Brir (Wanderers Between Worlds #2)

Chapter 20

Rangely, Colorado

Brir

Theo left at sunrise, not needing much rest. She would head north to Washington, then east towards Kansas to see Vale. She would also inform others to go to New Pharia if she spotted them.

Before she left, she told me to take the radio with us, to keep it on but not to use it. Arya was worried the military was listening in, but she would send out a distress call if there was any real trouble.

I packed the bags Dune would carry with food and everything else we needed. I placed the radio in my bag and made sure it was on.

By the time everything was in order, the shadows had begun to lighten, stretching their long fingers across the landscape. Undaunted by the impending journey, Dune gave a low grunt of impatience. I placed a comforting hand on his side, feeling the rhythmic pulse of life beneath my palm.

We would travel in the daylight because Artemis couldn’t see in the dark. I grabbed my goggles from their hook and pulled them over my head.

I wasn’t a fan of the sun, but it was a sacrifice I had to make for Artemis. Like most humans, he found solace in the light, whereas I thrived in the darkness like most of my kin.

I pulled my goggles down over my eyes to shield them from the light and grabbed my coat so the sun wouldn’t burn my skin. I knew the roads we would need to take, having traveled to New Pharia every few months since Arya had established it.

Turning to Artemis, I noticed how his skin seemed to glow under the sun's harsh light, casting an almost ethereal aura around him. The sight was mesmerizing and starkly contrasted my appearance under the same rays. A slight ache in my heart reminded me once again how different we were and yet how similar.

His tail, with its gleaming scales, was tucked between his legs, showing that he wasn’t okay. The scent of fear poured off his skin as he wrung his hands, looking around us.

I stepped closer to Artemis, his tail wrapped around my arm like it always did when he subconsciously wanted me close. I reached out to gently stroke his scales. His tail was cool beneath my touch, a welcome respite from the harsh sun overhead. I loved how different his body was. His human skin was just a few degrees warmer than his scales. I found his gaze, offering him a reassuring smile.

He turned to look at me, his blue eyes lighting up with an unspoken question. I smiled at him in an attempt to reassure him that everything was going to be okay. He returned the smile, albeit weakly.

I leaned down and kissed him gently.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady. He nodded, taking a deep breath.

“I’m kind of nervous,” he admitted, looking back at the bunker door.

“Why would you be nervous?” I asked, raising my hand to cup his face so I could run my thumb along his jaw.

“I’m just—” he tried to explain but stopped like he was trying to piece the words together. He let out an exasperated sigh. “This place has become my home. I’ve never felt safe or accepted like I do here. What if Arya doesn’t like me? What if the people in New Pharia think I’m a freak now? I know that is stupid because it’s not my home. It’s yours, but I feel like I’m free here.”

I tilted my head, looking into his troubled eyes. The sun danced in his black hair, and the green highlights shimmered between the strands. “It’s our home,” I corrected softly. I kissed him softly, just a brush of our lips. “We can return after we find your sister, and Arya would never not love you. The people in New Pharia are more accepting than any others that I know. You will see that there is nothing for you to worry about. You saw how Theo accepted you in seconds. They will love you.”

“You would want me to come back here with you?” he asked, looking up at me. His blue eyes shone with hope.

“That’s all you took from that?” I asked, shaking my head. He just smiled up at me.

“Kind of seemed like the only important part.” His arms went around my neck, his clawed fingers running against the skin of my neck.

“Of course I want you to come home with me. You’re mine, Artemis. I told you that on the first day, Butterfly. You’re mine. I claimed you. I’m never letting you go.” I kissed him harder, forcing his mouth open for me, dragging my tongue against his. I pulled back to bite his lip, making him moan.

His breath hitched at my words, a blush creeping up his neck. “You mean that?” he whispered, those three syllables holding more weight than any other word he could have said. His fingers twitched in mine before intertwining our hands, silently accepting my statement.

“To my last breath.” I leaned my forehead against his. I loved how he felt in my arms.

“Alright,” His eyes shined with unshed tears. He wrapped his arms around me, pressing his body close to mine. We held onto each other for a few long moments, drinking in the warmth and the comfort. The silence of our surroundings was a background hum against the beat of our hearts.

With a sigh, I pulled away, holding onto his gaze as I did. “We should get going,” My fingers brushed against his. His gaze fell to our interlocked hands before he nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Regretfully, I released him, stepped back, and glanced at the sun, now high up in the sky, casting its golden rays over everything below. It was time to leave. Picking up my bag from the ground, I hooked it over my shoulder and gestured for Artemis to do the same.

He nodded, pulling his bag over his shoulders and straightening his shirt.

Artemis straightened his posture with a final exhale and offered me a small smile. It was fragile, easily shattered by the weight of our journey ahead, but it held a promise of resilience and determination. Together, we stepped out into the blinding sunlight, leaving behind the familiar walls that had shielded us for so long.

Artemis’s hand found mine, intertwining our fingers in a gesture of solidarity and trust. It was a simple touch, yet it spoke volumes of our bond.

We mainly traveled silently, the occasional chatter of distant wildlife our only companions. The sun slowly climbed into the sky, its hot rays piercing my goggles and forcing me to squint. I could feel my skin beginning to heat, causing an uncomfortable prickling sensation underneath my clothes.

Artemis, sensing my discomfort, detached his hand from mine and unhooked a water canteen from his bag. He offered it to me without a word, his gaze softened by concern. I took it gratefully. Mine was in my pack, but I hadn’t wanted to stop to get it out. The cool liquid provided temporary relief to my parched throat. As soon as I had taken a sip, he took it back and poured some of the water on a shirt he had in his bag before he dragged it over my neck, his hands careful and gentle against my heated flesh.

“It looks like you’re burning,” His eyes roamed over my skin.

“Just a little,” I admitted with a weak chuckle, leaning into his touch.

“You really shouldn’t travel during the day should you?” Artemis’s concerned eyes roamed over the skin exposed to the sun. I pulled the jacket’s hood up, shielding my face. I should have done it hours ago, but it impeded my view of Artemis, so I had left it down.

“I will be fine,” I pulled him in for a sideways hug, needing to feel him pressed against me momentarily.

It was midday when we came upon an abandoned gas station, half of it already reclaimed by nature. Vines crept up the walls, and moss clung to the faded sign hanging precariously over the entrance. Its former colors were now peeling, revealing the rusted metal beneath.

“Let’s rest here for a while,” Artemis suggested, nodding towards the shadowed interior of the station. He had been fretting over me since he had noticed the burns. Since they would heal through the night, I wasn’t worried.

I agreed, glancing at the derelict structure with a touch of weariness. As we approached, I could see how time and nature had made their claim, turning what was once a symbol of man’s progress into nature’s playground. The once polished glass windows were now grimy and cracked, and sprouting weeds peeked through the cracks in the parking lot.

I pushed open the door swinging gently in the breeze, and stepped inside.

“This time of day is the worst time to be out. We should wait for the sun to start going down before continuing,” Artemis told me.

“I will be fine, Artemis,” I said again.

“Look, you take care of me all the time. Let me take care of you, too. A partnership goes both ways, Brir.”

My eyes met his, and I could see how important this was for him. I nodded, allowing him to treat me like he needed to. I had never had anyone except Calea who wanted to care for me.

Dune laid down outside after I took off his saddle and bags. Even he was hot and ready for a reprieve from the harsh sun.

We found a small back room inside the gas station with a dusty couch and an old wooden chair. Artemis set our bags on the floor and began rummaging through them, bringing out a small first-aid kit. I watched him, my heart swelling with warmth for his care and concern.

