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cadiacore · 2 years

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.｡*ﾟ+.*.｡ night sky | ruhn danaan x fem!reader

warning(s): insecurities, bad parents, fluff, angst, anxiety, depression, mention of alcohol, and I think that’s it! If you find anymore please let me know!

a/n: I was super depressed earlier today so I sat down, listened to Matilda by Harry Styles on repeat, and wrote this. I’m pretty sure this helped me get out of a writing slump so thanks to Ruhn (bringing me comfort) and Harry Styles (for also bringing me comfort). Also a shoutout to my depression bc this would not exist if I wasn’t so down. on to the fic!

wc: 1.8k

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Nothing she did was good enough. She tried and tried to be like her older sister. The very picture of clever, beautiful, and badass. Y/N sat on her bed and looked out into the night sky. If only she was as smart and clever as Fury, maybe then her family would accept her.

She needed to get out of this house, away from everyone. Y/N threw on pastel pink jeans and a black crop top along with matching boots. She threw up her hair and applied minimal mascara. Y/N was certainly not going out in public without some type of armor.

Once she was ready, she jogged down the stairs and out the door. Y/N didn’t bother telling her family where she was going. Like they would care anyway.

Y/N shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and strode down the long road that led toward the Istros. She would always go there to clear her head and was never bothered. That is until she saw a male sitting in the exact spot she usually does on the bench. Her mind raced as she recognized who the male was.

Ruhn Danaan. The Prince.

She sucked in a breath and turned around. If this spot was safe for him too, she didn’t want to bother him. Y/N didn’t want to bother anyone. She just needed to sit somewhere and cry. She definitely was not going to do it in front of the Prince himself.

He must have sensed her because he turned and saw her just as she was about to walk away. Her throat bobbed and he looked at her with the same kind of sadness or maybe it was something different. Y/N didn’t know.

“You gonna come sit?” he asked,

“Oh, I don’t want to bother you. I’ll be okay,” she said a shade quietly. Ruhn knitted his brows together,

“You’re no bother, Y/N.”

How did he know her name? He must have gotten it from Fury or Juniper. She walked slowly to the bench he was sitting on and sat beside him.

“How did you know my name?” she asked, watching across the water. Y/N pulled her knees to her chest and watched as otters darted back and forth in the water. Two of them played and splashed each other,

“You look a lot like Fury, so I assumed you were her younger sister,” he said. Another pang of hurt struck her heart once more. Of course, he would only know of her because of who she was related to. Not for the things she did in the Aux.

“Yeah,” It’s all that would come out or that she would let out. Ruhn watched her, more like assessed her.

“Do you and your sister not get along?” he asked, “You don’t have to tell me of course, I just get the impression…”

“I love her and I know she loves me. I’m just in a foul mood, that’s all,” she said, picking at the loose strings in her ripped jeans. Ruhn twirled one of the rings on his fingers and watched one of the otters tackle another. He let out a chuckle and a smile.

Y/N couldn’t get over how beautiful this male was. He is much older than her but she can’t help admiring him. He’s done so much good but yet he’s alone. Here. With her.

“Are you in a foul mood as well?” she asked the Prince. He turned and faced her,

“You can say that,” he said with a flicker of that sadness she saw earlier. She was about to ask if he wanted to talk about it but Y/N knew he wouldn’t want to tell someone that he–the Prince–was hurting, but she asked anyway,

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Ruhn looked at her and hesitated but a smile appeared. Not a big one but it was there, “Being a prince is not as glamorous as everyone thinks. Especially with the father who doesn’t seem to care if you live or die.” Y/N knew some of what he felt. She felt it too with her parents. They didn’t care about what she was doing in the Aux, all they saw was that she wasn’t like her sister. Becoming a known name to all of Lunathion.

“I understand, I mean not in being a prince but the parent not caring part,” she said. He looked at her and tilted his head,

“I’ve heard Fury talk about that,” he paused, “She said they are always hard on you about certain things. Fury said she always assumed it was just about little things. It’s not is it?” he asked.

Y/N shook her head and looked back to the water, “I’m not good enough for them anymore. They hardly talk to me anymore. If they do, it's them asking me to do something for them.” she said. Ruhn frowned. “It’s whatever though. That’s why I come here, to get away from the heavy silence.”

The prince watched her closely and then he stood, “Come on, I want you to meet some of my friends. I think you’ll like them.” he said,

“Oh, uh,” she stuttered,

“We both need some cheering up, they just so happen to be very good at bringing smiles to people’s faces.”

Y/N hesitated but then took his hand, “Alright,” she said.

–back at the house–

They stood outside of his house, it wasn’t anything fancy or glamorous, but it fit him somehow. When Ruhn went to turn the handle, another male opened it. Giant grey wings and a white sunball cap. Y/N immediately knew who he was. Hunt Athalar. That must mean Bryce was there. It was too late to back out now, Y/N thought to herself.

Hunt looked at her and smiled gently like he somehow knew something was off. He stepped to the side and Ruhn motioned for her to go in first, “Ladies first,” he had said. So, Y/N stepped inside and let out a soft sigh of relief. The tension in her shoulders relaxed, and the warmth felt welcoming.

Bryce chose that exact moment to wrap her arms around Y/N. It jarred her a bit because she hadn’t been hugged in so long, so she forgot the feel of it, the warmth it brought to her chest. She wrapped her arms around the redhead and smiled. Y/N wanted to cry. She really had needed this. To be around other people rather than just her parents. She sucked in that urge though and pulled away from Bryce,

“I haven’t seen you in so long! How are you?” The princess asked,

How could Y/N even reply to that? She didn’t want to lie but she didn’t want to tell the truth either so she settled for a half-truth, “I’m doing alright. How are you?”

Before Bryce could answer, Y/N heard a loud crash in the background and then the sigh from Ruhn, “I better go check what those two idiots broke. I’ll be right back.” he said as he walked out of the room, leaving Y/N with the angel and the princess.

“I’m doing well,” Bryce finally answered, then she added, “Where have you been?” A hint of worry laced Bryce’s words. Hunt leaned against the wall and watched the two of them as they sat at the bar,

“Been really busy lately, I suppose,” Y/N said. Another half-truth. She had been drowning herself in work but also keeping away from others. She didn’t want anyone to see how bad she had gotten, especially Fury and Juniper.

Bryce titled her head and narrowed her eyes, “You’ve been isolating.” she said flatly. Y/N didn’t meet the Starborn’s eyes which she knew would give away the truth.

“Why?” Hunt asked softly. Y/N pushed a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear and looked at the angel,

“I don’t know,” Lie, “Just haven’t wanted to see anyone lately…” Ruhn, Urd bless him, came back in and nudged his head toward the living room, or what looked like it,

“Come meet Flynn and Declan,” he said,

Y/N got up from the stool and followed him into the room. There were several beer bottles and pizza boxes on what was supposed to be the coffee table she guessed. Two males sat on the couch and they both looked back at her. There were also three fire sprites that circled one of the males head,

“That is Flynn,” Ruhn said as he pointed to the one with chestnut hair and the fire sprites, then to the male with the laptop in his lap, “That is Declan,” Both of the males smiled at her and she smiled back,

“Flynn, Declan, this is Y/N Axtar,” the Prince said. Y/N pulled her sleeves over her palms, feeling the need to hide. It was always her habit to let someone else be the center of others’ attention, never herself.

