The Anointed’s Paladin

17. A bite and a romp

17

A bite and a romp

Talon

“ I s Kaine all right?” asked Nidori, fluttering up to my shoulders.

I shrugged, and she giggled as she bounced up and down. I managed a smile before looking over at Kaine.

“He’ll be fine, I think. His fall today really shook him.”

“That horse thing was scary,” Nidori agreed. “I’m glad it left after. You looked so calm, though, pulling him up. Thanks for saving him.” She pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

I definitely hadn’t felt calm. Trying to climb up that cliff with Kaine clinging to me like a rain-soaked cat had taken every bit of my strength. And I didn’t even know if I’d done the right thing; letting him fall would have freed Nidori. Yet how could I not have saved him?

“I don’t know if I would have made it without your help,” I said, trying to cheer her up.

“Should I try and talk to him?” she asked, her long, droopy ears twitching nervously. “I… get a bit mixed up around him sometimes. Like I forget what I should be doing. I really want him to like me.”

“He has that effect on me too.” I glanced at his shadowy corner again. “But, no, he seems like he wants space.”

I didn’t want her talking to him and finding out he was upset because of me.

She hummed, her fingers running through my hair. I pulled my gaze away from Kaine, wanting to change the subject.

“What about you, Nidori? How did you end up with him?”

“Oh. It’s really romantic,” she said with a sigh, settling in and starting to weave a section of my hair. “I was being attacked by these two horrible people. So, I ran away and hid, and then Kaine found me. He said he’d help me if I married him, so I did.”

“…what?” I managed, shocked. “He said those exact words?”

“No, the exact words were ‘if you’ll be mine.’ And then he asked for my blood. The strongest bond. Marriage-forever-until-death-do-us-part.”

That was not a proposal.

“So… the blood… married you?”

She laughed. “Of course, silly. Just like in the story of the Noble Queen.”

“The Noble Queen. That’s the one where she’s trying to save her kingdom and makes a deal with a demon?”

Nidori nodded and broke into song.

“ A drop of her blood is what he asked.

And what she did provide.

With a single word, he felled the army…

And so named her his bride.”

I rubbed my temple, staring at the ground. That fairy tale was supposed to be a cautionary tale. Against maoferni. This explained so much. I shot a dark look towards where Kaine had slunk off to. It was going to break her little heart when she found out the truth.

“I always wanted a family,” she said. “Sprites don’t have them. No parents or siblings or lovers. We’re all supposed to be one big community, but I always felt lonely. But now I won’t ever have to feel lonely again.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, a lump forming in my throat. “I understand.”

“There,” said Nidori, “all done.” She patted my head, and I reached up, finding she’d woven my hair into braids.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling a rush of warmth for her. She’d have been devastated if Kaine had died today. But she’d also be free. And she’d never have to know the truth of what he did to her.

“All right. I have to go tell Lei Lei we changed plans,” she said, stifling a yawn. “She’ll give us some new directions.”

“What?”

But Nidori was already off, flying towards the dim glow that led to the entrance of the cave. Must be nice, to have a patron you actually trusted. For a second, I had a mad thought that perhaps I should reach out to Lydes, but I stopped that thought with a shudder.

-

We settled down to sleep, the evidence of the morning light faintly illuminating some of the far walls.

I started my routine process of cleaning my clothes and stopped when I found blood on my breastplate.

I frowned. It was on the outside. I checked my cloak and found a dark stain there as well. I sprinkled some white cleaning powder on the cloak and rubbed in some water, thinking.

I wasn’t hurt. Kaine’s hurried retreat to the corner clicked into place. I hadn’t seen his fall initially but had heard an impact before he reached me.

I walked cautiously towards him. He was tucked into a small corner of rock, hunched over. His cloak wrapped tightly around him. His pale blue eyes stared at me as I came closer .

“I found blood on my chest plate,” I said when I reached him. This close, I could see he looked paler than normal. His breathing was laboured, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Must have missed a spot after all, then.”

I crouched beside him and twitched my fingers, wanting to touch him to assess the damage. Even without that, I could tell it was bad. His body was shutting down. I could see his pulse on his neck, jittery and too fast.

I hesitated. This could be it. I could end him right here. Or I could just walk away, leaving him to his fate. Nidori would be free. It should be an easy choice. The right thing for a monster slayer to do.