Artemis pulled out a small tube of ointment.

He gestured for me to sit on the couch while he knelt before me, gently applying the soothing ointment to my burned skin. His fingers were steady and careful as he applied the salve to the back of my neck and my wrists. The only spots that my coat hadn’t covered.

“We should be more worried about your feet than my skin, Butterfly.”

Artemis wasn’t used to traveling like this, and the sandals I had found for him weren’t great footwear for walking in, but they were all we could find in the small town near the bunker. The hot road would have burned the delicate scales of his feet. I had cut the sandals to fit his new feet and protect the soft pads of flesh on the bottoms, but I could tell walking in them was making him tired.

“I can handle it,” he protested, his eyes flicking to meet mine. The light smile on his lips softened the stubborn set of his jaw. I looked at him with narrowed eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him, but that he shouldn’t have to handle the discomfort. I should make him ride Dune so he didn’t have to walk, but I knew he would argue if I suggested it. He wanted to walk, to prove he wasn’t weak.

“I’m getting used to it,” Artemis dismissed lightly, his focus remaining on my burns. The cool ointment soothed the angry red skin, and I sighed in relief. He looked at me with a soft smile, gently squeezing my hands before rising to his feet.

“Your turn,” I insisted, indicating towards his battered feet. He hesitated momentarily but eventually conceded, moving to sit on the couch as I retrieved more medical supplies from our bags.

I carefully removed his sandals to examine his feet, wincing at the sight of the angry coloring of his scales. I wrapped my hand around the arch and pressed my fingers into the soft pads, rubbing away the pain.

Artemis moaned from pleasure as I worked on his tired feet. “Feels good,” he admitted, a blissful sigh escaping him. I chuckled.

I continued to knead gently, a satisfied smile curling my lips at the sound of his contentment. His claws would extend each time I pressed, almost catching my skin.

“There is a woman in New Pharia who makes clothing for us.” Artemis's eyes slipped closed, enjoying as I massaged his feet. “She will be able to make you shoes better than I could.”

“That would be nice,” he murmured, his eyes still closed. He looked so peaceful then, basking in the coolness of the dimly lit room and the comfort of my touch. The tension knotting up his body seemed to have vanished away, his shoulders dropping as he settled into the worn cushion of the couch.

I kept massaging his feet until I felt him relax completely under my hands. The sun filtered through the dirty windows, casting a soft glow on Artemis’s peaceful face. He was fast asleep now, safely cocooned within my arms. His slow, even breaths were the only sounds that filled the otherwise quiet interior of the gas station.

We didn’t stay long enough for the sun to dip lower in the sky. We were making slow time. If it were just me, I could ride Dune, but I wouldn’t ask him to carry us and our bags for this long distance.

The break had given my skin time to heal, and Artemis was better. The nap and food had given him more energy. He enjoyed naming and explaining the different insects he found while we walked.

Dune was by his side, following him over to the plants going wild off the side of the highway. He chased little animals that were slower than him. He caught a rat, snapping his sharp teeth around it and swallowing the body. Artemis looked at Dune like he was going to be sick.

“You’re not licking my face anymore,” Artemis told the Lepot when Dune’s tongue flicked out, cleaning the side of his mouth.

I enjoyed listening to him talk. It had been a very long time since I had enjoyed the company of others.

The breeze kicked up, gently brushing the loose strands of hair away from my face. Artemis was talking excitedly about a beetle he’d found with bright blue spots that glistened in the sunlight. His enthusiasm was infectious. He held it in his hand and looked at it as we walked. His animated expressions and the spark in his eyes captivated me as he held the tiny creature in his palm, marveling at its delicate wings before it flew off.

For the first time in years, I was content— not merely surviving but truly living. Captivated by another person, I wanted to pay attention to what Artemis was saying. His words held a deeper meaning to me as if he were sharing a secret only with me.

Finding Artemis had breathed new life into me, reigniting a spark I hadn’t realized had died out with my banishment. I couldn’t remember ever being this happy.

???

The sun had just started to set as we approached an abandoned hotel off the side of the highway.

“We’ll camp here,” I decided, gesturing at the dilapidated structure. Its grimy windows prevented us from looking in, but I had stayed here before.

Artemis eyed it warily, his clawed fingers digging into the strap of his bag as he studied it. “Are you sure it’s safe?” he asked, glancing at me with uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

The hotel was a three-story building that had long since seen its glory days. Most windows were broken, the glass long swept away by the wind, leaving empty holes like a skull’s eye sockets. Its once bustling courtyard lay deserted, the pool filled with grime and leaves. The signboard hung askew with a few letters missing such that “Starlight Inn” read “Sta..ight In.”

“Yes, I’ve stayed here before.”

“I miss the bunker,” he murmured weakly, making me laugh.

“There will be running water here.” I gestured towards the building. “Or, there was the last time I stayed.”

That made a smile pull at Artemis’s features.

“And a shower, perhaps?” Artemis asked, his voice laced with hope.

“Maybe,” I chuckled at his bright-eyed enthusiasm. “Don’t get your hopes high, though. The place is old.”

By the time we ventured inside, the sun had almost disappeared beneath the horizon. Artemis followed closely behind me, his eyes darting nervously in the waning light. Dune padded alongside him, his keen senses alert to any hint of danger.

The hotel lobby was vast and cavernous. A ghostly echo of grandeur whispered out from the peeling wallpaper and the chandeliers hanging crookedly from the ceiling. Our steps reverberated hollowly on the cracked marble floor, Artemis’s soft humming was broken up by occasional gasps as he discovered more remnants of a forgotten era.

I followed them into the lobby before I jumped over the counter to look for the building map. I found it attached to the wall easily enough.

“I don’t think the keys will still work,” Artemis said from the other side of the counter.

“Probably not,” I agreed, peering at the map. I pointed toward the second floor. “We’ll try those rooms. They were in decent condition the last time I was here.”

I hopped back over the counter and motioned for him to follow me. We descended a dimly lit hallway, passing several closed doors. I stopped in front of one door and pulled out a thin piece of metal with a wire attached. It resembled a radio antenna. Carefully, I slid it under the door and angled it until I felt it catch on the handle. With a flick of my wrist, I turned the handle on the other side of the door, causing it to click open. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, gesturing for him to do the same.

“Well, I’m impressed,” he told me. “If the world hadn’t gone to shit, you would have made a great criminal.”

I chuckled as I stood up and grabbed my bag, following Dune and Artemis into the room. “I will take that as a compliment,” I said, placing my bag on the bed before moving over to the connecting doors to the adjacent room and opening them.

“Dune,” I called to the giant beast waiting to be let in. I pulled him into the small space and started removing his gear, placing it between the bed and the wall.

Artemis was exploring the room, running his fingers over the dusty surfaces. He picked up the blanket covering the bed and took it into the hall to shake it out.

I had let Dune hunt earlier in the day, so I wouldn’t let him out tonight. I wanted him to stay close to us, just in case. When we were away from the bunker, I didn’t like him out of my sight. There were too many things that could go wrong.

I pulled out Dune’s brush when I heard the water turn on from the other room, and Artemis excitedly squealed.

“Brir!” He rushed through the connecting doors. “There is running water.” His smile was huge.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his childlike excitement. "Well, that’s a win for today," I replied. “Many of the buildings out here have running water; it won’t get hot, though.”

“I don’t care. It’s running water.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say,” I responded, my voice laced with amusement.

