Brir (Wanderers Between Worlds #2)

Chapter 25

New Pharia City

Late July

Merrick

Arya sat at the table, wringing her hands. Her eyes seemed to look past Soren. I could see the hints of her embarrassment on her features. She hated what she had done and was worried about what Soren would think of her. She tried to focus on Brir’s furious pacing.

My gaze bounced between Brir's charred skin and Soren's pleading eyes. I could see that he was hurt that Arya was ignoring him. They had become close. I knew there was no way we weren’t helping. Soren's eyes said it all. “How can we help?” I asked, trying to hide the worry in my voice as I surveyed his injuries.

Soren's face softened momentarily, a small smile of relief pulling at the corner of his lips.

Brir's red eyes scanned my face, and relief washed over his features. He finally stopped pacing around the room and stood still as if rooted to the ground.

His voice was tinged with desperation and uncertainty as he asked, "You'll help me get him back?"

I clenched my jaw in frustration. We never got along, but that didn't mean I would leave him to deal with this alone. I wasn’t that heartless, nor would I disappoint Soren, and he wanted to help.

“We will, no matter what.” Soren's voice was gentle but determined as he spoke for both of us. His eyes were filled with worry, a trait that I loved about him.

"Bleeding heart," I whispered in his ear. He smacked me on the shoulder, but I wrapped my arms more tightly around the man in my lap, seeking comfort and strength from his presence.

“Do we have any leads on where they might be keeping him?” Soren asked Brir.

“Yes.” Brir reached into his pocket and pulled out a well-worn piece of paper. He unfolded it carefully and placed it on the table before us. It was a map with various markings and notes scribbled around the edges. His finger traced a path to a specific spot circled in red. "This is where Gunner said he heard radio signals from," he explained. "He thinks a large group of military personnel might be holed up in this town. He has been tracking their signal through the radio.”

“And you trust this information?” I asked as I scrutinized the map, tracing my finger along the marked route. When I looked up, his eyes met mine in silent questioning.

“I do. Gunner has been working with Brir for years,” Arya said. Soren looked up at her.

“So you know this man?” Soren asked her.

Arya shook her head. “No, I've seen Brir's memories. I trust the old man.”

"Good." With a deep breath, I leaned forward and traced our route on the map with my finger. My gaze shifted to my companion, who sat across from me in the dimly lit room. “How many humans are guarding him?” I asked, my mind racing with plans to infiltrate our target's location.

"There were about a dozen. Several held Artemis down. He will be injured when you find him," Arya explained. Brir looked away, and the pain laced on his face made my stomach drop. The memories that Arya had seen for just a second haunted the man before me. Soren had been out of my sight for just a few hours. The horror of not knowing if my Keala was alive or dead had almost broken me. I couldn’t imagine living with that feeling for days.

I grimaced, my hand instinctively tightened around Soren's arm. He didn’t flinch; he just locked his gaze with mine and nodded as if he understood every unspoken word I transmitted through that connection.

“Can we handle that many?” Soren asked.

“If it's the three of us, then yes. You're a decent shot with your bow, and Brir can handle himself.” I placed a comforting hand on his back before nuzzling his neck. I needed his scent to calm me.

I caught a glimpse of Brir shooting glances our way. His eyes held sadness and longing as he watched Soren and me, unable to hide his envy. I briefly thought about distancing myself from Soren, but my selfishness outweighed any empathy I might have felt for his situation. I didn’t want to let Soren go. Then it clicked.

“Mother fucker. When you said you bonded with him, I thought you became friends, but he’s your soul bond, isn’t he?” I asked. I could see the confusion on Soren's face until it clicked. I lifted my chin and studied the man standing before me.

His jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists at his sides as my question hung. He didn't answer, but the strain in his features told me everything I needed to know – this Artemis was indeed his soul bond, and my inquiry had struck a nerve. A sharp pang of guilt shot through me as I saw the pain I had caused him.“That's why this man is so important to you. You used the word Savase. I didn’t get it before. He is your thread bearer.” I didn’t know much about Brir’s culture. He was from a much older race.

I looked back at the map, sensing Brir didn’t want to talk about what the man was to him or his culture. A sense of determination formed inside of me—an impatience. "Alright, how fast can we get Nidra to round up a few Lepots?" I finally asked. “We'll need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the greater the chance that Artemis will be moved to another location, and it looks like this place is several days away."

“It's already been days,” Brir said, looking at the map.

Arya nodded. Her face was grim. She reached out and touched Brir’s arm, trying to comfort him. I didn’t have to ask if Artemis was still alive. I knew what it felt like when your bond died. The feeling of the connection snapping. Like your soul was ripped from your body, and you were just an empty shell.

“We need to get him,” I said to everyone in the room. I don’t know what I would do without Soren. He had been injured, and the few hours that I had thought I had lost him had been hell. To know he was alive somewhere and not with me would have broken me.

“When do you think you can be ready?” Brir asked, looking at me.

“You guys can leave at dawn. Brir, your injuries still need to be treated," Arya said.

Brir bristled at the command, a fierce glint in his eyes. "I can handle my injuries," he growled, his jaw clenching.

“The burns should heal on their own, Arya,” I piped up, trying to move us out of here faster. “Fairly quickly, even. We should pack a bag and leave.”

“Brir was also shot, Merrick,” Arya said, narrowing her eyes at me as my eyebrows rose in concern. “Twice.”