Our eyes met, and there was fear in his gaze. He’d never seemed so small to me as he did here.

His expression settled, resigned, and he closed his eyes, shoulders slumping.

“Go on, then,” he muttered, solidifying my decision. He was so sure I was here to kill him. I wanted to show him not everyone was a bad person.

“You look like shit. Let me see,” I said gruffly, settling down.

He sniffed, some of the tension leaving his body as it became clear I was going to help. “I’m fine.”

“You could show me now,” I said firmly, “or I can wait until you pass out. I’d say you’ve got maybe ten, fifteen minutes. But that’s not a good option. Lots more to fix, and I’m limited on my healing right now.”

“Some… Paladin.” He panted, trying to smile but just wincing instead. “Fine,” he said, reaching towards me. His hand fisted into my shirt, yanking me forwards, but I regained my balance and reached for his shoulders, helping him lie back. I summoned some light and unbuttoned his shirt, then used my magic to assess the damage. It wasn’t pretty. The damage was deep enough to reach his lungs. There was smashed bone from his ribs causing further damage with every breath. The dark fabric of his shirt was soaked in blood, and he grimaced as I peeled it off his chest. The blood was from a few bits of broken skin, but I knew the true damage was beneath, only visible by a mass of bruising. The movement of his chest was all wrong, parts moving down when they should be moving up.

“What was your plan with this?” I met his eyes, raising my eyebrows.

He attempted a shrug. “Fix it, with your help, of course,” he said, causing my jaw to tick. Stubborn idiot.

I placed my hand on his forehead and sank my healing powers into his lungs, fixing them so he could breathe properly again. Before, I could have healed everything in a second. Now I had to be strategic about healing. The non-essential stuff would have to be done without magic. I went to my supplies, grabbing what I needed before returning. I glanced back at him, trying to imagine why he’d gone and hidden in a corner when he was so hurt.

He hadn’t wanted us to see his injuries. My gaze softened at his hunched position. When had he learned that hiding was his best choice when hurt? That he couldn’t show any weakness?

The memory of him flinching from me returned, with new context. He wasn’t flinching because of me ; he was expecting pain. Maybe there was more to him than just an arrogant asshole.

“Looks like it all worked out.” He managed a smile as I approached him. His breathing had steadied, and he looked marginally better.

“It’ll be all right now,” I said quietly. “I’ve got to clean the wounds to see how bad it is. Then I’ll dress the open parts.”

I paused, but nothing happened. Perhaps he didn’t realise I was asking .

“May I?” I asked.

His eyes met mine, surprise flashing on his face for a second before he had it under control. He nodded, almost imperceptibly.

On to the scrapes on his chest. I started by mixing the dattol powder into the water. The strong, medicinal smell was comforting, and it was excellent at cleaning off dried blood.

I poured the water over the wound. He continued staring ahead, expression tight, as I rinsed his skin. How many times had he dealt with something like this by himself?

He was trembling slightly as I brought a soft cloth to his skin, wiping it clean, avoiding the open skin. I was near his collarbone when I glanced up.

I rustled my wings uncomfortably. “Sorry. If I scared you,” I said, turning back to his bloody chest.

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged. I hadn’t told anyone this, except Hulm.

“Earlier. I know my appearance is menacing. And I have this curse. It can get the better of me if I’m not careful. I can let it slip out sometimes.”

He snorted, cutting it off with a pained hiss. I focused on his blood, trying not to be distracted by his bare skin in front of me.

“Darling, this isn’t about you . You think you’re the only enferni I’ve met who’s triggered Mirilith’s fervour?”

I stopped and looked up at him. He’d met others with it?

Kaine continued. “I know I… I’m not perfect. I know you hate me for trapping Nidori. I can see it in your eyes. I don’t really blame you.”

My mind slowly worked through what he said, still distracted from the revelation about my condition.

“I don’t think I hate you,” I said slowly. “I think I did . ”

“I mean, I did stab you,” he said, leaning back against the wall. I was finished with the dried blood and was now rinsing the scratches.

“She thinks you married her.”

He chuckled, then met my eyes and stopped. “Wait, what?” he said, eyes wide.