“I mean, I love the river, but having a shower is amazing.” He returned to the bathroom, laughter echoing through the lonely room. I heard him fiddle with a few more things before the water turned off again.

“I wonder if the toilet works,” he yelled. I heard the toilet flush and more excited noises as I brushed Dune. I couldn’t help but smile at Artemis’s excitement for cold water.

“I suppose it’s the little things in life, isn’t it?” I said, more to myself than to Artemis. Dune, lounging on the floor, growled in agreement.

The giant beast stood placidly as I worked, brushing the dirt from his scales so that he wouldn’t itch all night.

“The toilet works.” Then he was back at the door between the two rooms. “I’m going to go sit on the toilet and take a shit like a normal human being,” he told me before leaving again.

“Enjoy the luxury,” I called back, rolling my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “Don’t take too long. We still need to secure this place for the night.”

Artemis poked his head back through the door, his hair disheveled and eyes gleaming with delight. “I won’t,” he promised before disappearing once more.

Stripping off the last of Dune’s gear and setting it aside, I patted his flanks affectionately. He huffed out a sigh, tired eyes meeting mine for a moment as I finished brushing him down.

Hearing Artemis’s joyous laughter echoing from the toilet, my lips tugged into a grin.

Darkness set in quickly, and I was grateful for how Artemis’s delight chased away the eerie stillness I had been accustomed to before I had found him. With a final pat to Dune’s side, I left him to rest as he moved to lay on the bed. The mattress sagged to the floor under his heavy weight. I moved towards the window, peering into the desolate landscape, which was swallowed by an ink-black darkness. The moon hung low in the sky, casting long, grotesque shadows that played tricks on weary eyes.

I closed the curtains so no one could see the light from our lamps and moved through the adjacent doors. Artemis had already stripped the bed and shaken everything out before remaking it.

From the bathroom, Artemis returned, beaming brighter than any sun. His joy was refreshing—almost contagious in its enthusiasm. He found something to celebrate here amidst this dilapidated room and haunting silence.

“It feels like I’ve been reborn,” he exclaimed as he came through the door connecting the two rooms. He shut the door behind him, giving us some privacy. “What now?”

“Do you want to take a shower?” I asked him.

“Does the water work in this room, too?” Artemis reached over and took the sides of my goggles in both hands before gently pushing them up and off my face.

“It should,” I answered.

“Will you join me?” he asked with a small smile.

“If you want me to,” I answered before bringing a hand to the side of his face and rubbing dirt on his cheek. I leaned in and kissed his lips. They were so soft. The feel of them under mine made me moan.

“Yes, I want you to,” he said when I withdrew, looking down at him. His blue eyes pulled me in before he stood and stepped away from me. He pulled off his shirt and dropped it to the floor.

“Then get undressed.” My voice roughened. My gaze followed the movement of his muscles, tracing each curve under the dim light before I stood up. Artemis was already unfastening his belt, his eyes never leaving mine. The intimacy we shared was simple but profound.

The sight of his chest made me swallow. He had filled out since being with me. My eyes roamed his exposed flesh, wanting to touch all of him.

Then he took another step back, his teeth biting his lip as he smiled at me and walked backward towards the bathroom in the corner.

I stripped off my shirt and let it join Artemis’s on the floor. Artemis’s gaze raked over my chest, his blue eyes sparkling with an emotion I had come to identify as desire. His breath hitched just slightly, a barely audible intake that spoke volumes. Knowing I had this effect on him was the most empowering feeling.

He extended a hand, beckoning me to him as his pants hit the floor.

Grabbing my belt buckle, I stepped towards him, and he matched my move, retreating farther into the bathroom. “I’m waiting,” he called out playfully.

“Patience,” I replied, following him. The atmosphere in the room was charged, electrified in a way it hadn’t been before.

I followed him into the bathroom, the aged tiles cold under my feet.

He was leaning over the tub, turning the water on, and fiddling with the controls. I moved over, grabbed his tail, and yanked him back into me. His ass met my hips. I placed a hand on his back to keep him bent over. I ran my thumb on the underside of his tail.

“Now, this is a great view,” I ran my thumb over the spot I knew was sensitive.

I heard him moan as he turned his head towards me.

With my touch, Artemis shivered, and a soft gasp escaped him. His cheeks were flushed as he glanced back at me, and a sultry smile adorned his lips. “You’re eager tonight,” he teased, chuckling lightly.

“Can you blame me?” I asked, running my fingers along the base of his tail before letting it go. I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, pulling him closer to me. “You’re fucking beautiful.”

I grabbed his hair and hauled him up so I could run my nose over his neck, loving how the smell of his lust rolled off his skin.

“Quit it. We’re filthy. I want to be clean and maybe test out the bed in the other room.” His back was pressed to my chest. I let go of his tail and wrapped my arms around him, obsessed with the feeling of his body pressed into mine.

I kissed his shoulder before reluctantly letting him go so I could finish stripping my clothes off. Once bare, I turned my attention to him. His eyes were dark and intense.

Artemis climbed into the tub with a hiss.

“Hell, the water is freezing.” He shivered in my arms, making me chuckle.

“I told you it would be.”

“Will you come and save me?” he asked, extending his hand to me with a playful smirk. His eyes had always been a captivating sea of blue, but now they danced with an enticing mischief.

With a roll of my eyes and a chuckle, I stepped towards him. “Always,” I replied, taking hold of his hand. The water was shockingly cold as I stepped in, but it did nothing to dampen the heat that radiated between us. “Though I don’t know how to save you from the cold shower you wanted.”

“Yeah, I don’t think you can save me from cold water, but it feels great. It is hot as fuck out there.” He ducked his head under the water. His teeth chattered briefly, and I watched goosebumps form over his exposed human skin.

I climbed in after him, pulling him back into my arms. “I can keep you warm, though,” I whispered in his ear.

“I’d like that,” Artemis responded.

His breath was warm and moist against my cheek. I slid my arms lower, tracing the faint muscle lines on his abdomen. His skin felt smooth under my fingertips, starkly contrasting the cool water raining down on us.

I felt him shiver against me as I ran my hands down his body. He was so fucking perfect. The best of both worlds; all human softness with the strength of our people. I loved seeing the scales on his body, the way they glimmered with health now. I ran my fingers down his arms, loving the rough feel under my hands.

Artemis twisted in my arms with a playful grin until we were nose to nose. Our wet bodies slid against each other as he leaned in, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips before pulling away with a mischievous glimmer in his eye. His fingers trailed up my arms, leaving a tingling sensation as he lit up my threads, chasing away the darkness in the bathroom. The blue light from my bioluminescence made his skin glow.

“You’re so fucking perfect,” I growled, pulling him against me. I needed to feel his skin against mine. “Perfect and all mine.”

I pressed the soap dispenser on the wall before sliding my hands down his back.

“Fuck, you’re going to make me hard,” he said breathlessly as I cleaned him, loving the feel of his skin under my hands.

He moaned at the feel of my warm, slick hands touching his skin as I washed away the sweat and dirt from our day’s travel. My cock twitched with interest.

“Then we’re in the same boat,” I murmured, my lips brushing against his ear. His sharp intake of breath echoed off the walls of the small bathroom, a sound that fueled the desire coursing through my veins. His hands moved to brace against the tiled wall, his back muscles flexing with each touch of my hands.

“The water is too cold to fuck in here.” He reached out and pumped soap into his hand before he turned in my arms and gave me the same treatment, cleaning the dust off my body. I smiled down at him as he caressed my skin. “We will get hypothermia.”