"Damn it all, and you didn’t say anything! You did all that shit on the roof when you were injured?” Soren muttered, looking at Brir anew. He'd shown no signs of being injured. "Where were you shot?"

Brir winced. “In the chest.”

"Luckily for him, humans don't know his anatomy and his heart is on the other side, or he would have died.”

Brir shrugged one shoulder dismissively. "I've had worse."

I glanced at him incredulously. “Which means you are still wounded.”

His jaw was set in a grim line, and a spark of determination twinkled in his eye. “We need to move.”

Soren snatched the map from the table and started folding it up.

“No, if you won't go to Elex, then you won't go,” Soren said to Brir, his lips pulled thin.

I nodded. “We have the map. You're not going if you're injured. You’ll be a liability,” I told him.

Brir’s eyes flared, his hand curling into a fist. “I am no liability, you overgrown lizard! I’ve fought in worse conditions.”

Soren merely raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the outburst.

"And yet I see no merit in arguing with a wounded animal," Soren retorted coolly. The room fell silent, the tension thick in the air.

Brir's fist clenched tighter, his knuckles paling under the pressure. "I will not be left behind," he growled through gritted teeth. The stern lines of his face carved deep shadows in the dim light. He took a step forward.

I held up my hand to silence Brir. “Don’t even fucking open your mouth,” I growled. “I won't restrain myself from beating you senseless if you insult my Keala.”

The descended silence was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife. Brir’s jaw ticked. His eyes locked onto me, his lips pressed into a thin, silent line. My heart pounded as I stared back, refusing to break his gaze.

Arya spoke up, “I agree with them. If you're injured, you can’t go.” Brir's eyes flickered to Arya, his face strained with the effort of keeping his emotions in check. “Artemis needs you at your best.”

“Fine.” His voice was a low snarl, tinted with a rough edge, but it was filled with determination rather than anger. Brir knew he needed our help. He wouldn’t risk losing our aid. “Take me to Elex.”

???

We followed behind as Arya led Brir to the medical center, and I had a sneaking suspicion that Arya would personally walk him directly to Elex.

Arya grabbed the handle when Soren touched her arm, halting her movements.

“Can I have a moment?” he asked her, his face serious.

Arya glanced back at him, an eyebrow arched in question. She didn't release the handle but didn't twist it open either. Her gaze flickered between us briefly before nodding and stepping back from the door.

“Of course,” she said before returning to Brir. “Go in, and I will be talking to Elex to make sure you're a hundred percent, or I will personally hold your ass down.” The last part was a growl. Brir rolled his eyes before he walked through the door. Elex was standing in the hall talking to Peter.

Soren watched the scene unfold before he turned back to face Arya. His normally bright eyes carried a more somber hue.

Arya turned back to me. “What do you need, my friend?”

"Truthfully?" Soren started, inhaling deeply as he focused his gaze on Arya. His jaw clenched and unclenched, a habit I knew he resorted to when he was nervous or anxious about something. Arya edged her brow higher, her eyes softening with concern.

Soren's gaze didn't waver as he stared at Arya, his expression filled with worry. “Are we still friends?” Soren asked.

Arya’s head jerked back like he had just slapped her.

Her face went slack, and that slight smile that I knew she only used when trying to be diplomatic was plastered onto her face.

"Of course we are," Arya replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of confusion. "Why would you even ask that?"

Soren dodged her gaze, his fingers twitching with pent-up anxiety as he ran a hand through his long ponytail.

“Friends don't shut out one another even when they are hurt or embarrassed,” Soren said quietly, the sound barely loud enough to mask the seething frustration in his voice. Arya went silent momentarily, her grip on the handle slackening. “You don't get to do that to me. I thought we were friends."

Again, I saw Arya at a loss for words, and her eyes widened, but she did not interrupt. Soren took a deep, shuddering breath before continuing, "Friends trust one another with their fears, their failures. I thought we trusted each other."

Her eyes floated down to her hands. The pad of her thumb ran over a clawed-tipped finger as her eyes turned glassy, a momentary retreat from the confrontation.

“I do,” Arya tried to say, and I could see Soren making her nervous.

“You don’t,” he said firmly. “You won't even look at me.” Arya was silent, her soft sigh barely punctuating the tension in the room. She shifted her gaze, her eyes meeting Soren's.

"Look, Soren, I... I didn’t mean to push you away," she confessed reluctantly. There was a pause in their conversation, and the air seemed to grow even tenser than before. Soren's mouth twisted at her words, “I just didn't know what to say.” Her cheeks turned a shade darker.

"You did a great job protecting New Pharia, even though it was difficult. I know what you didn’t wasn’t something that you wanted to do, but let's face it, do you think those people were willing to sit down and have peaceful discussions?" Soren asked her, pushing her into the conversations I knew she was uncomfortable having.

"No, they weren't," Arya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know that, Soren. Better than anyone."

"Good, because no one here blames you for what you did. Sometimes, we must do what's needed for the greater good, even if it doesn't feel right," Soren said, his voice steadying. His hand reached out to touch Arya's shoulder, a small gesture of solace. “They were going to kill us all.”

She nodded, her eyes starting to fill with tears. Arya was always a rock for everyone, and I now felt bad for shutting her out. She didn’t have many people to lean on.

“I lost control, Soren,” she admitted to him. “I let my anger win. I never should have done that.”

Soren moved closer to her, his posture relaxing as he extended a hand to rest gently on her shoulder. "You did what no one else could. People could have gotten hurt or worse if you hadn’t handled things. They could have died. I could have died. There is no shame in that.”

