9. Milo
CHAPTER NINE
milo
There was only one explanation for the feverish need coursing through Milo’s blood.
One reason for the constant reminders all through the night.
The way Grievance’s forearm bulged beneath his bands of gem-studded silver and gold.
The way the emerald earring dangled, accenting his corded neck.
The slope of his shoulders and the defined muscle there.
Milo tried all night to resist the urge and enjoy the festival. But after feeling those hands sliding over his body, leading them in a dance bursting with magic—he couldn’t deny it a second longer.
It was instinct.
It was need.
It was as though Milo were in heat. A biologically impossible function for him, but… who knew what parts of him had changed because of his Chimera? His mate, whose mark he wore proudly on his skin.
Milo led Grievance away from the enchanted sounds of the square and toward the forest, its call growing louder beneath the full moon.
Without thinking, Milo broke into a run.
And it was as though he were a MythBeast bounding through the undergrowth, lungs heaving, claws digging into the earth as he pushed himself further. Faster.
He dropped his belongings and shed his clothes as he ran.
First the bear, then his hat. He kicked off his shoes and tossed them into the brambles.
Milo was panting, the cold October night filling his lungs, burning him but also giving him the very thing he needed to be alive and rooted in this moment.
Behind him, Milo heard the crashing of trees and the snapping of sticks.
Something wicked was coming.
Something was chasing Milo, its animalistic grunts getting closer and closer.
Milo continued to run, shedding his coat, gasping, tears stinging his eyes as the wind blew directly into his face. He saw the clearing through the trees. He was so close. All he had to do was reach it and…
Milo leaped over a fallen log, stumbling into the enchanted ring.
The clearing opened before him, enveloping him in pleasant heat, like a soft breath on a cold October night.
Not a single fallen leaf disturbed the grass within the enchanted circle, untouched by the autumn debris blanketing the rest of the forest. Here, the chill never seemed to reach.
Not summer heat, but the gentle, comforting warmth of sitting beside a hearth.
Glow Mushrooms lined its border in a perfect ring, their caps unusually bright tonight, burning orange and purple as though they, too, were celebrating the Pumpkin Festival.
And at the very center stood an old Lantern.
His Lantern.
His private place of worship.
But Milo barely had a moment to catch his breath before something massive burst from the treeline and grabbed him.
His world spun as the creature wrapped its body around him, sending them both crashing to the ground, tumbling into the grass before finally coming to a stop—Milo on top of the Chimera’s heaving chest.
“Caught you,” Grievance growled, and Milo could see tufts of brown fur retreat behind his skin, claws going back to fingers.
Grievance had chased him as a boar-bear.
The same form Grievance had worn when Milo first found him.
The memory sent a fresh wave of love and longing coursing through Milo’s chest.
They’d come so far…
And still. He wanted more. Every second he wanted more of this man. This beast.
“You caught me.” Milo panted, jerking open the top button of his cream undershirt with one hand. “Now what will you do with me?”
His mate let out a primal growl, so deep it vibrated beneath where Milo straddled him. Going straight to his dick.
“First,” Grievance said, his hand sliding inside his shirt and pressing flat against his chest, cupping his pec and squeezing.
“I’m going to worship you. I’m going to give all of myself to my mate.
Devote my body to your pleasure. Until you’re a weak, whimpering mess before me.
And only then will I take for myself, and breed you until you’re bursting. ”
Milo let out a needy, begging sound, and slammed their mouths together in long, wet open-mouth kisses.
They were gasping, grinding, licking one another like two feral beasts.
Grievance’s hands came up to Milo’s chest, and before he realized what was happening, he grabbed the fabric of his shirt and pulled.
There was the quick pop, pop, pop of buttons flying as Milo’s shirt was torn open, exposing his bare chest.
“Fuuuck, Grievance~” Milo moaned, the sound of tearing fabric and desperate grunts shooting his libido to uncharted levels.
“I want your pretty little cock in my mouth,” Grievance said, between their hurried, desperate grabs and kisses. “Hurry.”
“Hells,” Milo said, leaning back and unzipping his straining pants. He didn’t have time to work them completely off before Grievance pulled him higher, until Milo was straddling his chest, his cock bouncing in the Chimera’s face.
“Perfect,” Grievance growled, and then took Milo’s tip into his mouth.
“Yeeees~” Milo moaned as Grievance used his hands to pull Milo’s hips forward, taking him deeper.