I reached for more soap before giving his arms the same attention, paying close attention to his scales. I loved his body, and I wanted him to see that.

“Then maybe we should make this quick so I can take your ass to bed.” I licked up the water that was running down his neck. I was going to need him very soon.

Artemis laughed, the sound echoing in the confined space, his breath puffing out against my skin. “I think I’d like that,” he replied, his voice dropping an octave lower as his gaze flicked up to meet mine, lids heavy with anticipation and promise. He continued to soap my chest until he was satisfied every inch of me was clean. His body was a breathtaking sight under the faint glow of our lights.

I turned him around to give his tail the special attention he loved so much, soaping up the long appendage as I rained kisses down onto his soft back. I made sure to squeeze the base before I pushed my hand between his legs, rubbing his tight hole that was already wet.

The feel of his soft, wet hole made me moan into his skin as I pushed a finger into him. “Fuck, you’re so hot and wet inside.” My teeth nipped his shoulder. I started fucking him with my hand.

A shiver went down my spine as he moaned. I loved having him under me. How euphoric it was to have him in my arms. I kissed him hard, trying to show him how much I needed him, how much he drove me wild.

His tail twitched with every stroke of my hand while the water cascaded down his back, spilling around us. He was a sight to behold—his shivered breaths echoed in the small room.

I broke the kiss to rinse the soap from his body and hair.

“I need you.” I could see the lust in his eyes. “Now.” My voice was raspy. My fingers traced his dick as I helped him rinse the soap from his body.

“Bed,” Artemis replied, his voice rough with desire. He turned to face me, pressing his body against mine. Our cocks brushed against each other, the contact sending sparks of pleasure through me. His lips met mine once again in a heated kiss as his hands moved lower on my body, gripping my ass tightly.

I nodded my head as he turned around to turn the water off. I grabbed a towel to dry his body. His dick was hard, and I couldn’t resist bending down to run my tongue along it as I dried his legs. The towel dropped to the floor, and I swallowed him down. His crown hit the back of my throat. I needed this dick, needed him to fuck me with it.

I sucked him off, my cock now hard as steel. I stood back up and grabbed his throat before stepping out of the tub and pulling him with me, making sure he didn’t stumble as he lifted each leg over the edge of the tub. I squeezed gently and watched his eyes dilate. He loved me being in control of his body. He lurched forward and slammed his mouth to mine, biting down on my lip hard. He was shaking with need when I pulled back. I smiled at him.

I moved us out of the bathroom and pushed him back onto the bed. His body hit the mattress with a slight bounce. Then I crawled up between his legs, his tail tapping against the bed. I pinned it down before I licked up the sensitive scales.

“Brir, I need you to fuck me, please.” He lifted his head to look down at his body as I tortured him with my mouth.

“Oh. You need me to fill this hole?” I licked his twitching pucker. I tasted his slickness and moaned before pushing my tongue inside of him. I moaned again as it coated my tongue. I licked as deep as I could to get more of it, craving it like I needed it to survive.

“Yes,” His hips rocked against my mouth. I loved the taste of him on my tongue. Loved how I could make him lose control.

“I’m going to fuck you will my fingers, then I’m going to take this body the way I want.” I pulled my mouth away with a feral grin before I pushed a finger into his slick hole. I fucked him with one finger before adding another, stretching him like I knew he liked until I found that spot inside of him that made him moan. He tossed his head back, and his dick jerked up, begging me to touch it. I needed his dick, and he was going to give it to me. My insides clenched at the thought of getting to ride him.

I hitched my fingers to press on the spongy spot inside of him. His hole clamped down on my fingers, making me smile as I watched pre-come ooze from the tip of his dick. I leaned down to lick it off. As soon as my tongue touched his dick, he cried out and shoved his hips up, slamming his dick into my mouth. I tightened my lips around him, chuckling as I let him grind back down on my two fingers before I pushed in a third, making him moan hard. His hips started moving faster, riding my mouth. While my fingers fucked his hole, the dual sensations made him lose his fucking mind. His natural slick ran down my fingers and coated my hand as I drove him mad.

I pulled back off his dick, making him whine as I sat back on my heels, my tail swinging back and forth between his legs and brushing against the scales of his thighs. The tip was extremely sensitive as it grew back. He reached for me with his beautiful, clawed hands, and I stopped fucking him with my fingers. His eyes begged me to fill him.

“No!” he whined, his eyes popping open. “I’m so close.” His body was visually shaking with the need to cum.

“I told you I had plans for you.” I grabbed his throat and yanked him up into a sitting position. “Go sit against the headboard.” I gave him a quick kiss before I let go of his throat. Quickly, he moved as soon as I let him go. He was so fucking good for me.

“What’s the plan you have for me?” he asked as I let him move his body into position before I climbed into his lap and showed him my wet fingers.

“You are so wet for me.” I grabbed his aching dick with my wet hand, lubing him up for me with his slick. “Do you think you can be my good boy, Butterfly, and let me ride this dick?”

Artemis shuddered against me. “Oh shit,” he muttered. His throat bobbed as he swallowed before looking up. “I’ve never been good at being on top.” Nervousness was written all over his face. “I don’t like being in control.” I hated the look of fear that was taking over his features. “I don't know how to make you like it. Make it feel good.”

“You’re not going to top.” A feral smile pulled at my lips. “I’m going to ride your dick until I cum. That is a big difference, Butterfly, just because your dick is inside me doesn’t mean you’re topping. You will not be in control, Artemis.” I wrapped my hand back around his throat, looking down at him with hard eyes. “You’re fucking mine, all of you. From this perfect fucking mouth,” I slid my thumb over his bottom lip, his mouth opening for me, “to that stunning dick. You’re all fucking mine, Butterfly. You're going to do as I fucking say. I will be in control the whole time. Now can you be good for me and let me ride this dick?”

“You will tell me what to do?” he asked, his shoulders sagging in relief.

“You won't need to do anything but be good for me and listen when I tell you to do something,” I affirmed with a low growl that brooked no argument. “You're mine, to do with as I please. And right now, I want you inside me.” I leaned into the crook of his neck, nuzzling the junction and placing a soft bite there. “So, you’re going to sit there and let me ride that dick. Yes?”

His breath hitched, my words echoing through him like a prayer. His hands gripped my thighs as if I were his only anchor in a storm. “Yes, Brir,” he breathed out.

“How fucking perfect you are, Butterfly.” I rutted my hips so that my cock rubbed his belly. “You make me so fucking hard.”

I saw the flush return to his cheeks at my words, a heady mix of embarrassment and arousal stirring deep within the cerulean depths of his eyes. I could see him swallow past the lump in his throat, his pulse thumping against my fingers as my lips curled into a wicked smirk.

“I want you.” He moaned, his voice husky and desperate. His hands, which were tightly gripping my thighs, moved to cup my ass, pulling me closer as if trying to merge our bodies into one.

His willingness and his submission were intoxicating—it was a drug that had me hooked and craving more. I leaned down, capturing his mouth again, needing to taste him.

Our lips collided in a torrid fusion of desperation and hunger. My tongue ravished his mouth, exploring every contour, every inch like a starving man. Through the fiery haze of lust, I could feel him beneath me, trembling slightly, his hands wandering up and down my back as if trying to memorize the way I felt.

The way he was touching me was driving me wild. I could feel the desire pooling low in my gut, a heated flame that only Artemis could ignite.

I tore my mouth from his, pinning him down with my hand. “Who do you belong to?” I demanded.