Arya looked at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Emotions flickered across her face —guilt, grief, relief —before she finally nodded, accepting his comfort. "Thank you, Soren," she whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed feelings.

"No need for thanks," Soren returned softly, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "That's what friends are for, right? Just don't shut me out again. I’m here for you. You saved my life. I could never hate you.” He pulled her into a hug.

A tight silence spread between them, filled only by Arya's soft sniffling and the faint rustle of leaves.

Watching Soren handle this made me ashamed of how I managed my friendship with Arya and avoided her, putting distance between us.

When Arya let Soren go, he pulled away and smiled at her.

“Go on,” Soren encouraged Arya. “Go make sure that Brir gets treated.”

“I'm taking Soren home now,” I told both of them before taking Soren's hand. “We will meet at the cafe right before dawn and leave after breakfast."

Soren rolled his eyes, but I didn’t care if he thought I was being overprotective. He was going to eat before we left.

I pulled gently on Soren's hand and tugged him down the street.

As we trudged down the deserted street, I felt a silence creeping between us. I wrapped my arm over his shoulders and pulled him into my side.

“Will Brir be okay?” Soren asked me as we walked towards the house.

"Brir will be fine," I assured him, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "Elex will fix him up; you’ll see."

Soren's brow furrowed, worry lines forming on his forehead. "I hope so. He's a good man. We owe him. I don’t think we would have lived if he hadn’t shown up, Merrick. There were a lot of them.”

I swallowed audibly, trying to push down the fear that Soren had been seconds again from a fatal injury. Raybex were nothing to play with. Typically, they were more scared of us, but these creatures had been collected and starved. Turned feral. Those soldiers had wanted to make sure they would attack us.

"I know," I responded, my voice soft.

With the day's events, everyone was tucked into their beds. The people wouldn’t want to get up to face this event of the attack on the last place they had felt safe. They would try their best to forget.

Arya would lead everyone in the morning to start cleaning up our city, which now looked like a war zone. Humans had taken down buildings, and the debris would need to be cleared. I wrapped my arm around him and led him back to our home.

“Do you think Meta will watch Emily?” Soren asked. “I didn’t think about it when we talked.”

“Him or Arya. Probably Arya. She loves Emily." I leaned down and kissed the top of his head. He cared so much about the child who had become ours. We both cared deeply for the younglings.

We continued our walk in silence, each lost in our thoughts. Soren tensed beside me as we neared our home, the sight of the familiar structure a stark reminder of the battle fought and the lives endangered. We stood together at the doorstep, and the first purple hues of dawn began to creep over the horizon. I tightened my grip on Soren's hand, a small reassurance against the uncertainty in the air.

"Emily will be alright, Soren," I said softly. “There aren’t many hunters now who could help get Brir’s mate back. I would need to go, and I know you wouldn’t stay here.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I’m never leaving you again,” Soren said with a sad smile.

I turned the handle of our front door and pushed it open. Soren's stomach growled with hunger. I laughed at the sounds.

“Let's feed you, my Keala,” I told him. We stepped into the gloomy interior, the silence echoing around us. Soren had started making this house a home. There was now color around the rooms where only white had been. Before he and Emily came here, this house had been lifeless.

“I'm only hungry because we missed dinner,” Soren said as I flicked on a light in the kitchen. Soren sat down in the chair and started taking off his boots.

"And because I fucked you senseless,” I said to Soren. His face darkened with embarrassment. The memories of just hours ago make me smile. “I'll whip up something quick," I said, moving towards the pantry.

The faint scent of our shared kitchen hit me — a combination of spices, fruits, and something uniquely Soren. Our home was not opulent by any measure. It didn’t have the nice things I had found for the house in Texas. As I started rummaging through the food stores, Soren slipped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His face pressed between my shoulder blades.

"I could help, you know," he murmured into my back. His warm breath made a shiver run down my spine.

"You just rest,” I replied, turning in his arms to kiss his forehead. His dark brown eyes flickered with amusement at my concern as he leaned against the counter, watching me as I set about making a simple meal of roasted meat and root vegetables.

“Or maybe I'm hungry for something else,” Soren said seductively, looking at me with something naughty in his eyes as his hands ran down my side, fingers trailing over the waistband of my pants. “We do have a few hours to burn till Brir gets done with Elex.”

“I just fucked you hard, not even a few hours ago.” I smiled at him, remembering how he had let me use his body.

He responded with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. "I seem to recall you enjoyed it quite a bit yourself."

"I did," I admitted, turning my attention back to the food

“I don't think I could take you again right now. You’re not small.” Soren pushed his long hair over his shoulder, but his smile contradicted his words. I returned to the food I was preparing, pulling him between the counter and my body. “Want to wear me out?”

I grinned at him as I cut the meat into small chunks to cook faster. “I like wearing you out,” I told him as my chest purred. “ Did I make you too sore?”

Soren shrugged, his back leaning against the counter as his hands wandered over me.

“No, it wasn’t too much,” he said with a huge smile before he stripped his shirt off and tossed it aside. “Maybe I just want you to fuck my mouth.”

A wave of pleasure washed over me at the sight of his naked form under the dim kitchen light, sculpted muscles moving beneath tan skin. His dark nipples made me want to lick and suck on them. I could already taste his skin in my mouth.

I watched him undo the button on his pants.