All three of the males noticed but they didn’t say anything. It was then that Flynn finally cracked the silence, “How did you find Ruhn? He wouldn’t answer any of our calls,” Flynn turned towards the Prince and squinted, “Asshole.” Ruhn only smiled.

Y/N smiled and chuckled softly, “We just happen to be at the same place, at the same time.” she said. The three sprites that had been circling the Lord’s head surged toward her,

“You’re beautiful! Can you please stay?” they all asked at once.

“I can stay for a while only if they don’t mind,” Y/N said, looking over at Ruhn and then to the other two males,

“She can stay,” Declan said without so much as a glance at the other two. Ruhn and Flynn nodded in agreement. The sprites cheered and tugged her into what seemed like Ruhn’s spot on the couch. The Prince sat on the arm of the couch and watched the sprites chatter away to their newfound friend.

Ruhn looked over to Bryce and Hunt as they sat in the chair just a bit far off to the left of the couch. Bryce, was of course sitting on the angel’s lap, watching the girl,

Don’t scare her away.

Bryce looked to her brother and flipped him off,

I met her first, asshole.

Ruhn snorted and rolled his eyes,

Keep calling me an asshole and I’ll tell her about Jelly Jubliee…

Bryce gaped,

Don’t you dare!

Ruhn turned back into the conversation between Y/N and the sprites right at the part where she told them she was the sister of an assassin. They stared at her in awe and at that moment Ruhn knew that he was in danger. Not physically but something tugged at his ribs every time he looked at her.

He knew what it was, but didn’t dare to think of it. That would only put her in danger. He couldn’t risk that.

—

There will be a part two 🥰

#ruhn danaan x reader #ruhn danaan #crescent city #crescent city hosab #ruhn danaan x fem!reader #fluff #angst #cc1 #cc2 #hosab

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ofduskanddreams · 1 year

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Thriller Night: A Crescent City Kinktober Event

Whosoever Shall Be Found

Thriller Night: Part 7 — Flynn x Ariadne (the dragon)

Summary:

After accidentally insulting his friend Willow (the wolf mystic), Flynn’s anxiety spirals. Ariadne takes him away from the main party and helps him find his way back into himself.

For context, I recommend reading part 3 (Ithan x Wolf Mystic) before reading this.

Content Warnings: NSFW, BDSM, Bondage, Impact Play (please read the detailed tags on AO3)

Read Whosoever Shall Be Found on AO3 here.

Find the whole collection of fics here.

Author: @ofduskanddreams || masterlist

This is the seventh installment of Thriller Nights: A Crescent City Kinktober Event. Make sure to check out the rest of the collection and the other amazing authors linked below!

Part 1: Ruhn x Lidia by @hlizr50

Part 2: Hunt x Bryce by @headcanonheadcase

Part 3: Ithan x Wolf Mystic by @headcanonheadcase

Part 4: Hypaxia x Celestina by @damedechance

Part 5: Fury x Juniper by @vikingmagic33

Part 6: Declan x Marc by @mystical-blaise

Part 7: Flynn x Ariadne by @ofduskanddreams

Part 8: Tharion by @damedechance

Find the tumblr Masterlist for the event here.

All fics will be uploaded to the collection on AO3 by October 31st. Enjoy!

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damedechance · 1 year

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Thriller Night: A Crescent City Kinktober Event

Close at Hand

Thriller Night Part VIII - Tharion

On AO3

Tharion Ketos feels loneliness like something cold and tangible in his gut. He branches off from the rest of his friends and wanders throughout the haunted house they've come to for Death Day. Forlorn, he relies upon a familiar fantasy to provide him with some semblance of comfort in his misery, but is interrupted by the unmistakable feeling of being watched….

This is the FINAL installment of Thriller Night! Please read below to find a list of ALL the fics included in this collection. They can be read as standalones, but each one is fantastic!

Find the whole collection of fics here.

Author: @damedechance || masterlist

This is the eighth and FINAL installment of Thriller Night: A Crescent City Kinktober Event. Make sure to check out the rest of the collection and the other amazing authors linked below!

Part 1: Ruhn x Lidia by @hlizr50

Part 2: Hunt x Bryce by @headcanonheadcase

Part 3: Ithan x Wolf Mystic by @headcanonheadcase

Part 4: Hypaxia x Celestina by @damedechance

Part 5: Fury x Juniper by @vikingmagic33

Part 6: Declan x Marc by @mystical-blaise

Part 7: Flynn x Ariadne by @ofduskanddreams

Part 8: Tharion by @damedechance

Find the tumblr Masterlist for the event here.

All fics have been uploaded to the collection on AO3 in time for October 31st. Enjoy!

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shadowdaddies · 11 days

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I am a sucker for angst so can I please request a Ruhn danaan x reader. Where she and ruhn have been together for a while, and she overhears ruhn saying something about her being a bet or a dare. A lot of angst and maybe some fluffy ending

thanks for the request, love💜

Just a Bet

Ruhn x Reader angst to fluff

Smoothing your hair, you stepped out of your car in the driveway as you strode towards Ruhn’s house. You were already regretting the heels you’d donned for your anniversary, feet aching in opposition to the excitement you felt to celebrate one year since Ruhn had asked you out.

Cheeks burning from smiling so hard, you turned the door handle and entered the busy frat house. It wasn’t unusual for many guests to be over, so you paid them no mind as you shouldered your way through the crowd toward the game room where Ruhn usually spent evenings like this.

Juniper caught your eye from across the room, and you waved to her and Fury as you approached the doorway where Ruhn’s voice echoed in a comforting rumble - until you heard Flynn’s voice.

“One year ago, I bet you that you wouldn’t ask her out,” he laughed, the sound of clinking beer bottles and jeers following.

Your heart leapt in your throat when you heard Ruhn’s voice, time standing still as you awaited his response. Your boyfriend scoffed, “I didn’t think I could either.”

Dec chimed in at that point - your kindest friend in the group - his tone teasing as he drawled, “I still can’t believe she took you seriously.”

Your pulse pounded in your ears, eyes pricking with tears as the conversation came together in your head. You were nothing more than a bet to Flynn, a joke that Declan couldn’t take serious, and apparently Ruhn felt the same.

Ripping the painful heels off your feet, you sprinted down the stairs and out of the house. Tossing the shoes in your passenger seat, you wiped the tears from your eyes and started the engine before heading back to your apartment.

The dress felt ridiculous, hair a mess and makeup ruined from crying as you stumbled into your home. Why would Ruhn have stayed with you for this long from a stupid bet? Were you nothing more than a joke, for him and his friends’ amusement?

The thought made tears well up once more, this time pouring over your cheeks as you sobbed. Practically ripping the dress from your body, you ignored the buzzing of your phone in favor of your welcoming shower.

Stepping under the steaming hot water, you scrubbed the memory of tonight as best you could from your skin before stepping out. Wrapping a fluffy towel around your body, you sighed with a hint of relief.

Realizing how dried out you were from your tears, you padded towards the kitchen for some water when you were stopped in your tracks. Bryce lay on your couch, lazily flipping through the tv channels as amber eyes flicked to yours.

With a dramatic sigh, she set down the remote, turning fully to face you. She took in your disheveled state, expression softening at the redness in your eyes, your puffy cheeks.

Shutting off the TV, Bryce sat up and patted the open space on the sofa next to her.

“I need water,” you whispered through a sniffle, voice raspy from dehydration.