“You,” he stuttered, his pupils blown wide with desire. “Only you, Brir.”

I could feel my grin expand at his response, twin points of satisfaction piercing through the fog of need. “Good boy,” I murmured, trailing my fingers down his chest. “Never forget that, Butterfly.” My voice dropped to a whisper, breath ghosting against the shell of his ear, “You’re all fucking mine.”

A low growl sounded from my throat as I explored the crevices of his body, each touch like a brand, claiming what was already mine. His body arched into mine, a wordless plea for more.

A sound slipped past his parted lips, a low keen that echoed loudly in the hushed room. His body shivered with anticipation, eyes dilated, almost eating up all that beautiful blue I loved so much, drowning in a tidal wave of desire. This tender submission, this raw honesty, was more than I could stand; it was maddening in its perfection.

My fingertips dared to stroke the tender flesh just beneath his navel. It made Artemis shudder, his hips canting upward in response.

“Please,” Artemis begged. His voice was soft and pleading, like a hushed prayer that stole the breath from my lungs. I bit down on my lower lip, his plea stirring something fierce within me. It was a burning wildfire threatening to consume everything in its path.

I leaned down, capturing his lips once more in a fervent kiss, my hands continuing their fevered exploration of his body. The way he squirmed beneath my touch, the way his breath hitched each time my fingers brushed against his sensitive skin, caused a primal satisfaction to wind tightly in my gut. My hands roamed lower, sending shivers of anticipation coursing through Artemis’s body. His fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as if he were desperate to erase any space between us.

“I want your dick. If I think you don’t like it, then I will make that choice, and only then will I take your needy hole till you scream my name, okay, Butterfly?” I studied his reaction to my words.

He bit his lower lip, an action that sent ripples of desire through me. It was as if a pact had been made, sealed by the intensity of our gazes. He gave a slow nod, a quiver of anticipation making his slender frame tremble. It excited me to watch him come undone so easily. I could see it in his eyes, a mixture of fear and excitement. He was nervous yet eager; he wanted to please me so badly.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone consumed me so entirely.

“I want your dick. I want you to stretch me open and fill my ass with your cum.” I kissed him gently. I wanted to take his dick, but I had to do it my way. He was nervous because he didn’t want to be in control of how we played, but I needed him to be compliant in my hands, to want me to take him any way I wanted him. “And you will do nothing without my permission.”

I watched a flush spread across his face, the pink hue contrasting against his pale skin, and his eyes sparkled in response to my words. He nodded hastily, swallowing a lump in his throat. His hands trembled slightly, but I knew it was not from fear. He was waiting, anticipating my next move with bated breath, his eyes never leaving my face. I could feel his heart beating wildly against my chest, a living testament to the intensity of his emotions.

“You will always, always beg for me,” I whispered, trailing my fingers down his torso, making him shiver with anticipation. I felt a thrill of power rush through me as his body responded so willingly to my touch. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession as he struggled to maintain his composure, an impossible task given the situation. I could see how desperately he wanted me, how much he needed me. A feral grin spread across my face as I leaned closer to his ear.

“Are you prepared to beg, Butterfly?” My voice was a low purr, filled with promise and threat all at once. “Come on. Let me hear you beg. I need to hear it,” I growled, my voice filled with desire and control.

He whimpered a sweet, desperate sound that shot straight to my loins. His body arched involuntarily toward my touch, craving more. He was ready. More than ready. “Please, Brir.”

His voice was a whisper, broken and needy. It was music to my ears. “Please, what?” I asked, my fingers tracing a path down his inner thigh, reveling in the subtle twitch of his hardened length. His voice was faint, trembling with a cocktail of emotions. “Please, I… I need you.”

“What do you need?” I asked him, my voice a seductive whisper in his ear. His skin was flushed with desire, his breaths shallow and shaky. I could feel the anticipation rolling off him in waves. He was putty in my hands.

He clung to me, his fingers digging into my ass, as he stuttered out the words. “I need you to ride my dick. I need your hole.” His hands tried to pull me forward. Tried to angle me to where he wanted me.

A delighted laugh escaped my throat at his bold request, starkly contrasting the trembling voice that presented it. The power I held over him was intoxicating, leaving me drunk on his desperation. “Such filthy words, Butterfly. Are you sure you can handle me?” I teased. Reaching behind me, I curled my fingers around his length before slowly stroking him, causing a moan to erupt from deep within his throat.

“Yes… yes, Brir,” he gasped out, bucking his hips into my touch, the sensation eliciting shivers down my spine. I relished in the raw desire on his face, the way his eyes darkened with uncontrolled lust. I knew he was on the edge, ready to tip over into that abyss of utter pleasure.

I sat up on my knees and angled that beautiful dick towards my hole. His hands came up to my hips, stopping me.

“Wait.” His tongue flicked out, wetting his lips, “I have to prep you.” I smiled again down at him but shook my head. I covered his mouth with my hand as he tried again to speak. “If I needed it, I would have done it. I like the pain, now be the good boy I know you are and shut the fuck up unless you’re moaning my name.” With that, I slowly sank onto him, not breaking eye contact. It had been years since I had taken someone like this, but the feeling made me toss my head back, moaning his name. I let go of his dick and placed both hands on his throat, holding him in place as I slid down his dick before lifting and pressing back down as he moaned. I could feel it around my fingers, the vibrations against my hand. His eyes widened, and his body trembled beneath me as the tension increased. I could see his attempts to control himself, his teeth chewing on his bottom lip until it turned a rosy pink.

“Brir,” he moaned, a testament to my command and his surrender. His hands tightened around my waist, and he was holding me so tight I knew his hand prints would bruise, which made me even more excited. I loved the thought of Artemis marking up my body.

“You like that, don’t you?” I murmured into his ear, relishing the shudders that rippled through his body. My fingers applied a little more pressure on his throat, my grip sure and steady as his gasps grew louder.

“Shit,” he whimpered as I moved, his hands scrambling for purchase on my hips. The discomfort was fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the pleasure of having him so deep inside me. His eyes were wide with shock and awe, staring at me like a man lost in a stormy sea.

“Good boy,” I praised him as I steadily took him deeper and deeper into my body.

His claws bit into my hips as I lowered myself down onto him, working his dick into me. My cock rubbed against his tight belly, the smell of his need urging me on. I let my forearms rest against his collarbones with my fingers circling his neck before I squeezed that beautiful throat under my hand to get his attention. Artemis’s eyes snapped back to mine. He panted for breath, pupils wide.

“Are you going to be a good boy for me and let me ride your dick?” I asked him, my thumb rubbing the underside of his jaw.

“Yes.” He nodded his head frantically. “Please move. I need you to move.”

“Are you going to stay still, let me use you, and let me cum?” I raised my hips to allow him to slide out of me just a fraction.

“Yes,” he moaned.

“Good boy.” I kissed his pretty lips. I loved how he tasted. “What will you say if you need me to stop?” I asked as I peppered kisses over his jaw.

“Beetle,” he replied, not a second of hesitation. I had to be in control, and Artemis loved to be used and let himself fly. I smiled at him before I touched his lips with mine, biting gently.

The head of my cock rubbed against the velvety skin of his stomach as I pushed up slowly, then dropped back down. I moaned from the feeling. I tossed my head back as I started riding his dick slowly, easing up before coming back down at an leisurely pace, milking his dick with my body.

His fingers dug into my waist. Pleasure was etched into his angelic face as he fought to remain still underneath me. A small laugh burst out of me at the sight. The focus in his eyes was almost comical.