His dark eyes twinkled as he watched me, a look in his eyes that was hungry for something far different than the hearty meal I was preparing. He leaned back against the counter as he peeled off his pants.

Soren's provocative words, combined with the sight of his bare chest, sent a thrill coursing through me. I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. "You're insatiable," I accused him, though the affection in my voice was unmistakable. He grinned in return, his dark chocolate eyes begging me to let him.

"Careful, my Keala," I warned, a teasing smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "You might find yourself biting off more than you can chew."

He looked at me with that devilish glint that made my heart race. The corners of his mouth lifted in a smug and seductive smile. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Soren's gaze slid down my body, then slowly back up, a lascivious gleam in his eyes. "Promises, promises," he drawled, closing the distance between us in two large strides. His hands came to rest on my chest, and he looked up through his thick lashes, mischief dancing in his eyes.

He chuckled at that, letting his pants drop to the floor to pool at his feet before he kicked them away. His eyes gleamed with mischief and anticipation, which I found simply irresistible. He was beautiful in every sense of the word. Strong yet delicate, his lean body was adorned with sinewy muscles and a cascade of dark hair. I fucking loved his body.

With his hands on my chest, Soren leaned in and pressed a slow, tantalizing kiss to my lips. His movements were controlled and deliberate, just a hint of the carnal hunger we both felt. I let out a low growl, meeting his kiss with equal fervor, before pushing him back against the counter. I dropped the knife to the counter to take Soren’s face between my hands, needing to deepen the kiss.

His skin was warm beneath my touch as he pulled his lips from mine. His head turned to kiss the inside of my wrist before gracefully sinking to his knees in front of me. His hands came up to undo my pants. My tail swished behind me in excitement.

I reached behind me and undid the zipper that allowed my pants to go around my tail. Then he was pulling them down my legs just far enough where he could get his mouth on the scales of my hip. His small pink tongue came out to lick the bone there before Soren was kissing down my belly to my slit, already wet at just the sight of my Keala down on his knees.

I closed my eyes, relishing his lips against my skin, the heat of his breath sending pulses of anticipation through my veins. My hands tangled in his hair, thumbs tracing the sharp lines of his jaw as I carefully guided his mouth lower.

"Soren," I breathed, head thrown back as his tongue worked magic on my scales. His hands gripped my hips tightly, anchoring me to him as he continued to kiss and lick every inch of my lower body lavishly. My fingers curled into his dark hair, tugging slightly in pleasure.

"I love you," he purred. His tongue swiped across my slit, the feeling making my tail whipping back and forth from excitement against the cabinet doors.

“I love you,” I told him as he licked up the twin sides of the slit that housed my cock. “Fuck, you’re beautiful like this.”

His tongue was magic on my sensitive scales, and it took no time at all for me to be rock hard and extruding from my slit, unable to hold back. I gritted my teeth, trying not to buck into his hot mouth.

A shudder of pleasure coursed through me, heating my blood and sending a wave of desire ricocheting through my veins. Soren’s skilled tongue traced his way up my erect shaft, his breath warm against my scales. His eyes locked onto mine, an unspoken promise glistening in their depths.

"Soren," I gasped again, my body trembling with anticipation. His fingers dug deeper into my hips, a silent plea for me to keep still. He traced the tip of his tongue from the base to the tip of my cock, teasing it so masterfully it was driving me crazy. Then he enveloped me entirely, his throat convulsing around my cock as he choked on me.

“Easy… my Keala… don’t choke,” I ranted as I pulled him back. His lips were soft and warm, the perfect contrast to the rough texture of his tongue that teased and provoked me. A low chuckle rumbled from deep within Soren’s throat, the vibrations running down my shaft, making me moan. My tail arched back in response, a primal sign of my arousal. It wrapped around Soren's throat.

Not to choke, but to claim. Soren was completely under my power, yet he willingly gave himself over. I admired the sight of him, the way his throat worked diligently around me, the fine sheen of perspiration that gleamed on his skin.

The moment was so intimate and raw that I could do nothing but surrender to the sensations.

I threaded my fingers through his dark hair again, anchoring him closer as he worked me with experienced ease. The moan that slipped past his lips muffled against my scales had me shuddering, the sensation only heightening the intimacy of our shared moment.

His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as he pressed his lips to my scales, teasing the sensitive skin beneath with the lightest touches. The warmth of his mouth contrasted beautifully with the cool air surrounding us, intensifying my reactions.

His hands moved up my waist, holding me steady as he lavished his attention on me. My tangled hand in his hair guided him closer as pleasure began to coil within me. The room was filled with our mingled breaths, the faint scent of our shared desire lingering in the air.

I watched him as he worked, his beautiful dark eyes occasionally flicking up to meet mine. There was something indescribably intimate about being seen this way, him looking up at me while I looked down into those eyes that held me so captive.

“Fuck my mouth,” Soren begged against me, the vibrations from his words causing a shudder of anticipation to ripple through me. It was trust and love and lust and everything in between–raw and real.

The dirty words snapped something in me. I unwrapped my tail from around his throat, grabbed him under the arms, and hauled him up my body.

“Hey!” Soren cried as I pulled him into my arms. His cock rubbed against my belly.

“I need you now,” I told him as I walked towards our room.

“Merrick, I'm kind of sore from earlier,” he said as I shut our door behind us. “I don’t think I can take you again.”