“She told me this evening. She thought your deal was a… proposal. Sealed with her blood.”

“I…” He swallowed. “Oh.”

He fiddled with the hem of his jacket, not speaking for a moment.

“Did you tell her the truth?” he asked, eyes glancing over to where she lay, curled up.

“No way. That’s your punishment for trapping her. You’ll have to break her heart.”

I left the scratches to dry a bit, preparing dressings before he spoke again.

“Look.” Bitterness seeped into his voice, and his eyes darted to the side as he struggled to find words. “I… haven’t got a lot of experience with this. How to be around others. I haven’t had anyone like you and Nidori. Perhaps I had, once, a long time ago. But when Hell was sealed, I ended up trapped here. And I was caught. A sorcerer figured out how to turn my magic against me. Bonded me. For three hundred years, I’ve been enslaved. Passed from bondowner to bondowner. Treated like nothing. Worse than nothing. And then, suddenly, I was free. And I wanted to stay that way. That meant using every advantage I could get. But… I don’t know.”

“You should let her go,” I said, trying to catch his eye.

He fiddled with his hands. “I know. But I can’t,” he said quietly. “She sealed it with blood. She’s mine, forever.”

His blue eyes met mine, and I was surprised to find I believed him. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t actually seen him command her at all. Or maybe how gently he had picked her up when he put her in the boat.

“You better do right by her, then. She deserves the world.”

“You going to stick around, then? Make sure I behave myself?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Someone has to.” I flicked his shoulder with the cloth, trying to lighten the mood. “Maybe we could start with a thank you? For saving your sorry ass twice today?”

“Excuse me, my ass is exquisite . And thank you's aren’t really my style, darling,” he said, reaching out and letting his fingers brush my cheek. My face heated at his touch… and thoughts of his ass. I’d had a great view of it as he scaled the wall today. It was exquisite.

I went back to bandaging, my rough hands brushing against his smooth skin. I found myself unable to look up and meet his eyes. He was so close to me. My eyes were drawn to his lean frame. It seemed so different from last night. He was so… vulnerable. Perhaps I was the one who was different, seeing him from a new perspective after I’d had him cling to me for dear life today.

I finished with the dressings on his chest.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” I asked.

“Hang on.” He shifted with a wince, shimmying his pants down and exposing his slender legs. His right thigh had a scrape all the way up almost to his…

I cleared my throat, and glanced up at his face. The thin smirk was back as he leaned backwards.

“Um, do you want to do this part?” I asked.

“You would deny me the skilled touch of a healer? Oh Talon, you’re so mean.”

I lowered my cloth back into the dattol mix and squeezed out the excess water, bringing it to his skin. I was desperately trying to keep my mind blank. Just cleaning skin. It could be anywhere on his body, it just so happened to be close to the bulge in his underwear that I should not be thinking about. I felt like my cheeks were going to catch on fire as I hastily dried and dressed the scrape.

To my relief and disappointment, he pulled his pants back up.

“I, um, have a bit of healing left,” I said. “I used the first part to heal your heart and lungs. But now I can heal the bone breaks in your ribs. It’ll take away most of the pain while you breathe, if you want.”

He gave me a funny look. “What am I supposed to say to that? No thank you, I like my ribs being shattered? ”

I glanced up at him, serious. “I’m not going to do anything to your body without you giving permission.”

“How sweet,” he said, eyes twinkling with mirth.

“For healing!” I hurriedly added, face burning. “And, I mean, anything else, of course, I wouldn’t—”

“Yes, you can heal me,” he said, mercifully cutting me off.

I lowered my eyes to his torso again and lifted my hands. My fingers brushed his shoulder, infusing my energy into his body, healing his cracked ribs. He closed his eyes, relief crossing his face. A sigh escaped his lips as I finished, and his shoulders relaxed. He looked so satisfied, and my face burned as I imagined a… different situation where he might look the same. Gods, why couldn’t I keep my thoughts pure around him? It was like he melted my brain and reduced me to nothing more than an animal. And, to my fucked-up brain, the shame of feeling like an animal made me even more aroused. I was already addicted to it.

“Gods, that’s better,” he said, rolling his shoulders and moving to stand.