Artemis ran his hands up my body, fingers dancing on my skin and lighting up my scars. In the dark room, they illuminated his face so I could see the desperation on his features.

I rolled my hips in a circle, grinding myself into him, and he choked out my name. His hands clung tightly to my hips, fingers pressing urgently into my skin. I continued slowly, working his cock inside me. Every thrust was ecstasy that coursed through our bodies, filling the air with heavy gasps and moans.

“Fuck, Brir,” he whimpered, his head thrashing back against the mattress. “Please.”

Ignoring his pleas for more pressure, I leaned over him, resting my hands on either side of his head. My hair fell around us in a pale curtain, enclosing our world. “You need to learn patience, Artemis,” I murmured, pressing my lips to his sweat-dampened brow. “You will cum after I’m done with you.”

His claws dug deeper into my hips with every downstroke, an exquisite pain that fueled my pleasure. My hands around his neck tightened subtly each time he gasped for breath beneath me, a play of dominance and submission that lit a carnal flame in my belly. I never squeezed so hard he couldn’t breathe. I just pressed my fingers on the arteries that pulsed under my hands.

He whimpered again but complied, biting his lower lip hard as he attempted to still his body beneath mine. I knew each measured movement was a challenge for him, a test of his willpower. But I also knew that Artemis needed this release, the surrender that came with giving up control to me, but the pleasure would make him impatient, and it was only a matter of time before he tried to take it into his own hands.

True enough, he broke after merely a handful of my unhurried thrusts. He surged up beneath me, desperate for more friction, his hands tightening their hold on my hips. His pretty eyes were glazed with desire and need as he canted his hips upwards, seeking the pleasure I was deliberately withholding.

“Naughty boy,” I admonished him softly, my fingers against his throat tightening in reprimand. “What did we agree on?”

He whined in frustration, his body trembling beneath me as he fought the instinct to chase his pleasure.

“You were doing so well, my butterfly.” I lessened my grip so he could speak.

“It’s so tight.” He tried to pull me forward. Make me ride him. “Please. I need you to go faster,” he begged.

I chuckled, a low and velvety sound echoing within the confines of our intimate space. “You’re adorable when you’re begging.” I took his cherry-colored lips in mine, enveloping them in an overbearing kiss, with him sighing into my mouth. His breaths were coming in quick and shallow huffs. He was on the edge, so close yet far away from the sweet release he yearned for.

“You are mine. My toy,” I whispered into his ear, my tone heavy with possessiveness yet laced with affection. A symphony of shivers coursed through his body at my words. “And if you can’t listen, if you can’t be good, then I should stop,” I spoke calmly, but my words did not register until I pulled my hips up, and he popped out of me.

“No!” Artemis cried out, eyes locked on mine. His hands came up to clutch at my shoulders, trying to force me back down. “I need you to ride me.” He finally got the words out through clenched teeth.

“Then will you stay still and allow me to do that?” I asked him as I slowly let my body envelop the head of his dick again.

“Yes!” he cried out, eyes still tightly closed like he was in pain.

“Open those beautiful eyes for me, Butterfly, I want you to watch me as I ride this gorgeous dick.” His eyes fluttered open as he bottomed out in my body.

Artemis gave a guttural moan of pleasure, his blue eyes glazed over with lust as we locked eyes. His chest heaved with each forceful breath, his grip on my shoulders like steel. However, he stayed still, watching me with bated breath as I began to move.

He panted against my mouth as I rode his dick with slow and tantalizing motions. Teasing him with promises of what would come. My hands ran down his muscled chest, following the contours of his body, feeling his muscles tense under my touch. He could only whimper in response, uttering soft pleas for me to quicken the pace.

“Brir, faster, please,” he whined, watching my body swallow his dick. “I need it faster.”

“I told you, Artemis. This isn’t about what you need.” I looked down at him with narrowed eyes, moving my hands up to cup his face as I forced his jaw open with my thumbs. I hooked them over his teeth, keeping his mouth open wide for me. “And since you can’t understand that, since you want to tell me how I am supposed to fuck my toy, then I will keep your mouth open so you can’t fucking use it.” I glared down at him.

A low whimper left Artemis’s throat. Restrained, he nodded in acceptance, his mesmerizing eyes on mine. I began to move again, taking him deeper this time.

“If you need to signal me to stop, tap my hip twice, butterfly.” A choked whimper escaped his open mouth as I buried him deep within me. His hands dug into my waist instead of trying to pull my fingers from his mouth. He liked that I was silencing him. His dick was jerking inside of me as I held myself still, sending tremors of pleasure-pain radiating through my body.

“You will take what I give you,” I snarled, squeezing his throat again to remind him who was in charge.

Artemis’s eyes widened, the faintest spark of rebellion flickering within them, but he said nothing, his neck still in my grasp. I took a moment to study him—the flushed cheeks, the desperate eyes, the sweat cascading down his body—Artemis was a sight to behold. He was beautiful in his submission, but even more so in the fight he relinquished just for me. Each moment I held him on this precipice of pleasure and pain was a testament to that.

I continued my slow pace, feeling every rhythmical twitch and pulse of him inside me. He was biting back pleas for release now, even as low whimpers escaped his open mouth. Saliva ran down my wrists.

The pressure of his hands on my hips increased as if he were trying to imprint himself upon me. His fingers were desperate anchors clinging to my skin, white-knuckled and shaking. He was lost in the sea of my dominance, drowning in the depths of pleasure I served him.

“Oh… Brir!” he gasped around my thumbs, a plea and a prayer melding into my name. His breath hitched as I slammed down onto him again, stifling his words into mere whimpers and whines that reverberated through our entwined bodies.

“Patience, Butterfly,” I murmured, kissing his neck hotly. His scent filled my senses—sweet, tangy, and thoroughly intoxicating, a heady mix of desire, sweat, and something uniquely Artemis.

He whimpered at my words, fingers digging into my hips hard enough to bruise. A wayward part of me thrilled at the sensation, the tangible proof of his desperation for me. I pulled my thumbs out of his mouth, watching him swallow. His throat worked under my hands. I couldn’t stop touching him.

“Do you love it? Me riding your dick?” I demanded, tightening my hold around his throat. He nodded his head, watching his dick disappear into my body. I wanted words. I slide my thumb out of his mouth running it across the plump surface. Demands weren’t enough anymore. “Use your words, Butterfly.”

Artemis swallowed hard, his eyes glued to seeing me take him in, his breath turning ragged. “Yes,” he finally managed to utter, his voice barely above a whisper. “I love it… I love you riding me. I need it.”

“Good boy,” A dark satisfaction coating my voice as I slid down on him once more. His body bucked under mine involuntarily, a choked gasp escaping from his lips.

Finally, I started riding him exactly as he needed. Hard. Fast. And raw. I held him still with my hand, and my eyes captivated his attention.

Artemis was lost in me, just as I was lost in him. I moved over him with a ferocity that matched the hunger in his eyes. His whimpers of pleasure filled the room and stoked my desire. As my tempo increased, he convulsed beneath me, his release imminent.

His back arched, pressing us closer together. Every gasp, every touch, every whispered plea sent shivers down my spine. He held back as long as he could, his breath hitching with each thrust.

“Brir… Brir!” My name was a mantra as he tossed his head back. “I’m going to cum.” But he didn’t bring his hands back to me, so I grabbed his hands, threading his fingers through mine, and pinned them over his head by his shoulders. He let me ride, his claws biting into the top of my hands. I set a punishing pace now that he had given me the control I wanted and allowed me to use him. “Brir,” he gasped, “I can’t… I…” His voice trailed off into a whimper as I slammed down.