"Shh," I admonished with a gentle smile, my fangs gleaming seductively in the dim light. "I won't hurt you, love. You're too fucking precious for that.” I carried him to our bed. “I’m not going to fuck you.” I set him on his feet, and then my mouth was on his, tasting myself on his lips. I brought my hands up and gripped both sides of his face while I devoured his mouth.

My hands slid down to his waist, gripping him tightly as I deepened the kiss. His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging slightly and earning a low growl from me. The sound vibrated between our connected mouths, eliciting his startled gasp. I chuckled against his lips, pulling back to witness how I was affecting him. “You’re going to fuck me,” I said against his lips.

As I deepened the kiss, my claws sank into his dark hair, my tail coiling around us to press our bodies together. Soren’s hips rocked against me. His moans filled my mouth.

"Are you sure?" Soren asked when we finally broke apart, his dark eyes wide with excitement. His dick throbbed against mine, a clear indication of his arousal, yet he was always considerate.

"Yes, we've done this before. I love it both ways," I responded, my voice a harsh whisper that seemed to reverberate in the silence between us. I dipped my head to his shoulder, pressing my lips against the swell of his muscles. My claws ran down his sides, tracing the familiar contours of his body.

"Merrick," Soren breathed out, his eyes closing as I feasted on the tender skin of his neck. His fingers tightened in my hair, pulling me closer as if he couldn't get enough. I growled softly against his skin, the sound vibrating through him and making him shiver with anticipation.

I grinned back at him. “Remember?” I asked, my lips ghosting over his, our shared breaths mingling in the small space between us.

His gasp fluttered against my ear. Soren's hands moved to grasp my hips tightly, his palms warm against my scales. Our eyes met and held, an intimate understanding passing between us.

"I remember," Soren whispered back, the words barely audible over his heartbeat pounding. His eyes were locked onto mine, the lust and love shining as bright as the moon outside.

My hands roamed over his bare chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart beneath my fingertips. I traced down, caressing the well-defined muscles of his abdomen, delighting in the way he gasped and arched into my touch. My fingers dipped lower, skimming over his stiff dick with a tantalizingly slow tease. His breath hitched, his dark eyes silently begging me for more.

"Yes," Soren breathed, arching his back to press himself closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

Slowly, I guided us toward the bed without breaking our kiss. His hands roamed my body, caressing every dip and curve of my back until his hand wrapped around my tail. Making me shift against him, needing the friction of his flesh.

He paused as we reached the edge of the bed, pulling away from me to look into my eyes. "I love you, Merrick," he confessed softly, cupping my face.

"I love you too," I replied before touching his lips again.

The meeting of our lips sent waves of pleasure coursing through me, my body reacting instinctively to his. I pushed him gently onto the bed, our bodies tangling together on the soft sheets. His hands roamed over my scales, a familiar whisper against the sensitive surface, igniting sparks of pleasure that made me shudder.

"Merrick," Soren moaned my name, a tender plea on his lips. His breath hitched as I ran a hand down his chest, tweaking his nipples.

His eyes roamed over my exposed body in appreciation before he reached out and gently pushed at my shoulders so I would fall onto the bed.

I landed on the plush mattress, my body sinking into the softness as he moved over me, his muscular frame shadowing mine. His eyes held a spark of mischief and lust, his lips curving upward in a seductive smile.

"I want you, Merrick," he growled against my lips before claiming my mouth. His knees pushed my legs open.

"Then take me," I breathed, the words barely audible in the quiet room. His hands moved lower, tracing a teasing path down my abdomen to where I was hard and ready for him. He ran his fingers along my length slowly, making me shiver in anticipation. He grinned at my reaction, his eyes twinkling with pride and desire. His fingers wrapped around my length, his touch firm yet gentle, and began to stroke. His rhythm was torturously slow, pushing me to the brink of pleasure, then pulling back, teasing me with moments of tantalizing closeness to climax.

"S-Soren," I breathed out pleadingly, writhing beneath him, the bed creaking slightly under our weight. His smile was both triumphant and devilishly teasing, his grip on my length tightening slightly in response to my plea.

"Patience, love," he murmured against my lips, his body pressing down onto mine as he threw my words back at me.

I opened my legs wide for him, my tail returning to wrap around his neck. I wasn’t letting him go now. I needed him to fuck me.

"Soren..." I groaned, my voice heavy with desire. The way his name rolled off my tongue only seemed to fuel his playfulness, his fingers squeezing my length with a steady rhythm that had me arching beneath him.

He relinquished his hold on me momentarily, leaving me panting, the loss of contact almost painful. I whimpered as he chuckled softly at my predicament, the sound of a sinfully provocative tease to my already overwhelmed senses.

The sheets were cool against my heated skin as I lay back on them, pulling Soren along.

He kissed me again before he moved down my body, trailing soft bites across my chest.

I tossed my head back in pleasure, letting him explore me.

"Shh... easy." His voice was a low purr, his fingers dancing over my thighs, pushing them farther apart. He nestled his body between them, his presence a welcome heat that threatened to consume me. I thrust my hips up towards him impatiently, a deep groan rumbling up from my chest. His teasing smile was replaced by a look of raw anticipation, his eyes drinking in the sight of me in my unabashed need.

His lips pressed gentle kisses against the soft skin of my inner thighs. I trembled under him, my body hypersensitive to every small touch, every heated breath he drew across my skin.

“Soren, God damn it!” I growled. “Fuck me already.” His name was a plea on my tongue, a hint of desperation woven within the syllables.

