself, with a confidence that made everyone turn their heads.
It also wasn’t just the way his burnt orange scales glinted in the light or how nice he’d always been to Curran.
It was a mix of all of that and so much more, and the initial attraction had grown and evolved over the years until Curran had been completely in love with Marlin.
He still was. He didn’t know how to stop, but the conversation they were having wasn’t helping. Marlin had just offered to fuck Curran, and Curran couldn’t stop thinking about what that would be like.
Curran’s purple scales felt uncomfortably tight against his skin, and he could feel he was already slick, which was enough to make him want to run. He would have in any other circumstance, but Marlin had really said he’d fuck Curran. Curran had heard him.
He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. He’d had too much to drink, and his inhibitions were slipping. Normally, he wouldn’t even consider it, but he couldn’t help but do just that now.
“Curran?” Marlin’s voice pulled Curran out of his thoughts.
“Just shut up,” Curran snapped.
Marlin chuckled. “I made you an offer. Do you still want someone to fuck you?” He leaned against the wall next to Curran, their shoulders brushing together. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through Curran’s body.
Curran swallowed hard, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. Focus. “I said I wanted a quick fuck, not that I wanted someone to fuck me.”
“Yeah? I don’t have a problem with you fucking me if that’s what you want.”
Curran’s brain blue-screened. There was no way Marlin had just offered to let Curran fuck him, was there?
The alcohol made Curran’s thoughts fuzzy, but it also gave him a strange sort of courage. “You’d let me do that?” he blurted out, something he normally wouldn’t have done. He was going to die of embarrassment.
Marlin smirked, his fangs glinting in the dim light. “Why not? Unless that’s not what you want. I'm pretty flexible, so we can do whatever you want.”
“No, I—I mean, yes,” Curran stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just, I didn’t think—”
Marlin chuckled again, and Curran’s breath hitched. “Relax. Let’s just go to my room, yeah? It’s right there.”
Curran nodded. His throat was dry, and his legs felt like jelly as he followed Marlin down the hallway. He was so close to Marlin that he could smell him, and it wasn’t helping. Curran’s groin throbbed in anticipation, and they hadn’t even kissed.
Would Marlin want to kiss him? He was in this to get off, but maybe he enjoyed kissing while having sex. Maybe Curran would be lucky enough that he could have that, too.
Marlin’s living room was sparse but clean, and it looked like he didn’t spend a lot of time there. He closed the door behind them, and Curran’s stomach churned at the click of the lock.
For a moment, they were silent. Curran waited for Marlin to change his mind, but Marlin stepped closer, his tail curling around Curran’s waist. Curran gasped softly. It was the first time Marlin touched him like that—not like he was Birch’s kid brother, but like he was someone he wanted.
“You sure about this?” Marlin asked, his voice soft but firm.
Curran nodded. “I’ve wanted this for years,” he admitted. He hated that he couldn’t stop the words. He’d have to remember not to drink ever again.
Marlin’s expression softened, and he reached up to cup Curran’s cheek. His scales were warm against Curran’s skin, and Curran leaned into the touch, a small whimper escaping his lips.
“Then let’s not waste any more time,” Marlin murmured, his lips brushing against Curran’s ear.
Curran’s breath hitched, and he pressed his body against Marlin’s, curling his tail around Marlin’s thigh. Marlin’s scent was overwhelming, and Curran’s cock began to emerge from his cloaca, slick and eager.
He was going to die from embarrassment.
But Marlin didn’t mock Curran for being too eager. Instead, his hand slid down Curran’s chest, his claws lightly grazing the patch of scales he had just under his ribs. “You’re beautiful like this,” he whispered.
Curran’s legs trembled, and he reached up to grip Marlin’s shoulders for support. “Marlin, please,” he begged. He might regret this in the morning—they both might—but it wouldn’t be enough to stop him. He didn’t want to stop.
Marlin groaned as his own cock emerged from his cloaca, thick and glistening. He leaned down, capturing Curran’s lips in a searing kiss, distracting him from the sight.
Curran moaned into the kiss and tangled his hands in Marlin’s hair. Marlin’s tongue slid against his, causing Curran’s knees to buckle. Marlin caught him easily, his strong arms wrapping around Curran’s waist, holding him up.