“I’m not stopping if you do,” I panted against him.

“I need you closer,” he whined, hands spasming to reach for me, trying to push me back so he could grab me.

“Take what you need, my butterfly.”

Artemis lurched forward. I instinctively reached out and gripped the back of his neck to steady him. I pressed his body against mine, feeling the heat radiate from his skin. He clung to me tightly. His arms clutched around me, burying his face in my chest as his hands frantically searched for purchase on my slick, sweat-covered back. We held each other tightly, our bodies entwined in a desperate embrace.

I rode him harder, faster, my thighs burning, but I ignored it, focusing on the sound of our bodies slapping together, echoing off into the void. His breath hitched in his throat, a choked whimper slipping past his lips as he clung onto me, sinking his teeth into my chest and biting me hard. Artemis’s grip on my back was so tight his claws scored my flesh. It was almost painful, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

Artemis’s gasps were growing rasping and ragged, a harmony to the rhythm I drove into him. His eyes were wide open now, staring up at me, filled with raw desperation and need. I smirked down at him, delighting in the sight of his unraveled control.

“S-so close. Brir… please,” he whimpered, his voice cracking on my name.

I didn’t answer, simply crashing our mouths together in a bruising kiss that was all teeth and no finesse. The salty hint of sweat and the sweetness that was uniquely Artemis filled my mouth as I swallowed his moan. My hands tangled in his hair, holding him still for me.

His body began to spasm beneath me, a helpless shudder wracking through him as he spilled into me. I felt it—felt every tremor, every jerk of his dick. The gasp and moan escaped his lips, each puncturing the thick silence surrounding us.

As he came undone, I felt a sense of savage satisfaction coursing through me. His cries, his shudders, his gasps—they were all mine, each and every one of them. I had done that to him. He was unraveling beneath me, breaking apart and coming together again with each thrust, each push against him.

His heartbeat under my fingers was erratic—a cacophony of chaos that matched the pleasure I was driving into him. His blood pumped with an intoxicating rhythm, thrumming beneath his skin.

My cock was painfully hard, the engorged rings rubbing against Artemis’s body. I could feel them trying to pulse and expand, searching for the hot heat of Artemis’s body. I moaned as my cock was pressed between our two bodies but ignored it. Watching him. I saw the moment his pleasure became too much, his dick too sensitive. Turning painful as I didn’t stop riding him.

His eyes widened with a realization, and he tried to buck me off, but I held him down. He whimpered in his pleasured torment, clawing at my back as he looked at me with pleading eyes. “B-Brir… please… it’s too much…”

“Shh…” I soothed, calloused fingers tracing over the sweat-beaded skin of his chest. My gaze was fixed on his face, drinking in every quiver of his lips, the panic that was quickly replaced by blind lust. I watched as he gnashed his teeth, letting out a strangled moan and arching his back.

“You want me to cum, don’t you?” I asked him. My hole was now wet from his release, making it easier for me to move even faster, not allowing him to get soft on me. I sped up my hips, chasing my pleasure.

“Brir—” The way Artemis said my name made my heart pound harder. His voice was raspy from exhaustion and pleasure, a raw plea for mercy as I rode him through his climax. “I do,” he rasped, his voice barely audible over the loud, thumping heartbeat in my ears. “I want you to…”

His words were music to my ears. He moaned as I increased my pace, my ass clenching and unclenching around his oversensitive dick. His muscles flexed under me, his body instinctively trying to push against the overwhelming pleasure and pain.

“Then say it,” I demanded, dragging my nails across his chest. His gasp of pain mingled with a moan of pleasure, and he whimpered my name again, louder this time. I leaned down and captured his lips with mine in a savage kiss. “Say it,” I urged him against his mouth. “Tell me what you want me to give you.”

“Brir,” he cried out, his voice smoothed by desperation. “Please. Cum. Please…”

“You want me to cum?” My voice was a low purr, my words wrapped in a smoky promise. His eyes widened at my question, a shiver coursing through his body as he let out a strangled moan.

“I… you,” he whispered, his voice barely a breath, a confession amidst the sea of our tangled limbs. “I need you to cum,” he finally got out.

Hearing those words from Artemis’s lips wrung a low growl from my chest, a sound of primal satisfaction. I didn’t need to see him to know of the blush that had crept onto his cheeks; I could feel its warmth against my skin.

“Good boy,” I breathed out, my lips brushing against the shell of his ear. My hips never ceased their relentless rhythm, grinding against him with every pulse of pleasure that rocked through us. “Because I’m not going to stop.”

I lowered my head and caught a bead of sweat trailing down his forehead, slipping my tongue into his mouth to share the salty taste. His fingers clawed at the bare skin of my back, the rough scrape of his claws sending shocks of pleasure through me. Each gasped plea that escaped his lips was a sweet symphony that threatened to push me over the edge.

I let out a groan at the combined sensation of Artemis’s body beneath me and the slick heat that surrounded us both. His hips rose to meet mine in a desperate rhythm.

A shiver ran through Artemis at my words, his hands desperately clutching at the sheets beneath us as he tried to ride out the waves of pleasure and torture at once.

I drove down onto him with a ferocity that made our bodies shake, the bed beneath us creaking in protest. No matter how much he squirmed or how loud he moaned, I continued until we were both drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

I didn’t give his body even a chance to get soft underneath me. I wanted to show him what his body could do. I wanted him never to forget what it felt like to be mine.

His eyes fluttered shut, his mouth hanging open in a silent scream. His hands released their grip on the sheets, reaching up to clutch at my shoulders instead. His claws dug into my skin, a sweet sting that drove me wild.

“You’re close again, aren’t you?” I murmured against his ear, my voice laced with satisfaction and anticipation. The tremble running through his body was answer enough. I growled in approval. The overstimulation was going to make him cum again.

His repeated gasps turned into a constant stream of moans, his body convulsing beneath mine as he fought against the unbearable pleasure. The spark in his eyes flickered, flared, and then went out, replaced by a lost, desperate look that made my heart pound with satisfaction.

I knew he was at his limit. I could feel it in the way his body trembled and twitched beneath mine. But I wasn’t done with him yet. Not until he was utterly spent, not until every last shiver of pleasure had been wrung from his body.

“Please,” he mumbled again, but it wasn’t a protest this time.

A guttural groan echoed from his mouth as the pressure of my weight rode him again and again. His fingers scrambled against my back, clawing at me like a desperate animal, his eyes clenched shut in rapture. I liked it that way; his helplessness was my opium.

Artemis’s soft pleas grew more desperate as I continued to grind onto him, the pleasure-pain driving him to the precipice of sanity. “Brir,” he panted, his voice choked and strained. But the plea held no threat; it was a call of surrender, a sweet hymn sung amidst the discordant notes of an apocalypse.

“Are you ready to be mine?” I growled, pressing deeper into him. Resisting my authority could only lead to destruction in this dance of ours.

“Yes! Yes!” he shouted, his body arching towards mine as if every sinew of his being was yearning to become one with mine. His eyes crackled with a mixture of pain and pleasure, the glimmering sparks of passion burning in the sapphire depths.

His hands clutched more tightly at my back. His claws carved trails of fire down my skin. I hissed at the sting but did not attempt to make him stop. The raw sensation was an aphrodisiac, spurring me further into our dance of desires.