“I’ll get it for you. Sit,” Bryce directed, her voice gentle as she sprung gracefully from the couch and headed toward the kitchen.

You settled into the cushions, picking a pillow from behind you to hold against your chest. Nodding a silent thanks, you took the water from Bryce and drank it down, the cold liquid cooling your heated cheeks.

“Fury texted me. She and Juniper saw you running out of Ruhn’s house before he came downstairs asking if they’d seen you. He’s been blowing up everyone’s phones, worried about you.”

A bitter laugh escaped your lips, but you found yourself unable to make eye contact with your friend as you muttered, “Yeah, I’m sure he’s heartbroken.”

Before you could react, the pillow was ripped from your arms, Bryce’s manicured nails practically digging holes into its fabric as her eyes simmered with barely contained rage.

“You may be my friend, but Ruhn is my brother. Explain to me why you think his heartbreak is amusing to you.” Your lower lip wobbled at her harsh words, the dam of your emotions about to break again.

Bryce loosed a breath, gently setting the pillow between you on the sofa as she spoke again, her voice softer this time. “I don’t know what happened, but he’s hurting too. Talk to me.”

The patterns on the pillow suddenly became much more interesting, your fingers tracing the stitching in the fabric while you found the courage to voice what you had heard at the house. “I was going to meet Ruhn for our anniversary dinner... but I heard them talking. I heard Flynn say that I was a bet. Even Dec-“

Shifting to rest on your elbows, you hid your face in your hands as the memory flashed too vividly through your mind. “Dec said he couldn’t believe I thought Ruhn was serious when he asked me out.”

You looked up to see Bryce’s own eyes lined with tears, her jaw set in anger as she processed everything you said.

“I’m a joke to them, Bryce. I was just a bet that he’s decided to string along for whatever reason. Maybe he does like me now, but...”

You couldn’t find the words, tongue twisted in knots like your stomach as thoughts eddied deeper and darker as you reflected on the past year of your life.

Bryce’s hand gently reached for your own, holding them softly as she spoke. “I am going to speak with Ruhn and figure out what is going on. If he was such a dumbass to do something like that to you, I’ll kick his ass. But I feel like there has to be something more to it. They’re good males - stupid alphaholes - but they’re good males.”

You nodded, a flicker of hope sparking in your chest at the thought. They had always been kind to you... Surely that couldn’t all be fake?

“Why don’t you get dressed? I’m going to see Ruhn and I’ll pick you up some food,” Bryce promised, pulling you in for a warm hug before turning and heading out the door, phone already in hand as she fired off messages.

You returned to your room, feeling numb from the pendulum of emotions you’d swung on all evening. You vaguely remembered slipping on a t shirt and shorts, returning to the couch to find the channel on Fangs and Bangs before you fell asleep.

You bolted upright at the sound of a soft knock at your door, rubbing the exhaustion from your eyes to look at your phone. Not much time had passed, but the bombardment of earlier messages from Ruhn and your friends filled the screen.

“Are you there? Bryce told me what happened, and it’s not what you think.” A tense beat of silence passed between you. “Please just hear me out. If you’d rather talk to Bryce, she’s downstairs... But I brought food.”

As if on cue, your stomach growled, drawing attention to the hunger gnawing in your gut. Stomping towards the door, you flung it open to grab the food from Ruhn’s hands when his appearance shocked you still.

His violet eyes were rimmed red and swollen like yours, his hair a mess. He was dressed in an all-black suit, the shirt unbuttoned and tie loose. You hated how it tugged on your heartstrings to see him this way, how there was a part of you that could never hate him, even if what Flynn had said was true.

“Fine,” you snapped, snatching the bag of food before returning to the couch without a second glance. “You have one shot to explain.”

Ruhn sighed, the sound slightly drowned out by the soft click of the door closing behind him. You spared him a glance as he took a seat on the couch, careful to keep his distance.

The chipped black paint of his nails blended into his onyx hair as he ran a hand through it, his muscular leg shaking anxiously before he turned to you. Wholly still, Ruhn’s voice emanated with earnest when he finally spoke.

“Bryce told me what you heard, back at my house. I understand how it would sound, but that’s not at all what happened, and I first and foremost need you to know that you are not a joke. You have never been a joke - to Flynn, to Dec, and especially not to me. I was the joke in that room. They were teasing me, because, yes, asking you out was a dare of sorts.”

You felt the rage build in your chest at that, setting down your food on the table as you prepared for what he would say next - or so you thought you were prepared.

“I remember the first time I saw you, when you came into the White Raven with Bryce. It felt like my world tilted on its axis,” he paused, shaky breath leaving his lips as his eyes went hazy, lost in the memory.

“You were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen, and when you smiled at me I forgot how to breathe. The entire room was staring at you, and you somehow didn’t notice.”

He loosed a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he fought back a smile. “Dec and Marc were teasing me. They saw how I reacted to you, how drawn to you I was. But you were so beautiful and charming, and could have had any male or female you wanted.”

Drawing your legs to your chest, you settled into the couch and fought back the tears in your eyes at his story.

“Flynn’s ‘bet’ was just that I wouldn’t have the guts to ask someone like you out. And I didn’t at first,” Ruhn laughed, toying with his lip ring before those violet eyes flicked up to meet yours.

“But then Flynn said that if I didn’t ask you out, he would. And that’s when I jumped up from our table so fast I knocked Dec’s beer on me, and made a fool of myself asking you out like that.”

Ruhn looked down at your hands, his own twitching as though barely holding back from reaching for you. So you reached for him. The cold silver of his rings was a familiar comfort, and you felt yourself relax as his fingers twined tightly with your own.

“Dec didn’t think you’d take me seriously because I was a dumbass, asking out the most incredible female I’ve ever met while covered in beer and stumbling through my words.” You laughed then, and Ruhn’s entire presence seemed to brighten in response.

“I remember. I thought it was cute. You weren’t the snobby fae royalty I would have expected, and I found it very charming,” you teased, a smile spreading across your face as you then relived the memory of the striking yet goofy male first approaching you.

“I am so sorry that I didn’t tell you that. It’s not exactly something that I’m proud of, that I was so nervous to ask you out. Flynn never lets me live it down.”

“I’m sorry,” you murmured, feeling embarrassed at how you had jumped to conclusions so quickly. “I feel like I ruined our anniversary. I should have stayed and listened to you.”

Ruhn’s eyes glittered like stars, his hands finding your waist to lift you into his lap. Hooking your arms around his neck, you straddled your boyfriend’s hips. Ruhn exhaled sharply through his teeth, causing you to lean back in alarm.

“It’s just a bruise, curtesy of Bryce.” You blushed, biting back laughter over your friend’s protectiveness. “You did not ruin anything. Flynn, on the other hand, got it worse than me,” he chuckled, nodding to his wounded side.

“You have a lot of people in your life who would do anything for you, including Bryce and myself. All I want is to spend the rest of our night together so I can show you just how much I love you,” he murmured, eyed lidded with desire as you settled further into his lap.

“I think I could arrange that,” you purred, leaning down to kiss Ruhn’s full lips before trailing his jaw, down his neck, his exposed chest.

He picked you up, carrying you bridal style to the bedroom where you spent the night exchanging soft touches and sweet nothings until the sun rose the next morning.