He lifted Curran effortlessly, carrying him out of the living room.
Curran barely had the time to look around Marlin’s bedroom before Marlin lay him down gently in the middle of his nest. Curran’s tail slid against the sheets, his body trembling with anticipation.
He didn’t care what the bedroom looked like.
Marlin lowered his body next to Curran’s. “You’re mine,” he murmured, his voice low and possessive and almost enough to coax Curran into believing he could have more than one night.
Curran nodded. “Yours,” he whispered back.
Marlin’s hand slid down Curran’s body, his claws lightly grazing his scales before he reached his cloaca. He pressed his fingers against the slick entrance, and Curran whimpered, his hips bucking involuntarily.
“So eager,” Marlin teased.
Curran reached down to grip the sheets he was splayed over tightly. “Please, Marlin,” he begged.
Marlin smirked. “Since you asked so nicely.”
Curran wasn’t sure what to do with this Marlin. He was nothing like the dragon he was used to, but Curran liked it, even though he knew it would only be for one night.
Marlin leaned down, his lips brushing against Curran’s ear as he lined his cock up with Curran’s cloaca. “Relax,” he murmured, his voice soft but firm.
Curran nodded, his body trembling as he forced himself to obey. It wasn’t his first time, but he’d never cared about his partners as much as he cared about Marlin. He’d never loved any of them the way he loved Marlin.
Marlin’s cock pressed against Curran’s entrance, and Curran gasped, his tail thumping down into the nest. Marlin growled softly, his hips pressing forward as he buried himself deep inside Curran. Curran moaned, his back arching as pleasure coursed through his body.
“You’re so slick,” Marlin murmured, his voice rough with desire.
Curran whimpered, his hands gripping the sheets tightly. “Marlin,” he moaned.
Marlin’s hips began to move, his thrusts slow and deep. Curran’s breath hitched, his body trembling with pleasure.
“You feel so good,” Marlin growled, his hands gripping Curran’s hips tightly.
Curran moaned. His tail curled around Marlin’s thigh. He needed to touch as much of him as he could. “Marlin, please,” he begged, his voice trembling.
Marlin’s thrusts grew stronger. They sent waves of pleasure coursing through Curran’s body, and he had to cling to Marlin’s broad shoulders.
He could feel his claws dig into the patch of scales on the back of Marlin’s left shoulder, but Marlin didn’t say anything about it.
Curran could feel the muscles in Marlin’s back ripple with every movement Marlin made.
Marlin leaned down, his lips brushing against Curran’s ear. “You’re so slick,” he murmured. “It’s like you were made for me.”
Curran shivered, his tail tightening around Marlin’s thigh. He wanted to tell Marlin how much he’d wanted this and for how long, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he let out a soft whimper and arched his body to meet Marlin’s thrusts.
Marlin’s lips trailed down Curran’s neck. Curran sucked in a breath and moved his hands to tangle his fingers in Marlin’s hair. Marlin’s tongue was slick as it licked a path along his collarbone, sending shivers down Curran’s spine.
“Marlin,” Curran whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their mingled breaths.
Marlin pulled back slightly, his gaze locking with Curran’s. For a moment, Curran thought he saw something there—something more than just lust. But before he could process it, Marlin’s lips were on his, effectively distracting him.
Curran’s mind went blank, the world around him fading away as he focused on the feeling of Marlin’s mouth against his.
The kiss was hungry and desperate, and Curran found himself melting into it, his body responding instinctively.
He moaned into Marlin’s mouth and pulled on Marlin’s hair, but they couldn’t get any closer than they already were.
Marlin’s tongue pressed against Curran’s lips, demanding entrance, and Curran eagerly opened to him. Marlin’s taste was intoxicating, and Curran tried to send it to memory. He wanted to remember if this never happened again.
When Marlin finally broke the kiss, Curran was breathless.
He stared up at Marlin, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to be careful.
He couldn’t afford to read too much into it and allow himself to hope that Marlin had feelings for him.
It wasn’t love he could see in Marlin’s eyes. It couldn’t be.
Marlin’s lips landed on Curran’s again, softer this time—almost tender. Curran’s eyes fluttered as he surrendered, his tail coiling tighter around Marlin’s leg. He needed to hold on because he felt like he was about to fall apart.