I rose with him, and his hand rested on my arm, thumb stroking back and forth. His eyes met mine again, and I felt rooted to the spot. Hope stirred in my chest, that perhaps he’d move closer. That we could do something about the heat pumping through me.

“You’re so sweet, Talon. Now all I need is some energy back, and my body will fix itself.”

He started back towards camp, glancing behind him.

Energy . The thought stuck in my brain, making my tail lash behind me, my heart rate picking up. He stopped at the sound, turning, eyes glimmering in the dim light of the cave. My mind shifted to the other night—our kiss, feeling a hint of sharpness as his fangs brushed my lip. The drop of blood on his finger, slipping into his mouth. Desire stirred in me, tingling to my fingers.

“Maoferni can draw others’ strength through blood, right?” I kept my voice level.

“Yes,” he said, cocking his head to the side.

“Could I help you?”

He stepped back towards me and reached up, sweeping my braids off my shoulder. Goosebumps erupted on my skin at the thought of him tugging me down and sinking his fangs into my throat. But he didn’t, instead just running a finger down the pulsing vessel on my neck. I swallowed, mouth dry. My top button was undone on my shirt, and his hand stopped there, his cool fingers resting on my skin. I was sure he didn’t really want me, especially after he’d pulled away last night. But he might want my blood. Fuck, if he gave me anything at all, I’d kiss his feet and thank him.

“We’ll all benefit if you’re at your best.” I wasn't sure if I was talking to him or myself. Because I definitely shouldn’t be indulging this desire. I had promised myself no more touching, but this was to help him. He needed this to get better. No big deal.

His fingers were playing with my chest hair, and as he looked up at me, I could see the hunger gleaming in his eyes. My blood was heating again, my balls tightening as my dick lurched to attention. My almost perfect commitment to chastity had meant I had never gone further than kissing another man. And I wanted to do so much more with Kaine than kissing.

My heart was beating in my throat. I should pull back. Just offer him my arm. Insist he didn’t touch me any more than he needed to. Perhaps this was my last chance to stop this. Or perhaps that chance had already passed, because I wasn’t strong enough to step away.

His gaze swept down my body, and my skin prickled in shame as he looked at the bulge in my pants. Horny animal. Fuck, why did that make me even more aroused? I braced myself for him to step away, to reject me. Instead, he gave me a smug smile and leaned closer, his torso brushing against my hardening erection. He… didn’t mind? Or was he just playing me again?

“Of course,” he murmured, gazing into my eyes. I struggled to remember the conversation we’d been having. “What do you suggest? What do you… want?”

There was no way he didn’t know already, but it seemed he was going to make me say it. Strip me of my dignity. Make me beg. Fuck, yes.

What had he said the other night? Enjoy it. Being alive. Being here.

I closed my eyes. “Please. I want to give you my blood.”

He hummed out a breath of pleasure. “Is that right?”

He trailed his hand along my neck, his eyes flashing as he pushed me backwards until we hit the wall, my wings splaying out as I was pushed back. My temperature spiked in response. His body pressed hard into mine, his presence infusing the air with dominance. His hand was at my jaw, forcing my head to the side. My own body responded, growling, wanting to take him now. But I wouldn’t give in. I would be perfect for him. But just in case, I had a plan .

I rested a hand on his shoulder, and he let me down a bit. “Look,” I said. “We like to play rough. If either of us needs to stop, just say red flame.”

“A safe word?” he asked, amused as he pushed my head back up. “Cute. All right, then.”

He was so fucking gorgeous, his slim fingers working on undoing the rest of the buttons on my shirt. My eyes were drawn to the silver curls above his long eyelashes, the curve of his smirk. My erection was straining against my pants; my tail was curling around him, caressing his back. Enjoy this as you drown. I could barely believe this was happening, here, with this gorgeous demon.

His eyes flashed as he stepped closer still, the side of his thigh rubbing against my cock as he stretched up on tiptoes and grabbed my horn. He pulled my head down so I was at his level. My hips angled forward, arching towards him.

“Already hard, Paladin? You’re secretly a desperate little whore, aren’t you?” he murmured, and I moaned in response. My dick, already painfully hard, leaked pre-cum, wetting my pants.

His lips brushed my neck, but there were still no fangs. He was taking his sweet time. I restrained myself from growling at him to bite me. I didn’t want to scare him off.