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kitikatrina · 1 year

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Whoop! Lineart done

#fury x juniper #juniper x fury #juniper andromeda #fury axtar #crescent city

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azsazz · 5 months

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leafsandstarlight was just talking about how poorly sjm writes queer relationships too, sjm's writing lacks in a lot of ways but she got so hyped that i think she sees constructive criticims as hate and ignores it lmao

i feel like sjm is avoiding writing mor with any woman for some reason. like why has it been 500 years of this wouldn't she want better for herself and to be free? velaris is supposedly so amazing and you've lived there for so long but yet you're hiding the fact that you're queer? idk. and rita was mentioned to be like mor but that was it?

fury and juniper....but like, fury was never around? so shes skirting around these types of relationships which makes me think that she just put them there to be more inclusive?

i love declan tho but even his relationship with his man wasn't developing or anything. she has too much going on to even give anyone a life.

spoiler below cut

i wonder who she's going to make a acotar x cc couple...

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mystical-blaise · 2 years

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THRILLER NIGHT: A CRESCENT CITY KINKTOBER EVENT

Something Evil's Lurking in the Dark

Thriller Night: Part 6 - Declan x Marc

Declan Emmet is a male on a Death Day mission of discovery. One he had entirely resigned himself to alone. Until a storm rolls in, forcing him to face his greatest fear—and revealing wicked things hidden in the dark.

Content Warnings: NSFW, M/M

Read on Ao3

Author: @mystical-blaise | Masterlist

This is the sixth installment of Thriller Nights: A Crescent City Kinktober Event. Make sure to check out the rest of the collection and the other amazing authors!

Part 1: Ruhn x Lidia by @hlizr50

Part 2: Hunt x Bryce by @headcanonheadcase

Part 3: Ithan x Wolf Mystic by @headcanonheadcase

Part 4: Hypaxia x Celestina by @damedechance

Part 5: Fury x Juniper by @vikingmagic33

Part 6: Declan x Marc by @mystical-blaise

Part 7: Flynn x Ariadne by @ofduskanddreams

Part 8: Tharion by @damedechance

Thriller Night Masterlist

Declan Emmett hurried the short distance from the parlor to the library, eager to review what, if anything, they'd caught during the seance. Despite suspecting that the entire thing was complete bullshit, excitement prevailed.

Placing the recording devices down, he took a seat at the sturdy mahogany table, his makeshift command center for the overnight stay. The library was the perfect location. Centralized and quiet, with plenty of space for his array of laptops, monitors, and stacks of carefully packed backup equipment. Far enough from the thumping base and partying in the kitchen.

He'd learned the lesson long ago that laptops and parties don't mix. Fun fact; melted jello shots and a keyboard were a terrible combination.

Note to self, Flynn still owed him a computer.

This night at the haunted house was Dec's idea after Lidia had nixed any notion of yet another drunken, rowdy celebration at their shared home with a fuck no. Not that he blamed her one bit. Cleanup was a bitch and a half. So now, at his suggestion, they were here at the "haunted" house on the outskirts of Lunathion.

While the remaining members of Team Fuck-You might have come for spooky Death Day revelry, Dec was there for an entirely different purpose: to document proof. Some evidence that secondlight was now free to roam, free to exist. Perhaps even some vindication for a younger Declan who used to hear things go bump in the night in his childhood home—and the reason he still secretly hated the dark.

Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone other than Ruhn and Flynn. And that was only after they'd witnessed him in a near panic attack. After all, he would have never made it out of those damn Avallen catacombs without their encouragement. Their loyalty.

Muffled laughter traveled through the far wall as the gathering carried on without him—and had carried Marc with it.

Not that he could blame his boyfriend. As of late, the two of them had been like ships passing on the Istros. The entrepreneur, now CFO of his own company, had been stuck late to work almost every day, cutting into every single date night for nearly three weeks.

Three. Weeks. Three very long, frustrating weeks.

It wore on both of them. Stress and exhaustion showed in the circles under the shifter's usually brilliant topaz eyes, in his lumbering stride. So much so, Declan even felt guilty for asking Marc to assist with tonight's setup.

His boyfriend deserved a night to dress down and chill, to have fun.

But perhaps selfishly, the fellow techy had hoped he'd want to chill with him. Find what he was up to interesting to spend some time together staring at the monitors.

Yeah, real fun. Like he said; selfish.

Back to the task at hand, Declan glanced between the two screens; one streaming live while the other allowed him to pull up any previously recorded video. Plugging in the video recorder to transfer the file, he put the stupidly expensive, noise-canceling headphones on his head as he studied the green-hued footage.

Each nightvision camera had been placed strategically in and near the locations that stories claimed were the most haunted. Unfortunately, all Declan was seeing was evidence of other activities.

"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me," he grumbled as he stared at the screen, staring at Ruhn and Lidia emerging from the study, a fine sheen of sweat over their brows and a shit-eating grin on the Crown Prince of the Valbaran fae. Rewinding a little further back and raising the volume, Declan heard exactly the reason for Ruhn's pleased expression.

Gods knew he'd heard those same noises plenty of times coming from his roommates' bedrooms on too many nights.

A deeply masculine groan sounded over the audio.

Declan set his head in his hand. "Ruhn, I swear to Urd. You couldn't keep it in your pants for one godsdamn night?"

And apparently, Ruhn and Lidia weren't the only ones having trouble.

Next, there was a wobbly-legged, disheveled Bryce who blew a kiss at the camera before she and a smug Hunt strolled back into the kitchen. Quinlan gave Athalar's ass a good slap before the door closed behind them.

Then there was Fury glaring up at another camera poised outside the door to the basement. A look that promised death if he followed her to presumably wherever June was. Noted. For his own safety, he promptly turned off the basement camera feed.

Moving to another view, there were Ithan and Willow, walking down the stairwell from the third floor, her pigtails and pants askew. His arm slung over her shoulder, trying to help fix the hair best he could, ultimately resorting to plopping a baseball cap down atop her head. He kissed her blushing cheek, a look of pure masculine pride lining the pup's handsome features.

Rolling his eyes and shifting in his seat, Declan switched over to the live. All six cameras seemed normal—except for one.

The master suite on the second floor.

Stories claimed that a crying woman in white, as pretty as Luna herself, was seen pacing the room and floor. Other stories told of a more devious shadowy figure slinking through the drafty halls. He had Marc mount a camera in the room's upper southwest corner, in perfect view of the entire space and the open doorway. In case the alleged specter was wandering the halls, the stairs—the very same that had caught Ruhn and Lidia.

But although the camera registered a signal in that room, there was nothing but a blank box on the split screen.

He squinted, moving to the other monitor to review the older footage to see if there was anything. There. And just as a tall, shadowed figure. There was an oily sheen to the humanoid form as the silhouette moved incredibly fast across the lower right of the screen—

Lightning and thunder flashed and clapped in unison, plunging the house into utter darkness.

A distant, slurred, hey, who turned off the fucking light, joined the chorus of muttered curses and surprised shrieks sounded through the plaster and lath walls of the old mansion.

Thanks to the portable backup battery, there was still the dim glow of the steadfast monitors and the constant hum of the computers—for now. Even so, the rest of the house was nothing beyond but a void.

Shit.

A foreboding creak resonated in the dark.

"Guys?" Nothing. "Guys, this isn't funny."

Was he… alone?

No. No fucking way. The rest of them were just being dicks. That was all.