Soren's mouth was a warm, insistent presence against my skin. His lips traced the ridges of my scales, his tongue exploring each groove with slow deliberation. His hands were equally attentive, caressing down my sides and then moving to grip my thighs. I shivered under his touch, musical moans slipping from my throat as he traveled lower.

“Oh, I’m going to,” Soren said. I watched as his hand snaked between his legs, stroking his dick. “I'm so fucking hard.”

My fingers threaded through his dark hair, urging him upwards even as I writhed beneath him. When his lips finally brushed against the head of my cock, I sucked in a sharp breath.

In response, Soren looked up at me with heavy-lidded eyes. His hands held my hips down on the bed to prevent me from bucking into his mouth as he took just the tip between his lips. The warmth and wetness were overwhelming, and I stifled a moan by biting into my fist.

Soren, ever playful, laughed deeply at my desperate restraint, sending wonderful vibrations through me. I tightened my grip on his hair as he began to take more of me into his mouth. His pace was torturously slow, the steady rhythm building a fire in my belly that threatened to consume me.

Squirming beneath him, I was desperate for more contact, my body trembling with anticipation. Soren knew just how to tease me into a frenzy. He released me, leaving me whimpering at the loss of his mouth.

"Good...?" Soren looked up to ask for confirmation, his lips slick and glistening.

“Fuck yes, but I need more,” I managed to say, my voice a hoarse whisper brimming with desire. His hands slid over my waist, grazing the base of my tail, and I shivered at the touch.

Though my body was crying out for release, Soren continued to play his slow, maddening game. His fingers traced the sensitive scales on the underside of my tail. All coherence had fled my mind. All I could do was nod frantically as he continued his slow torment.

"Tell me what you need," he murmured against my skin, his hot breath sending goosebumps prickling across my sensitive scales.

“I need you in me, Soren," I told him.

He was silent for a beat, gazing at me with those dark brown eyes, the intensity of his gaze almost too much. But then, his lips curved into a devilish smile, and he leaned in to whisper, "As you wish." He smiled wickedly at me as he slid a finger into my slit under my cock. My hips lurched upwards. The top of his knuckles grazed the underside of my cock.

“More,” I told him, feeling the stretch as he added another. I moaned.

In response, Soren chuckled, his warm breath fluttering against my damp skin. He slowly withdrew his fingers, then pressed them back in, stretching me further. His thumb came up to rub gentle circles around the head of my cock, augmenting the pleasure coursing through me.

The sensation of him entering me was electrifying, the pleasurable tension mounting into an irresistible urge. His fingers curled inside me, a tantalizing promise of what was to come. I spread my legs wider, silently pleading for him to continue.

His touch was addictive, a slow-burning fire turning me into a pile of kindling. His skilled fingers worked in tandem, eliciting whimpers of pleasure from me. The sensations were all-consuming, building to an unbearable crescendo.

“You're so fucking wet inside,” Soren said as his eyes watched as he finger fucked me. "And your sounds." He grinned, moving his free hand to cover my mouth and capture my moans. "So damn sweet."

His words, dripping with desire and admiration, only fanned the flames within me. He took his time, working me open with a deliberate slowness. I arched off the bed, keening for more. My tail unraveled from his neck to curl around his wrist, a wordless plea for him to give me what I needed.

Soren responded with a grin that was nothing short of wicked, his movements slow and deliberate. He was nothing if not an excellent listener. He added a third finger, thumbing at my sensitive nub as he moved in and out of me, sending sparks of pure need rocketing through me.

“Seeing your tail so close to your slit makes me wonder if you can fuck yourself with it.” His eyes were blown wide as he looked down at his hand fucking my slit as my tail wrapped around his wrist. The fingers of his other hand grasped around one of the coils pulling them away before he placed the tip of my tail to my slit as his fingers pulled free. “Do it,” he said breathlessly. “I want to see.”

A shiver of delight tingled through me at his words. His gaze was heated, devouring, sending a jolt of anticipation coursing through my veins. I’d never thought to do such a thing before, but the desire in his voice made me willing to try.

Slowly, I let him feed my tail into the space under my cock before he pulled it back out and pushed my tail back in, making me moan as it stretched me.

“Fuck that’s hot,” he said, his other hand reaching for his dick, giving it a few slow pulls. “Do it hard. Fuck yourself for me.” I shifted my hips, pushing back against the tip of my tail as it touched my entrance.

Heat crept up my neck and the scales of my neck at his words, but I didn't hesitate.

I took a deep breath, throwing my head back against the pillow as I slowly pushed my tail deeper. It was different, new, and so shamefully sinful. The strain in Soren's voice, the gritting of his teeth, and the low growl that escaped him only served to fuel the disgraceful flame within me.

Panting, I moved my tail back and forth in rhythm with his strokes, a rhythm that mirrored his fingers from moments ago. His eyes never dropped from my movements, glazed over in a stormy lust that made me want to curl into myself and display all at once.

The sensation was different, more broad —but the thrill of letting him watch me do this had my cock twitching in anticipation. His gaze was entirely focused on where my tail disappeared under me.

My fingers tightened around the blanket beneath me as I pushed my tail deeper, the sensation of it sliding against my insides driving me to moans and desperate breaths. I watched his face and saw his gaze darken with desire. The sight of him stroking himself at my actions only spurred me on.

"Deeper," Soren demanded, the rough timbre of his voice buoying my sinfully amorous courage to new heights. "Bite your lip," he added, revealing a lascivious grin that sent shivers down the length of my tail.