Fuck, he felt so good holding me where he needed me. One hand slipped my shirt off, while the other traced patterns on my back. My mind went blank as he shifted against my leg, his stiff cock pressing against my skin.

He was into this? But it was there—proof he wasn’t just using me for my blood or tolerating me. At least, not completely. Proof he was enjoying this. My pants were wet with anticipation, and I let myself relax, just a little .

Every time I was around him, I was drawn to him. Even now, I couldn’t help arching towards him, my tail twining around his waist, pulling him closer, my wings encompassing us and creating our own private world.

I finally felt the sharp points of his fangs brush against my skin. The anticipation sent shivers of lightning throughout my body. My head was secure in his grip, and I couldn’t see his face. But, still, he waited. What for? Would he leave just like he’d done last time?

I couldn’t bear the thought.

“K-Kaine,” I breathed, my voice shaking. My hand found the back of his head, and I buried my fingers in his soft curls. My tail wound around him, pulling him closer. “ Please . I need you.”

He let me up a bit, hooded eyes regarded me, a wicked smile on his face. I wondered if I’d said the wrong thing.

“Did I hear that right?” He trailed his finger down the membrane of one of my wings, delight in his voice. “A paragon of faith… champion of Lydes, begging me to have my way with him? I don’t believe it.”

I let out a groan at his words, drinking in the sweet shame. Yes. Fuck, I’m depraved for you. His hand touched my chest, down my abs, then he leaned forward. His voice dropped to a whisper as he held my head firmly in place.

“Say it again, Talon.

Beg me.

Beg me to bite you… to fuck you.”

“P-please,” I said, not keeping the whine out of my voice. My wings shifted, enclosing us more. “Kaine, please—bite me. Fuck me. I just need you .”

“Mmm. Good boy,” he murmured, sending a wave of pleasure through me .

He yanked my horn, forcing my head down again. The control he had shown before disappeared. His bite was sharp, fierce, obliterating any semblance of thought in my mind. All I could sense was him; his frosty smell, his hands holding me still, the brush of his curls on my jaw. The pain was calling to Mirilith’s curse, searing through my blood, setting my heart pounding. He moaned and bit in deeper, his lips brushing against my neck. My body was burning through the sensation, greedily taking everything as pleasure, my cock jerking in response. This was everything I had imagined and more. I pressed my tongue against my teeth.

I gasped as his fingers brushed the hair on my navel, following the trail down until he stopped at the seam of my pants. He adjusted his bite, shifting forwards and slipping his hands into my pants, cupping my cock. I hadn’t realised how much I’d believed he wouldn’t touch me. He explored it, fingers tracing the pattern of ridges all the way down the shaft—uninvited but definitely welcome. He wanted to touch it. Touch me.

It was perfect; he had me completely. I was floating in a wave of pleasure, building slowly but surely. He drank until my head started to lighten, and I had to draw on my healing to stay upright. Then he removed his mouth, blood dripping from his chin.

He sighed, his eyes closed, shoulders slumping down in satisfaction.

“That was divine ,” he said, gazing up at me for a moment. His hand was still playing with my cock. I trembled as he looked up at me. “Now. You promised whatever I want?”

“Whatever you want.” I bit my lip. It may mean that he’d stop touching my cock, but I meant it, anyway. I was desperate to please him. Let him direct my focus as I lost myself in lust.

“Kneel,” he demanded .

I lowered myself to my knees, my wings reaching down submissively. My tail lashed as he slipped off his underwear and I got to see his cock. He palmed the long, pale length, summoning a bead of pre-cum from the tip. I leaned forward. I wanted to taste it. Desperately. He brought his cock to my face, brushing the smooth hardness against my cheeks, my mouth. I could feel the wetness on my lips. His fingers tangled in my hair, and I glanced up at him.

“Go on. Do your job,” he said.

I hesitated, heart pounding. I was afraid I’d start, and he’d pull away in disgust. It wasn’t fair not to warn him.

“I… I don’t want you to be surprised,” I said, looking down at the ground, face burning. “My tongue works… differently than you might be used to. I—”

I was cut off by a rough pressure on my lips, his thumb silencing me. His fingers wrapped under my chin and forced me to look up. My cock throbbed at his treatment. His eyes gleamed as he looked at me.