The sudden familiar, unjustified panic of his childhood crept up his spine. Like bony fingers reaching out of the past, out of the shadows, reaching for him again. Declan stiffened, swallowing hard as he reminded himself of what his parents used to calm him. The dark wasn't bad. The sounds were just the wind or the house settling. Repeating those same words of reassurance, he reached out for one of the three compact flashlights he'd packed just for this instance.

His thumb pushed on the rubber button. Click—and nothing.

"Come on," he said, shaking it as if that would actually work. With a press of the button again, still nothing. Bringing it closer to the bluish dull glow of the monitors, he removed the batteries. The fresh ones he'd put in just before he'd packed up. How could they be drained already?

Nervously, he picked up the third flashlight—his backup for his backup that Ruhn had made fun of—finding it oddly lightweight. Too light. Unscrewing the back, he found the battery pack empty.

Godsdamn…

Okay. No problem, he just needed more light. Any light. His phone.

He dug into his back pocket and found… nothing. Not even his spare lighter. Fucking Flynn.

Given all the mirthroot his roomies brought, one of those fuckers had to have a light. Hel, maybe Ruhn could use that barely useful sparkle of light he possessed. Or better yet…

Bryce. Or even Athalar—if they would have remembered to keep their godsdamn walkie.

As if any of them would have remembered given the keg Tristan had rolled in earlier.

"Shit. Shit. Okay. Okay." Declan sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Calm the fuck down. You know what you need. You need…" Something to do. To focus on.

His eyes skipped back to the glowing flat-screen monitors, to the battery-fueled cameras still rolling. Straight back to the blank square on the bottom right corner of the six-split screen.

The mission pushed his fear aside, much like it did when he was out in the field with the Aux. Give Dec a task, and he was on it regardless of what was going on around him.

He could find out why the camera wasn't working. Fix it. Totally forget about the weird shadowy figure in that damn room that had something to do with it.

No, just fix the damn thing. You're a problem solver, Declan. Mr. Reliable-as-fuck.

In the darkness, he felt around the floor, finding his smaller duffel bag filled with some equipment and supplies.

Even with his fae eyesight, he could barely see shit. His eyes caught on one device on the table. He grabbed for it, muttering a please work under his breath as he pressed the power button.

The thermal camera's screen flared to life.

"Thank Urd," Declan breathed out as made out the different heat signatures of the shelves and books, the table, and his equipment, giving him a visual of the space in the darkness.

And gave him the boost of confidence to set the strap of the duffel over his shoulder and go in search of the room with the broken camera.

With the space lit up on the screen in shades of violet and blue, cold on the spectrum, there were some fading oranges on the steps from when some guests had walked. Declan took the stairs hurriedly, praying to all the gods that there was no one behind him.

But he just had this feeling.

That prickling on the back of his neck and a niggling of his fae senses.

Finally reaching the landing on the second floor, he relied on the small visual representation of the long hallway, counting the doors until he reached the one on the far left. And he swore as he walked he smelled sweet… smoke.

Cigar? No…

Wait? Wasn't there a story about the original owner?

He shook that thought out of his head. Probably someone with the fucking mirthroot getting blazed.

His hand reached for the doorknob to the master suite and—

Creak.

Not daring to turn around, the genius just called out, "Hello?"

He could hear Flynn in his head—while mock slow clapping—going, Smooth, Dec. Hello? Really, dude? What if it's a killer-stalker, huh? And then Ruhn's voice chimed in with, Yeah, you just gave away your position. You're an Aux member, remember? Use that giant brain of yours.

Yeah, he was an Aux member, trained for combat. He survived the Drop. His Ordeal. The latter barely. And he still couldn't shake the same feeling he'd had that night in that terrible cave—the feeling of being followed.

Fuck this.

He spun around, pointing the camera back down the hall, finding only residual heat from his own treadmarks on the planked floor, all glowing orange and yellow. Even farther back to the landing.

But no weird floating, undiscernible blobs or misty humanoid figures. Just his overactive terrifying imagination mixed with his fear and wanting to actually see something.

Confidence renewed and led by the camera, he took the knob and strolled into the room with the busted equipment.

The room was…

Empty.

Nothing but the sounds of lashing rain and the howl of the wind banging the louvered wooden shutters sealed over the windows. Not even the lightning graced Declan with a bit of illumination in the reportedly most haunted location in the pitch-black house.

Basically, Declan Emmet's nightmare scenario.

On the thermal, he could make out the ethereal, hazy violet silhouette of a large bureau against the far wall covered with a sheet like a shroud. Heavy curtains covered the windows, blocking out the outside world. And then there was an ornately carved, massive four-poster bed.

A low massive blur of orange and yellow zipped passed through the image. Something with glinting, burning eyes.

And then it was simply… gone.

"What the…?"

Panning the room, he tried to follow the direction of the unknown shape.

Something slid around and rubbed against his leg. All he could think of was a hand grabbing for him under the bed out of the shadows of Hel just like in his childhood…

"Boo."

He spun around as a crouching form on all fours rose onto two legs, keeping his camera pointed like a weapon. A towering, muscular male figure rose up in the viewfinder. Declan's heart nearly fucking stopped.

"Burning fucking Solas! You scared the shit out of me!"

Marc's squared, broad shoulders moved with his deep chuckle on the thermal. And if Declan wasn't so pissed off, he might have taken more time to appreciate the entire glorious, naked build delineated by the heat signatures more thoroughly.

"That was you that touched my leg?"

He smirked. "My tail, to be exact."

Cursing under his breath, Declan rolled his neck, his shoulders, and made his way to the wireless camera mount. The camera now oddly twisted to face the corner.

With the battery icon already flashing red, the warning that death was imminent, Dec set the thermal to point upwards to give him some ambient light as he worked, swiveling the equipment around back into position. No need for his tools after all.

"Dec," came that low, familiar voice.

"What?" he snapped back after adjusting everything back in place, assuring the only way the camera was moving again was if someone fucked with it. Which is exactly what he suspected had happened. A prank. Another prank, anyway.

"Hey, Dec, are you mad?"

He didn't reply to that, because what could he say? Yeah, he was pissed and annoyed and—

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Declan! I was just having a little fun. You were the one who wanted to come here. You convinced me it would be fun for Death Day."

"Yeah, and that's what everyone else is doing. But you also know I was taking this seriously, too. But if you'd rather go hang with them…" He blew out a curse, dragging a hand through his dark red waves, tugging at the ends in frustration. "You know what? Forget it."

"Hey," Marc breathed out, the sound ever closer. Dec refused to turn around. Those massive hands gently grasped his shoulders, rubbing up and down over his biceps. "I know out of your housemates you're the most responsible but—"

Declan huffed out a laugh, nearly shrugging off Marc's touch. "And what about you? You're the epitome of responsibility."

"Maybe dating a hot-as-Hel party boy has made me want to have some fun. Live a little."

"You mean I gave you a personality?"

With a chuckle, he gave Declan's shoulders a rub, then another. And Dec could feel the tension melt away with each ministration of those magic hands.

"No, smartass," Marc replied, his fingers kneading harder. "You make me want to cut loose and have a good time. When I'm with you, I don't have to be—"

Declan sighed with gratitude and forgiveness, leaning into Marc's working palms. "Don't have to be the sexy-as-fuck start-up tech company founder?"

Lips trailed the back of the fae male's neck. "Exactly. You make me want to have fun again, Dec. I shouldn't have at your expense, though. I apologize if I scared you."