"Like this?" Obediently, I bit down on my lower lip, suppressing my moan as I felt his hands on my tail, forcing it deeper inside of me. I panted as I enjoyed the feeling of his eyes on me.

I could hear the quick intake of his breath and see the tension in his jaw as he watched me. My chest tightened with anxious excitement. His lustful gaze was intoxicating, and every gasp from him only drove me further into the blissful abyss of pleasure.

He was so close now— I could hear the urgent pacing of his breath, the almost animalistic rumble deep within his chest. The tension was taut between us, a string wound so tight it could snap at any moment. I pushed my tail deeper and harder into my body, making my spine bow for him—Soren’s commands echoing in my mind.

"Fuck," he swore under his breath, his eyes flashing. “I have to fuck you now.”

My cock leaked precum onto my belly. Soren was panting hard. His grip tightened painfully on my tail, tearing it away from my hole.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice thick with desire. His dark eyes bore into mine, filled with such love and devotion that it nearly took my breath away.

"Yes, ready... always ready for you," I gasped, my voice hoarse with anticipation. I watched, entranced, as he pinned my cock down to my belly with one hand and lined himself up at my slit with the other, pushing in below my cock.

The sensation of him slipping inside me was electrifying. His eyes never left mine as he nudged in deeper, an intimate act that made my heart flutter. I watched his face twist with pleasure, the corners of his mouth curling upward in a smirk that nearly knocked the breath out of me.

His dick slipped inside me slowly. The sensation of being opened and filled by him made me moan. He started pumping into me. “Oh, fuck. You feel so fucking good,” he panted before he bent, capturing my lips in an insistent kiss that made my head spin. His rhythm picked up, our bodies slamming together, echoing in the room.

"I love you," I managed to gasp out, staring at him with half-lidded eyes.

"I love you too," he whispered back, his voice ragged and filled with emotion. His eyes were locked with mine, the intensity in them taking my breath away. Sweat dripped from his forehead, landing on my chest as his body pressed into mine.

His thrusts became more forceful, more desperate. The sensation was overwhelming, every nerve ending alert and aching for more. His mouth found my neck, teeth scraping gently against the sensitive skin as he bit and licked at my scales.

His movements became erratic, his clenched jaw revealing the restraint he was battling within. "You're so tight," he managed, each word punctuated by a thrust.

His tongue explored my mouth as he continued to move within me, setting a steady, tantalizing rhythm that had me writhing beneath him.

Every thrust sent pleasure coursing through me.

Every gasp and whimper was met with encouraging words and reassuring touches.

Time seemed to stretch into infinity as he filled me up completely. The sensation of him within me was overwhelming–it left me breathless and yearning for more.

Each thrust of his hips was met with louder moans, my claws digging into his back as I held him close. His kisses mirrored his rhythm inside me; slow, tender, and passionate, before gradually picking up in intensity.

"I'm close," he warned, his voice rough. His thrusts were frenzied now, like a man possessed by an insatiable hunger.

"Me too," I breathed, my claws digging into the sheets beneath us. I wrapped my tail around his waist, pulling him deeper into me with each thrust.

Soren made love to me. He needed this side of me.

As if he'd read my mind, Soren shifted, angling his thrusts to hit that spot within me that drew a strangled cry from my lips. He was attentive, always looking for signs of discomfort or pleasure in my expressions, adjusting himself accordingly.

A low growl rumbled in Soren's throat as he fucked me harder, each thrust hitting just right and sending waves of pleasure cascading through me. The room was filled with our combined moans and the sound of our bodies moving together.

He took my breath away, over and over again, until I was gasping with the overwhelming sensation of him. His pace quickened gradually as he plunged deeper inside me.

"Just a bit longer," I pleaded, my voice coming out as a desperate whisper between gasps. His name slipped past my lips like a prayer. My body was on fire, every nerve ending burning with anticipation.

His lips captured mine in a searing kiss as he continued to thrust, the tight coil of pleasure within me threatening to make me come.

“I’m not going to come before you, damn it!” Soren snarled as he wrapped his hand around my cock and started pumping me with the same rhythm of his thrusts inside of me.

His touch was searing, so hot it was almost painful. His fingers, sure and practiced, stroked me in time with the thrusts of his hips. My claws gripped at the sheets as sensation threatened to overwhelm me. His lips were fervent against mine as he took in each gasp that I let out. I could feel myself spiraling closer and closer to the edge. Every touch, every thrust was driving me wild. The world beyond us ceased to exist. The only thing that mattered was the pleasure we shared.

“Merrick, I’m too fucking close. You need to fucking come,” he growled, his voice raw with need and frustration. The sound of my name on his lips, so possessive and demanding, sent a burning wave of pleasure through me.

Soren leaned up and grabbed my horn, holding my head still as he looked down at me. His brown eyes were so full of emotions that I knew my eyes returned. His jaw was tight as he pushed into me a little harder, a little faster.

"I..." was all I managed before a wave of pure ecstasy washed over me. The sensation of him holding me down while he fucked me and stroked my dick had me tighten around him, my body responding to his in a way I couldn’t control.

“Oh, fuck.” Soren's eyes pinched closed. “I can feel it. You're going to fucking come.”

He hissed through clenched teeth, the sound strangled and desperate in the room's quiet. The tension in his body was palpable as he fought to hold back, to wait for me. His fingers were firm around me, refusing to relent in their pleasurable assault.