“The only thing I want those pretty lips doing right now is pleasuring… my… cock,” he said, drawing out the last words. He let go dismissively. “So, less talking, more working.”

I nodded, unable to speak, and he returned to my mouth. I hoped he knew what he was asking for. I’d show him first, in case he changed his mind.

I blinked and nervously slid my tongue out. It reached a normal length, and I pushed forward, unsheathing the dorsal part as it pushed out further still, slipping down until it reached the middle of his thigh. Now it had been untethered, it twitched and started to swell from the arousal pumping in my veins. I forced myself to look at him, waiting for his reaction .

“Go on,” he murmured, rolling his eyes and twirling his finger in the air. He… knew. Though, I guess it made sense. Unlike me, he’d met other hellspawn before.

I took a breath and let my tongue split down the centre, into its natural fork. He let out a huff of pleasure, bringing himself closer to me again. I was shaking from nerves but managed to glance up at him. His eyes were hooded as he stared down at me, face flushed. He was biting his lip in anticipation.

So, I wrapped my tongue around his shaft, letting my top lip brush against his tip as my tongue coiled all the way to the base. A drop beaded against my lips and dissolved into my mouth. It was a strong flavour, salty, not entirely pleasant but thrilling. I wanted more, my tenseness loosening as I focused on him. I went by instinct, but it seemed to be working from the breathy sounds he was making.

My tongue massaged his length, pulsing pressure up and down his cock. I was getting hotter, and my legs felt weak as the pleasure in my loins built. His grip on my hair tightened, responding to the way my glossa muscle wrapped around him—curling, stroking. He kept me there as I pulled my tongue back to lick the V of my split against him. I teased his balls, letting my teeth brush against his tip just slightly.

Then he was steering me forward, so I slipped my lips around his cock. The back of my soft, swollen tongue yielded to his intrusion, enveloping his dick as he slid inside. Though the length of my tongue needed to remain out while he was in, I couldn’t help but direct it lower, under his balls, towards his tight hole. My hand slid to my own erection, needing some attention. The moans he made spurred me on, and I took him deeper. I tried to take a breath and relax, as I could feel him at the back of my mouth, using the space where my tongue usually was. I circled my tongue around his rim, making it wet and pressing against the entrance. I was so close to coming, I stopped stroking and just held my hand firmly against my dick in an attempt to delay the inevitable.

One of his hands tangled in my hair again before grabbing on to my horn, sending another shiver of pleasure through me.

“You can do it, pet. Deeper,” he said, voice hoarse.

Fuck, I wanted to please him so badly. I wasn’t sure if he meant to take his cock or penetrate him more, but I could do both. He pulled my head closer. I took him as he forced himself deeper, my eyes watering as muscles I hadn’t even known existed stretched to accommodate his length. I couldn’t breathe, but being used like that by him was divine. I struggled, pressing my tongue further and slipping inside his asshole, stretching him out.

I could feel the tightening that told me he was close and braced myself to take his load, but it didn’t come. Instead, he stopped and pulled out, tilting my head up again. I slid my tongue out, gazing up at him.

“You did such a good job,” he purred, breathing heavily as he held my gaze. Heat rushed to my face at the praise. I slid my tongue back in enough that I could talk.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“We’re not done yet.”

He reached down and brought me up to stand against him, pressing his body against my cock and providing the touch I was longing for. The fire in me burned, raging, demanding I take .

My arm wound around him, pulling him closer as I grabbed his hips. He stood on his tiptoes, grinding against my erection. I still couldn’t believe he wanted this, wanted me. It flooded me with desire, threatening to shred every ounce of control I had, but I clung on. I wanted to be present for him. To attend to his desires. A simple spell coated us with slick, aiding our movements .

“I can see it in your eyes,” he said, lifting his arm up and brushing his hand against my cheek. “Your need. You’re desperate for me, aren’t you, slut?”

“F-fuck, yes,” I said, proud I even managed to make it sound breathy. I might have sheathed my tongue again, but it would be swollen for a while.