"I'm sorry I flipped, babe. I'm just a little on edge," Declan admitted in his relaxing haze, his eyes adjusting to the dark, and still seeing nothing. Still, he was grounded by Marc's reassuring touch, his own hand coming up to rest upon the leopard shifter's much larger one.

"Mmm… I can tell."

"I just… I saw something when I was a kid in my room. I mean, this was before all the shit we know now about what the Asteri was doing with the secondlight. Before I really knew about Hel, you know? My parents didn't believe me, but I swear to all that's holy, Marc, there was something in the dark in my room." Something evil lurking in the dark, a demon reaching for him. Despite himself, he still shuddered at the very thought.

Marc's firm grip continued to knead muscle, those full lips placing tender kisses on the back of Dec's bare neck, making him blush in the night. Almost like a fog, the ancient bedchamber became thick with desire. As electric as the sky outside.

"That's why I'm determined to find some evidence, Marc. Maybe just to prove I wasn't crazy. Hel, we have a damn necromancer; if there are spirits here, there should be something… if spirits can now freely roam around." Or if they were indeed stuck here in hiding from the Under King for centuries. "And I know it's Death Day, and I know all my friends want to party. It's supposed to be a night of—"

"Mischief," Marc offered before the briefest touch of his lips to the tip of Declan's delicately arched fae ear. Another soft press of lips. "I love that about you, Dec. How focused you get on a task. How determined you are."

"Well, someone has to be. Everyone else here is so focused on fucking—" His lips pressed together, holding in a grateful moan as those fingers continued to work at the tension.

"You don't say. And how do you know what everyone was doing, I wonder? Declan Emmet, were you watching?" Marc asked with feigned outrage.

Even though he couldn't see a damn thing, Dec still twisted his face to peer over his left shoulder. "You make me sound like a perv. It wasn't on purpose."

Marc's warm breath brushed his lips. "I'm sure. They're a horny bunch. But I bet it still turned you on, just a little."

Declan wasn't going to respond to that accusation—even though the shifter's words were on point. Yes, he was turned on, just a little. Maybe it had started from all the dirty sounds caught on the microphones, but now it only had to do with the beast of a male standing behind him.

The handsome male whose wide palms were now skimming from his shoulders and over his biceps.

"What—" Declan swallowed hard as the heat of the towering shifter pressed into his back, searing him deep as it always did. Maybe it was the residual autumn fae in him, but he was attracted to the depth of his warmth, inside and out. Then a wide hand skimmed over the front of his shirt, down further still. Lower and lower, until he reached the top of his black jeans, that he finally managed to finish his ask. "What are you doing?"

Marc's dark chuckle brushed against the shell of his ear. "Like you, I'm eager for evidence, Declan." Teeth nipped and tugged on his earlobe, on the steel hoop in his ear. Lust shot through him, his body responding to the wicked little nip in the dark. Declan gasped, tipping his head back in a groan as that wandering touch cupped him through the denim, finding his hard length. "There it is."

"Fuck," Declan hissed, unable to hide, unable to feel anything. Unable to think about his goal for the evening. Not when the heel of that palm was rubbing him in rough circles. Not when his hips were pushing against that hand, desperate for more sensation.

"You like that?" Marc crooned.

Declan groaned, his erection uncomfortable in the confines of the denim, the delicate skin digging into the metal zipper.

When his hand reached back to pull Marc to him, he knew what he would find. With his clothes long removed before he shifted, only beautiful bare skin and corded, hard muscles remained. Aside from his shifter genes, his physique was delineated by years of regimented workouts and healthy eating. Marc was thorough, practiced and put together in all things. But if his sexy, put-together, tech executive wanted to cut loose tonight. If he wanted to let loose with Declan, then so be it.

"Dec," Marc hissed as the redheaded male ground back against him to the tempo of the hand working his front, the shifter's hardness already a taunt against his ass.

"What?" he asked teasingly. "You want me to let loose and have a good time tonight, right?"

"Yeah," Marc said, his words ending with a grunt as Declan bumped him backward.

Despite not being able to see Marc, Dec turned around to face him. "Then let's let loose. Get on your knees, babe."

Over the howl of the wind outside, he heard the shifter's knees hitting the wooden floor before him.

Declan whipped off his gray t-shirt, tossing it away to some corner. His hands went to the button of his jeans, popping it open. Then he towed the zipper down, taking his time, the sound of it somehow more arousing in the absence of light, of sight. As he worked his jeans down his thighs, he grabbed hold of his cock.

"Godsdamn," Marc growled.

With the satisfaction that he could bring the mighty leopard shifter to heel, Declan gave himself a pump. Then another, slow and firm, his head falling back and eyes shut with the wringing pleasure. "You and your damn shifter eyes. You can see me, can't you?"

"Fuck yeah. And I love what I'm seeing."

Wrist twisting on the upstroke, his thumb smeared the bead of liquid gathering over the tip. And he swore the enormous leopard shifter whined at that. Good.

Still stroking himself, Declan followed the alluring scent of sandalwood and rain and heady arousal until he could sense the body heat radiating off the other male.

He cursed as his head dropped back, his grip tightened, and the pumping became rougher and faster. "Open."

Heat puffed over throbbing skin, a tempting combination of hot and wet. Marc's tongue slid back and forth as Dec tapped his stiff cock against it. From the base to the tip, that talented tongue laved unprovoked, tormenting and flicking every sensitive inch.

With his mind almost blown with need, he couldn't stop the demand welling up from his lips. "Oh fuck, Marc"—his breath caught—"suck me."

And holy Hel, he did. No hesitation, only a satisfying growl before Marc's mouth closed around him and sucked him down, his hand peeling Dec's away so he could take control. That hand wrapped around his cock while the other clamped onto the fae male's hip, those fingers biting into the flesh of his ass—

Grasping Marc's head, Declan thrust his hips forward.

He wished he could see it. See himself disappear in that sensual mouth, sinking in as topaz eyes blazed into his own. But, burning Solas, the blind feel of him in the darkness… The way Marc's cheeks hollowed out and his tongue swirled around, coating him in the warm sensation of his mouth, his lover's enthusiasm dripping down his length to his sac. His own rapid panting blended with the enthused sloppiness and pleasured hum of the supplicant, sexy male before him.

A wandering finger slipped in between the crevice of his ass, circling the tight hole there. Circling endlessly. An opening, tantalizing tease. Until that thick finger finally pressed in.

Unable to stop himself, Declan bucked forward, forcing himself down Marc's throat until the shifter's nose met his pelvis. "Fuck!"'

Marc merely chuckled darkly, sinking his finger deeper and deeper. Declan wasn't even sure how either of them could breathe. They were frantic, muscles straining and flexing, racing to the edge. With each passing moment, Dec's brow beaded with sweat.

He moaned, scraping his fingernails across Marc's scalp. His hand tightened on the back of that head in plea and warning. His shifter male only loosed a muffled groan, still sucking and fingering him.

Climax came on as suddenly as an autumn storm. Shaking from head to toe, his damn knees nearly gave out as his release spilled over and over. And Marc took it all. Didn't let up, still working him as the last blissful tremors of orgasm ebbed. In a lazy glide, his boyfriend's mouth drew off of him and that digit slipped out, making him shiver.