Marlin’s thrusts became more erratic, his hips slamming into Curran with a force that made Curran cry out. He loved it. He loved Marlin.
Curran shook with the intensity of his pleasure. He could feel his climax building, the pressure coiling in his lower abdomen. “Marlin,” he gasped. “I’m close.”
Marlin moved faster. “Come for me, Curran,” he ordered.
Curran had always thought those words belonged in romance novels and couldn’t exist in the real world, but his body obeyed. His back arched as pleasure crashed through him. He cried out, clinging to Marlin and no doubt leaving marks on him that would be there for everyone to see tomorrow.
Marlin followed, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he reached his own climax.
He buried his face in Curran’s neck, his teeth sinking into the skin there as he groaned Curran’s name.
Curran jerked at the slight pain, but he was too blissed out to protest. He could feel the warmth of Marlin’s release inside him, the heaviness of Marlin’s body trapping him, and he was in heaven.
For a moment, they stayed there, their bodies pressed together, their breaths mingling. Curran’s heart was still racing, and he was struggling to process what had just happened. He wanted to stay like this forever, wrapped in Marlin’s arms, but he knew it couldn’t last.
Marlin pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting Curran’s. Curran searched his gaze, looking for any sign of the emotions he so wanted to see there. He needed to know that Marlin saw him as more than Birch’s little brother and that this had meant something to him.
Marlin’s expression was unreadable. Curran couldn’t see anything in it.
“That was...” Marlin trailed off.
“Amazing,” Curran finished for him, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart hurt in a way he hadn’t thought was possible.
Marlin smirked. “Yeah, it was.”
Curran’s heart sank, but he forced himself to smile. This had been just sex, and he’d known it from the beginning.
Marlin rolled off of him. Curran missed the warmth of his body immediately, his tail curling around his own leg as he stared up at the ceiling. He could feel Marlin’s gaze on him, but he didn’t dare look over. He was trying very hard not to cry.
“You’re quiet,” Marlin observed, his voice casual.
Curran shrugged, his fingers tracing patterns on the sheets. “Just thinking.”
Marlin raised an eyebrow, his tail flicking lazily. “About what?”
Curran hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. Should he say something? Should he tell Marlin how he felt?
He couldn’t. It would ruin what had just happened, and he couldn’t find it in himself to do that, especially when he was sure that nothing would come out of it. “Nothing important,” he said.
Marlin didn’t press, but Curran could feel the weight of his gaze. He wanted to turn to him, to kiss him again, but he forced himself to stay still.
Marlin reached out, his fingers brushing against Curran’s arm. Curran tensed, his heart skipping a beat. He could feel the warmth of Marlin’s touch, the way it sent shivers down his spine.
“Stay here. I’ll grab something to clean up from the bathroom,” Marlin said.
Curran shook his head. “I should go home.”
“Or you could stay here.”
For a second, Curran thought it meant that Marlin wanted them to sleep together. He did, but not in the way Curran wanted it.
Marlin smirked, his tail wrapping around Curran’s. “The night isn’t over yet.”
Curran’s cheeks flushed. Of course that was what Marlin wanted.
Curran felt exposed and vulnerable, and he hated it. He wanted to be strong and hide his feelings, but after what had happened, he was afraid it was impossible.
Marlin’s hand moved to Curran’s chin, tilting his head up so their eyes met again. Curran’s heart raced, his breath catching in his throat. He wanted to kiss him, but he forced himself to stay still.
“Don’t overthink it, Curran,” Marlin said softly, his thumb brushing against Curran’s cheek. “Just enjoy it.”
Curran swallowed hard, his tail tightening around Marlin’s. He wanted to insist that he should go home, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t give this up before it was truly over.
Marlin leaned in, his lips brushing against Curran’s in a soft, lingering kiss. Curran screwed his eyes shut and leaned in because how could he not?
Marlin pulled back. “I’ll be right back.”
Curran watched him get out of the nest. Part of him thought it would be best for him to sneak out while Marlin was occupied, but he couldn’t find it in himself to get up. He was going to hate himself tomorrow, but for tonight, he was going to enjoy this.
It was his only chance to do so, after all.