His nail cut into my cheek as his head turned up to me. The pain of the small cut stoked another wave of lust, mixing with Mirilith’s anger inside me, screaming at me to take him. He kissed me again, on my top lip, then took the tips of my tongue into his mouth, drawing it out again and sucking on them. I slid it forwards, letting it fill his mouth as he held me closer. My hands roamed down his back, cupping his supple ass. He groaned as I slipped my finger down, working more slick around his tight hole. I tensed, and my stomach dropped as he pulled back. He was panting as he looked up at me, but there was nothing but lust in his gaze.

His hand slid down to my cock, wrapping around it as he spoke. “I want to feel your massive demon cock inside of me,” he said, pulling me closer. “I want you to lose that control and fuck me like an animal.”

I paused, hesitating, clinging to my last strenuous threads of control. I’d never indulged that urge before. Sylphia had been in control, yes, but that mainly looked like me staying still while she worked around me. Which wasn’t the worst, but also very much wasn’t this. The idea of having permission to take him was intoxicating, but he was so much more delicate than me. I had only ever let go when killing something. What if I hurt him?

“Kaine. I—”

He grabbed my face, leaning in close. “Didn’t you hear me?” he said. “Don’t make me ask again. ”

His demand, his anger, was the last thing I needed in order to let go. I freed my face with a snarl, instinct taking over. I caught a flash of satisfaction as I tugged him into a better position, pulling his hips so his entrance was against my dick. I was tense, anticipating the safe word and having to back off, but that didn’t happen. His moan as I pressed against his tight asshole sent a shiver of delight through me, and I moved my hand down, preparing him with my thumb. I could feel his thigh trembling as I slipped inside, stretching him out. His hand reached back, gripping my leg and pulling me closer. I slipped another finger in, trembling, and he let out a sound of pleasure, making my dick throb. I rubbed my tip against him. Again, I paused, in case he wanted me to go slower, but he pushed towards me again. I pressed my tip against his rim, waiting for the yield before I slipped inside. My cock pulsed; it had been so long since it had felt anything like this and was eager for more. I tried to ease in slowly, as he stretched to accommodate my girth, but he sped up the pace. Fuck, he felt better than anything I had imagined, and a storm of ecstasy built within me, getting more intense with every movement inside his tight hole.

The sound of my hips slapping against his bare skin was driving me crazy. My hulking form was bent over his. He was panting beneath me, and I freed my tongue again, daring to let the split end hang out in the air. I dug my hands into his hips, taking in the feel of his firm muscles straining under my touch.

I looked down at him, amazed by his smooth skin, his angelic curls, the set of his shoulders. Every part of him was stunning. His slender frame felt surprisingly strong, despite our size difference. I was gasping, my breaths coming out in groans as I felt myself come closer and started thrusting into him at a gruelling pace. I didn’t have to think, didn’t have to slow or stop, just lost myself inside his body. He moaned, his voice going up an octave, and the sound tipped me over the edge. My fingers dug into his skin as the orgasm took me, drawing his name to my lips in a hiss. I could do nothing but hold on as the intense wave of pleasure seared through my body, holding me in a stunning moment of ecstasy.

I panted, sweat coating my back as I came down from the high. The fire in me settled, and I stroked Kaine’s back as we separated, suddenly worried I’d gone too far. But he shot me a sly smile as he started to clean up the evidence he’d enjoyed himself too. I leaned back, spent, only able to watch him for now. It was a pleasant sight—his round ass as he bent to pick up his clothes, the taut muscles on his arms, the subdued lines of muscles on his chest. I took it all in, not having to glance away when our eyes met. My cheeks did heat a bit, though.

He had his smug smile back on his face as his eyes raked over me. “Well, well, well.” Kaine slung his shirt over his shoulder and cocked his head. “Aren’t you a naughty Paladin? Going around fucking devils. Isn’t banging anything a cardinal sin for the Guild?”

“They can go fuck themselves,” I said flatly, a faint lisp undercutting the seriousness of my statements. “Bunch of stuck-up, self-righteous pricks.”

“You know, you are a lot smarter than I thought you were,” he said, pleased, coming over and ruffling my hair. The casual touch somehow cemented that this was real. For some reason, he’d actually invited me to fuck him.

I started to wash off, watching him saunter back to his bedroll. He was back to his cocky self. He’d won this little game we’d played, despite my previous resolve to resist. And I thought he’d win every time he tried.

That cautious voice in my mind whispered to me again. Just don’t forget he’ll drown you.