"Gods…" Declan swallowed hard, trying to regain balance. Marc pressed a sweet kiss to the scar across his stomach. "Babe, that was—"

His words cut off with a rough, demanding kiss. The taste of himself on Marc's tongue went directly to his head, still dizzy with pleasure and desire. They both groaned as the shifter's hard, demanding length pressed against Dec's stomach, spurring his own back to attention.

Marc always did that to him. No matter what, with him, he always seemed ready to go.

"Luna fucking save me," Marc said with a groan, grabbing onto his partner's ass to bring him closer, as they writhed against each other. That finger teased Dec again from behind with just enough pressure to drive him wild. "I want to fuck you so bad. You have no idea how bad. If only—"

"I brought lube."

With an erotic chuckle, Marc slowed the roll of his hips and asked, "What?"

"I-fuck. I brought lube."

Marc snorted. "Why am I not surprised?"

Declan reached down, gripping Marc's thick cock at the base, taking satisfaction at the hitch in the larger male's breath. "Always prepared, seldom disappointed."

"I would expect nothing less from a former Otter Scout. Bet you know how to tie all sorts of knots, too."

His hum practically a purr, Declan answered with, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Oh, make no mistake, I do. But not this time. Right now, I need to fuck you and in order to do that, I need that lube. So where are you packing such a thing?"

"In my bag. I actually brought it to loosen the stuck screws holding up the cameras. It was all I could find in a pinch." A pinch was an understatement. All of his mechanical lubricants had mysteriously disappeared. Declan didn't want to know the why or the what. "So I just took the first thing I thought of."

"In the duffel you brought with you?" Declan nodded vigorously, his mind solely on the drag. He pushed his hips forward, the friction alone of their dicks against one another nearly enough to make him come again. But before he could, Marc was gone.

There was a brief rustling sound over to the left and then—

Kissing him senseless, breathless, pants still tangled around his thighs, Dec was marched backward, stumbling until his back met something. That something unyielding and rounded against his spine. They kissed and kissed and it only stopped when a deep, rasping voice demanded as he tugged on the open flap of denim, "Off."

He didn't have to be told twice, already shoving them off, removing everything in a blur. Stripping until it was just the two of them, skin to skin, clothed only in darkness.

In a blink, Declan was spun around, his hands finding and clasping around the carved wood pillar now at his front. A bedpost, he realized absently.

"God, have I told you how much I love your back, Dec? These shoulders." Whack! Dec jumped as a splayed palm came down on his rear, then rubbed out the slight hurt. "This perfect ass of yours. It's the prettiest sight."

"Well, at least you can see me. I feel like it's unfair that I can't see—" Declan's scoff turned into a moan as something chilled slid between the seam of his ass.

Pressing a soft kiss to the sensitive spot below Declan's ear, his boyfriend's whisper a silken persuasion. "It's just the two of us here, alone and together. Embrace it, Dec. I'll always lead you out of the darkness if you let me."

And Declan knew at that moment Marc always would.

The wet slide of a tongue down the column of his neck had Declan's hips bucking backward, feeling that massive cock slipping against him.

Marc's cool, coated fingers found their way, pressing, pushing into him, working him just enough. One… Then two… Fuck, three fingers. Even after all this time, after all their bouts together, the leopard shifter still took good care. Something he was eternally grateful for.

Declan was no slouch of a male. As a member of the Aux, he took good care of his body. But the leopard shifter still dwarfed him, made him feel small. Marc was flawless. Chiseled dark-skinned perfection with broad shoulders, perfect for holding onto. And while Dec had seen a variety of fine dicks in his day, had experienced his fair share—nothing and no one compared to Marc Rosarin.

No one ever would.

Not to mention, none of the males before had a pierced cock, either. Not even the draki he'd had an intense, albeit brief, fling with.

Who would have thought that out of all of them, the one pierced there was the put-together tech entrepreneur? And, Solas, what that little barbell of steel through the tip could do…

As fingers slid out, he heard that telltale click and squirt, followed by a hoarse groan in the darkness. Though he couldn't see it, the fae male could picture it clearly. How Marc's forehead furrowed as he stroked the thick liquid over his shaft. The dark, rigid length of him glistening and ready, already weeping with need.

A soft kiss on his shoulder and a settling grip on one hip helped tip the redhead's head back as another jarring drip of cold fell on his skin.

Declan gripped the post, his knees widening as he braced himself. His brows drew together as that broad blunt head started to push in. Slowly easing, gliding in inch by delicious inch. Each gain intensified the pressure, the burning stretch that tensed them both.

After another slow thrust, Dec's body had time to adjust as Marc stilled. All the while, the broad, calloused palm spanning his flank caressed and soothed as if the solid wall of male behind him was the one with the true healing power.

"Fuck, you're still so tight. Have I told you how amazing you feel, Dec? Like you were made for me."

Declan shivered at the gruff possessiveness in his voice. Shaking. He was shaking. Was going to jump out of his skin. Godsdamn. There was more power in everything without sight. Everything was more sensitive. Words. Touch. Already too good. Already too full.

Still, he was greedy tonight. For Marc to be with him. To take everything, to have everything. To swap his earlier fear with this pleasure only this male could give him.

"Marc, it's okay if you don't—" A grunt and groan followed. "Don't be gentle tonight."

Knuckles tilted Declan's chin upward. Marc's words were full of gravel when he asked, "You sure?"

While Declan could not see Marc beyond a hazy silhouette, he knew Marc could clearly read his intentions. "Yes."

"You got it, tiger."

Gripping him by the hips, Marc's mouth slammed on Dec's at the same time his pelvis surged forward, driving all the way in on a single thrust. Holy fucking Hel, Declan had to force himself not to scream, not to lose it all right there.

Ragged breath puffed against his mouth, both of them trembling as Marc held himself still again, both of them trembling and throats bobbing.

And then Marc was moving, pulling out before plunging back in. Each time, Declan could feel the drag of chilled metal, stroking deep to hit that spot that made him see stars.

He rocked back into it, bracing and trying to keep up with the rhythm as every sliding thrust shoved him farther into the solid wooden post, jostling the entire bedframe.

So full…. So deep… So deep inside him…

Declan's desperate whimper had Marc fucking him even deeper, hitting that spot over and over.

Something in the pathetic sound must have begged for more, because a brawny arm came around his torso, bearing his back, his weight, to the shifter's sweaty, muscled front as he continued to pound him into oblivion. Every hammering thrust bounced his erection against his abs. Had Marc's balls slapping off his ass.

Everything was wild and frenzied. Primal. So much that Declan could almost imagine what Marc's sharp claws would feel like gently scraping across his skin. Wanted that lick of pain. Wanted to bruise.

He was climbing higher and higher, his spine tingling with the need to come. Marc reached around, cupping his balls with a squeeze, before he fisted Declan's cock, gripping him tightly.

"Shit!… Marc!" Dec panted through gritted teeth.

"Are you close? Can you do it, tiger? Can you come for me again?"

Declan's response was little more than a yelp as those hips slammed into him.

With that slippery hand jerking his dick, that swollen cock fucking his ass, Declan couldn't hold back.

Too much. It was too good.

Everything went taut and dark, then bright like starlight behind the eyelids Dec didn't even realize he'd closed. He cried out as he came all over Marc's hand, smearing between fingers and over skin as Marc didn't let up.

It went on and on. Those powerful hips behind kept their pace, going and going until—

"Fuck!" Marc shouted, burying himself to the hilt, each pulse kicking deep inside, over and over. With one last shudder, finally spent, the shifter's head fell forward until his forehead rested on Declan's mussed red waves.