His surrender fanned the flames within me. I tightened my grasp around his wrists, pinning them above his head as I leaned into him and slammed my lips to his. I needed to feel his mouth on me. I kissed his jaw.

I felt Artemis’s body tense beneath me, another climax building up within him. He tried to fight and prolong his pleasure as long as possible, but I knew better. “Don’t hold back, sweetheart. Cum for me again,” I whispered into his ear before nipping his jaw, making him cry out.

His body convulsed beneath mine, the bed creaking from our violent movements. My name tore from his lips as he cried out in utter ecstasy. The sound filled my senses, blocking out everything else around us. All that existed was him and the pleasure we were creating together.

“Yes,” I rasped back at him, my voice just as raw. The pleasure was building, coiling in my gut like a viper ready to strike. “Give it to me.”

Artemis choked back a sob as his teeth clamped down on my shoulder. His fingers dug into the flesh of my back.

“You love this. You love being mine,” I growled slowly into his ear, baring my teeth in a feral grin when he whimpered out a choked confirmation.

His body felt like a heated canvas beneath mine. Every touch, every caress sprayed with hues of unexplored pleasure. His willingness to surrender fanned the flames of my desire even more, sending my senses into an overdrive that bathed us in mutual fulfillment.

With a groan, I thrust myself down onto him once more before finally succumbing to the pleasure that roared through me. My body went rigid with the onslaught of pleasure. I buried my face against Artemis’s neck. My teeth bit down hard on his flesh. His scent, a mixture of sweat and desire, filled my senses, heightening the moment’s intensity. My chest rumbled with a growl lost in the wilderness of his skin.

“Artemis,” I murmured, my voice barely discernible amidst our panting and groaning. His name tasted sweet on my tongue, as if it were a chant that could call forth primal instincts I never knew existed within me.

Everything went white for a moment as the world seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but him and me and an ecstasy that threatened to rip me apart.

My release poured between us as a primal roar ripped from my throat. He whimpered beneath me, his body wracked by aftershocks of pleasure.

I collapsed onto him, my breath hitching and my heart pounding wildly. He held me close, his arms circling my sweat-drenched body, his fingers digging into the small of my back. His warmth was an intoxicating comfort, like a balm to the raw passion we had just unleashed.

The room around us was silent but for our labored breathing. I could feel Artemis beneath me, his heart still racing as he clung to me, his body trembling lightly from the exhaustion.

“D-don’t move.” His voice had softened to a pleading whisper, a testament to the intensity of the pleasure we had shared. His back arched instinctively as I started to pull off his softening dick. His hands spasmed against my back, and I carefully sank back down, leaning my weight against his body. His arms tightened around me, holding me close to him. I stayed in his lap as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him back.

Kissing the trail of goosebumps dotting his smooth skin, I held him close, my breathing gradually leveling with his.

When he finally slipped out of my body, he whimpered against my shoulder. "Rest now, Artemis. You’ve earned it." A tired chuckle rumbled in my chest as I watched his eyelids flutter closed. I moved his body down the bed, making him more comfortable on the sheets. He was falling asleep already.

I kissed his lips gently before getting up and going to the bathroom for a washcloth. I got it wet and brought it back to him.

“This is going to be cold,” I told him before carefully cleaning the sweat and remnants of our lovemaking from his body. He jumped and hissed under my hands as the cold, wet fabric caressed his sensitive skin. I cleaned his thighs and tail from our shared fluids. His eyes glared at me.

His tail was snagged on something. I followed it down where it had embedded itself in the bed. The spikes dug into the mattress. I raised an eyebrow as I untangled him from the mattress. Long strips of material hung from the spikes.

I picked him up and took him to the second bed, pulling the dusty blankets off with one hand. I set him in the middle of the bed, followed him down, and wrapped him in my arms.

I held him closely. His breathing had already evened out in peaceful slumber. His body was still hot against mine, starkly contrasting the cooling sweat on our skin. I traced circles into his back slowly, my fingers sliding over smooth, toned flesh that shivered at my touch.

His face was nestled into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. He mumbled incoherently every once in a while, stirring a little but never fully waking up. I found the sight endearing—so different from our usual power play dynamics that it made me cherish this softer moment even more.

The world outside could’ve been burning for all I cared at this moment—this was my world now, this bed and the man beside me who had given himself over to me completely. Artemis’s surrender was akin to a soothing balm on the wounds inflicted by the cruel apocalypse we lived in.

I carded my fingers through his hair, listening to him whimper softly as he succumbed to exhaustion. But then, his eyes slowly opened.

Despite his obvious exhaustion, he gently ran his fingers over the scars etched onto my skin. His touch was as soft as the wings of a moth. He traced the patterns of my marks with reverent tenderness, making them light up under his fingertips.

His hands moved away only to be replaced by his lips, ghosting kisses over the pulsating white lines. A sigh slipped from my lips as I let myself sink further into the mattress, basking in the languid aftermath of our shared pleasure and the quiet affection he was bestowing upon me.

“Artemis,” I whispered again, my voice laced with a softness reserved only for him.

“I never want to forget this,” Artemis finally whispered, breaking our shared silence. His voice was soft as a summer breeze, carrying an intimacy that made my chest tighten. “I never want to be without you.”

My heart thundered at his words. I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms tighter around him. I buried my face in his dark hair, relishing the musky scent of him mixed with sweat and sex.

“Nor should you, my butterfly,” I rumbled into his ear before pressing a lingering kiss on his neck. “We belong to each other now. I will never let you go. You’re fucking mine.”

The edges of Artemis’s lips curled up into a sleepy smile at the possessive tone in my voice. He pressed against me, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my chest. “Yours,” he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

My heart clenched at the softness of his tone, the sincerity of his confirmation. The weight of his words was not lost on me. This was not just physical desire or fiery passion but a promise.

“Why do you call me that?” His voice was a faint whisper as he finally relaxed into the bed and my arms.

“Butterfly?” I asked. Artemis nodded against my chest. “Because that’s what you are. It’s what I thought of right after you told me about how the insects transformed. What was it you called it?” I trailed off, but Artemis filled it in.

“Metamorphosis,” he murmured, his voice muffled against my chest. It was a term I’d heard him use often during our late-night discussions.

“That’s it,” I agreed, kissing the crown of his head. “You are my butterfly, Artemis. You’ve transformed, grown stronger and even more beautiful under the harshest conditions. And just like a butterfly, you’ve always been able to see the beauty in this broken world. That’s special.”

He nuzzled closer into me at my explanation, his breath warm against my skin.

“I think I’m falling in love with you, Brir,” the words slipped past Artemis's lips as he yawned. His eyes were already closed, sleep pulling him under. I tensed for a moment, caught off-guard by his confession. But then, I relaxed, the warmth in my chest spreading throughout my entire being.

“I think I am, too,” I admitted quietly, realizing it was true. The connection between us was undeniable—it was more than just carnal desire and companionship. It was a deep bond forged in the fires of our shared trials and tragedies. If that wasn’t love, then I didn’t know what was.

Artemis sighed contentedly in response, already drifting back into sleep. His fingers curled around mine. His body relaxed against me and was a gentle weight that grounded me in the moment. I held him there long after the sounds of our shared pleasure had faded into the quiet night, replaced by the distant howls of creatures who roamed the desolate world outside our sanctuary.

Artemis curled up against my chest. His warm breath tickled my skin. I stroked the soft hair on his head. With Artemis nestled safely against me, I allowed myself to feel hope for something I never thought I would ever have.