Milo’s hand found its way to the back of his mate’s head, supporting it as Grievance bobbed back and forth along his cock, his beard scratching Milo’s balls pleasantly with every deep pull.
“Fuck, Grievance, that feels so good,” Milo said, his other hand coming up to his own chest, playing with his own pecs, pinching his nipples, sending a zap of electricity down his spine and making his cock bob in the Chimera’s mouth.
Grievance moaned every time Milo did this, and he knew a little dribble of pre-cum leaked out each time.
Milo couldn’t help but start a slow roll with his hips, fucking into Grievance’s mouth.
Using it. Grievance stayed still when Milo started his dance, holding his mouth open and willing as Milo thrust in and out, eyes rolling back each time the underside of his cock was massaged by the Chimera’s big, flattened tongue.
“Do—do you want me to cum in your mouth?” Milo asked in a desperate pant, his hips rolling on their own at this point. He couldn’t stop. He was so fucking close.
The Chimera’s head gave a short nod with an affirming hum that sent a trail of goosebumps racing down Milo’s legs. And his nipples pebbled even harder.
Milo picked up his pace, chasing the pleasure with abandon. His breath quickened, sucking in deeply through his nose, heat climbing so high in his face he felt like he was facing a roaring fire.
But no. It was just the sight of Grievance, his mate. Letting him fuck his mouth in earnest.
“Fuck!” Milo shouted, and then both his hands were buried in the Chimera’s hair as he began pistoning his hips at a brutal pace, fucking Grievance’s throat until—
The glowing mushrooms that bordered the field blurred until all Milo saw were distant circles of light as orgasm tore through his body.
He cried out, his balls drawing up tight as he spilled onto Grievance’s tongue.
And that wicked tongue continued to lavish him with strokes, extending his orgasm and extracting every drop of cum his body had to offer.
When he began to return to earth, and the tip grew impossibly sensitive, Grievance gave him one final lick before pulling free.
Milo collapsed into the grass beside his mate, panting, the circle’s warmth suddenly stifling.
Grievance rolled over, placing a tender kiss to his forehead.
“So delicious,” he said, then licked into Milo’s panting lips. Milo was still too blissed out to even kiss properly, just loosened his jaw and let Grievance explore his mouth, tasting himself on his mate’s tongue.
“Now let me worship you while you recover. Because if you think I’m finished making you moan my name tonight…” Grievance grinned. “You don’t know me very well, little mate.”
Milo let out a weak whimper; it was all he could do. His limbs still felt like lead from the strength of his orgasm.
“I’m at your mercy,” he said on a breathy moan.
“Right answer.”
Grievance began to undress him then. Going slow, taking every opportunity to grab and grope Milo as he exposed him to the hallowed night.
He took off his socks, his pants, and underwear, then gently removed what was left of Milo’s torn dress shirt, kissing his wrist, his forearm, his elbow tenderly as he pulled his limp arm from the sleeve.
Milo let himself be undressed, let himself be maneuvered like a marionette, giving all his strings to this beast that would soon ravage him.
“Grievance,” Milo said as his mate settled over him, his long hair dangling around his face as he looked down on his mate.
“Yes?”
“I love you.” Milo’s throat went suddenly tight as emotion stung his eyes.
Why was he getting like this now? But he couldn’t help it.
Maybe it was the post-orgasm bliss. Maybe it was the magic thick in the air.
Maybe it was just the scent of this man all over him. He couldn’t help but spill his heart.
“I love you so much. I just… just needed you to know that.”
Grievance went still above him, those peridot-flecked eyes searching his.
“I know, Milo.” Grievance’s voice shook on his name. He took a deep breath. “I know. And I strive to be worthy of that love every single day.”
He kissed Milo then, and it was tender and soft.
My gentle giant.
Milo smiled into that kiss, wrapping his hands around Grievance’s neck as his mate’s hand slowly slid down his body, fingers trailing over his hipbone, his thigh, reaching around to the globes of his ass.
Milo lifted his leg, offering more access, giving his mate permission to take what he needed from his body.
It’s yours. All of me. Take what you need.
It’s what Milo would have said if Grievance’s kisses hadn’t turned scorching hot all at once and Milo had to fight to keep up, his cheeks burning from the Chimera’s coarse beard.
Grievance’s index finger found his hole immediately, tracing the ring, making Milo’s body pulse with need.