A shudder ripped through me, forcing a raw, animalistic sound from my throat as I spilled over his hand. Soren swore, the grip on my horn tightening as his rhythm faltered, pleasure coursing through my body like a seismic wave.

"Soren," I moaned his name, shaking and shuddering beneath him.

My fingers dug into his back, my claws scraping against the toughened skin as I writhed beneath him, feeling the stirrings of an intense climax building within me. Soren responded to my urgency with fervor, his pace increasing in sync with my escalating need.

I clutched his shoulders as my release came barreling through me with a force that left me breathless. I was leaking between us. He quickened his pace as if reading my mind, the friction between us driving me to the brink of sanity.

My vision went white as my release rippled through me in waves of pure ecstasy. "Soren!" I screamed out his name as I came.

As my release spurted out between our joined bodies, Soren thrust into me once, twice more before he, too, succumbed to the overwhelming tidal wave of pleasure. His body stiffened, a low, rumbling growl echoing through the room as he let himself go, his climax spilling into me with ferocious intensity.

His eyes were closed tight as his cock pulsing with each spurt of his come. “Fuck yes,” he moaned. His other hand slid off my horn to cup the back of my head, pulling me up for another searing kiss. His tongue darted inside my mouth, a mirror to the rhythm of our bodies moving together. “Gods, you're fucking amazing,” he gasped, his voice shaking with the sheer force of his orgasm.

The sight of Soren above me— his dark hair falling over his eyes, sweat glistening on his skin under the soft lamplight, and the intense look of concentration and pleasure on his face— made my love for him pulse inside my chest.

For several minutes, we lay there, panting heavily, bodies still entwined in their post-coital haze. His weight on top of me was comforting, grounding me even as aftershocks rippled through my over-sensitized body.

Finally, Soren rolled off me to lie on his back beside me. I pulled him against my side as he nestled on my chest, his arm draped across me.

"Are you okay?" he asked after a moment of silence.

I turned my head to look at him and smiled languidly. "Never better," I assured him. And it was the truth. I felt sated and loved —cherished in a way only Soren could make me feel.

"You're so beautiful," Soren murmured, brushing away a stray lock of hair from my forehead with a gentle hand. His gaze swept over me. "Even now," he continued, his voice growing softer as he traced his fingers down the contour of my face. "Even sweaty and disheveled after I've had my way with you."

"Am I, now?" I teased, a soft smile curving my lips. His acknowledgment of my allure brought forth a surge of warmth through my veins.

"More than you could ever understand," Soren replied, his voice holding an edge of seriousness.

"I could say the same for you," I murmured back, tracing my fingers idly over his chest. He was a sight to behold; all broad shoulders, tight muscles, and skin flushed a beautiful shade of pink from our lovemaking.

Soren chuckled lightly, vibrating against my fingertips still resting on his chest. He twisted his body to face me, his eyes glowing with soft affection. "Is that so?" His voice was a curious murmur as if he were tasting the words before letting them escape his lips.

His fingers found a home in my hair, gently massaging my scalp. It was a comforting motion that had me practically purring under his touch. My tail twitched idly as he touched me, wrapping around his waist in a contented curl.

“You’re my world, Soren,” I told him.

His eyes softened at my words, almost as if the depth of my feelings touched him. He shifted closer, wrapping his arms around me in an intimate embrace. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heart against my own, a soothing beat that lulled me towards a peaceful drowsiness.

He drew himself closer to me. "And you are mine, Merrick," he echoed, sincerity underlying his voice as it reverberated against my skin. I could feel the depth of his feelings for me in how he held me close and the warmth radiated from him.

This was always the best part —lying in Soren’s arms, feeling loved and wanted.

"I mean it," he said solemnly. "I want you by my side for the rest of forever."

My tail wrapped around his wrist. I held him more tightly in my arms.

“If anything ever happened to you, I don't know what I would do,” I told him.

“I hope Brir's mate is okay. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” he told me. “Because if he feels even a fraction of what I feel for you…” He paused, struggling to put the enormity of his emotions into words. "Then he must be going through hell," he finished quietly, a troubled expression etching itself into his handsome features. I could feel how his muscles tensed under my touch, the contemplative silence that followed his words heavy with concern.

He was silent for a moment, but the rhythm of his breath was steady and soothing.

"Let's not worry about that until we know more," I suggested quietly, kissing his bare shoulder. Soren was always a worrier, especially concerning those he cared about. Brir had dug his way into Soren's heart by protecting the kids. He would do anything for the man now. Brir had no idea.

Soren collected broken things. He protected people who couldn’t protect themselves.

I traced my fingertips lightly down Soren's arm. He shivered at the touch, a sigh escaping from his lips. “Promise me you'll stay safe, Soren.” My voice was hushed now, barely louder than the leaves I could hear rustling outside the window. “Promise me that you won't put yourself in danger when we do this. I need you safe, Soren. I can’t lose you.”

He turned to look at me, a softness in his eyes that made my heart flutter. "I promise," he said, answering my plea with a sincerity that I knew was genuine. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me even closer to him—our bodies intertwining seamlessly. “But we need to help him,” he said.

“I know,” I murmured against his skin. The words were both a vow and a pledge filled with the weight of fear that hurt my chest. I didn’t want Soren to go, but I also knew I couldn’t leave him behind. I never would leave my Keala again. Never again.

He was made for me, and I for him.