The hand on Declan's front shifted until it spread over the center—over his heart.

And then everything went still as the wind whistled outside around the house, rattling the shutters. They didn't move, simply held each other in the dark, relishing in the silence, soaking in their love for one another.

"You okay?" Marc asked, pressing a tender kiss into his hair that shot straight to Dec's heart.

"More than okay."

Slowly, gently, carefully, Marc slid out, caressing along Declan's spine as he did so. "That was…"

"Yeah…" Declan said.

"I'm sorry."

Still wrapped in his arms, he turned around to face him. Declan wound his arms around Marc's neck. "For what? The best sex of my life?"

"Best sex so far," Marc countered, sighing before he continued. "I'm sorry I disappeared earlier. Made you think I didn't care about you. Truth is, I was in the kitchen to grab us some beers—I was on my way back to you when I got sucked into a conversation. You know how that crew can be. But you have to know the only reason I came to this party tonight was to spend time with you, Dec. I've missed you."

Softly and sweetly, he kissed him. "I've missed you too, babe. Now, can you find my bag? And my clothes? I still can't see shit."

After pressing his lips to Dec's forehead, Marc laughed, untangling himself from the fae male's arms. "Sure thing, tiger. Only if you promise to grab my clothes from the other room."

Declan snorted, wishing he could watch Marc walk away. Because, damn. "Didn't think that whole shifting leopard prank through, did you?"

"No, I did not. Here," he said, handing Dec his bag. He set it down, squatting to feel for supplies. "When we get back downstairs, I'll grab those beers I promised and we'll park it in front of those monitors. Maybe make out a little. What do you say?"

Declan couldn't hide the smile in his voice as he said, "Sounds great."

"Good. But first I need to clean up."

Declan was already taking out wipes, water, and hand sanitizer. Things he had brought with greasy hands and malfunctioning equipment in mind originally, but... "Always the Otter Scout," he quipped, blindly tossing his boyfriend the towel.

Marc laughed huskily. "Indeed, and I'm so very—ah, Hel."

"What?"

"I forgot you readjusted it before we…" He cleared his throat. "I don't know how to say this, Dec, but the camera was pointed at us the entire time."

His amber eyes snapping up, his face heated with the realization. "Oh fuck me."

"Already did, but if you want to go again, I'm more than happy to."

Merciful Cthona. Leave it to Declan Emmet, tech genius, to accidentally record a nightvision sex tape after making comments about no one else being able to keep it in their pants.

Tag list: @hlizr50 @daevastanner @damedechance @headcanonheadcase @vikingmagic33 @ofduskanddreams

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sweetclassyfreaknerd · 2 years

Text

!!SPOILER!!! Hosab

I 10000% believe that Cormac is not death. Pls Sjm don‘t do this to me. I need a little more than that.

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hlizr50 · 2 years

Text

You See a Sight that Almost Stops Your Heart

Thriller Night: Part 1 - Ruhn x Lidia

Ruhn has barely heard from Lidia all day, and now she's late. He can't help but worry, but whenshe arrives he finds out that she has plans for him. And quite a few surprises.

Content Warnings: NSFW, Smut, Shameless Smut, Piercings, References to Bondage

Read on AO3

Author: @hlizr50 | Masterlist

This is the first installment of Thriller Night: A Crescent City Kinktober Event! Make sure to check out the rest of the collection and the other amazing authors!

Part 1: Ruhn x Lidia by @hlizr50

Part 2: Hunt x Bryce by @headcanonheadcase

Part 3: Ithan x Wolf Mystic (Willow) by @headcanonheadcase

Part 4: Hypaxia x Celestina by @damedechance

Part 5: Fury x Juniper by @vikingmagic33

Part 6: Declan x Marc by @mystical-blaise

Part 7: Flynn x Ariadne by @ofduskanddreams

Part 8: Tharion by @damedechance

Thriller Night Masterlist

The collection will be updated daily on AO3 and the masterlist. The collection will be complete and all updates finalized by end of day 10/31.

For what must have been the fourth or fiftieth time, Ruhn fished his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, the screen lighting with the time and date as soon as it sensed him holding it up. Technology was fucking awesome, but those gleaming white letters and numbers were just taunting him, as were the lack of message notifications in the corner.

Where the Hel was she?

Sure, they hadn’t agreed on a strict time. If they had, she would have been there right on the dot. Lidia was rigid and regimented, perfectly punctual. If the Valbaran prince had asked her to meet at some ridiculously random time - 6:37pm or something stupid like that - she would be there before the clock struck 6:38.

And, yes, everyone, even Lidia Cervos, knew that if a party started at 8pm, it didn’t really start then. Even though they were all grown-ass adults, this still held somewhat true. He and his friends had all fallen into serious relationships. They had all experienced war and loss and fear in the last few years, and they’d all matured to some extent.

But Death Day was a party, and if anyone knew how to party, it was Ruhn Danaan, Declan Emmett, and Tristan Flynn.

He’d left his shifter in their bed this morning, with little more than a kiss and a reminder that he would be at the house at 8 to help Flynn out. They had settled on nothing more than that, and she had been incredibly quiet throughout the day. Her texts had been short, straight to the point. And she hadn’t even called him a pig or sent him an eyeroll emoji when he asked what she was wearing tonight. Just a promise that he would see when she got there.

He looked at his phone again.

8:41pm.

“No costume tonight?” Flynn’s booming chuckle broke him from his reverie before one hand clapped him on the shoulder, the other handing Ruhn a beer. Grateful, he took it, popping the top and shooting his friend a smirk. Ruhn knew there was a keg somewhere - knowing Flynn there may well be three or four - but he was appreciative of the offering of one of his favorites in the brown glass bottle. At least to start.

“Nah. We both decided not to.”

“Too bad. Would’ve loved to see her dressed as a sexy cat or medwitch.” Flynn sighed wistfully, earning an elbow to the gut.

“Were you daydreaming about my mate in a sexy Death Day costume? The fuck, Flynn?” Ruhn couldn’t keep the edge in his voice, shaking his head with a resigned half-grin at his brother. For all the gods, he could not understand how Ariadne managed to keep him in line. “Does a certain dragon know about this? I can’t imagine she’d be particularly happy.” Flynn’s brown eyes widened slightly as he coughed on the swig of beer he’d just taken, causing the raven-haired male’s grin to widen into something more devious.

“No, no that’s not necessary,” his friend wheezed, clearing his throat. Ruhn’s jaw dropped, ready to say more, but the doorbell rang its shrill, olden days buzz. Saved by the bell, the young lord strode to the door, Ruhn following as he pulled it open. There was a strange silence, but he couldn’t yet see who had arrived. “Sweet fucking fuck, Cervos, you sure know how to make an entrance.” Flynn still hadn’t moved, and knowing that Lidia was the one on the threshold of the mansion and that his friend was clearly ogling her drew a rumble of warning from his chest. Gripping a shoulder, Ruhn all but threw his friend to the side, nearly desperate to see his lover after being made to wait so long.

But he was so woefully unprepared for what he saw.

The first thing he noticed was a familiar dark hilt jutting from behind her. His brows knitted for a moment, unsure why she would be carrying the Starsword. But then he took the rest of her in, and his forehead relaxed as the rest of his face and body went slack.

Long, luxurious golden hair was pulled into an elaborate braid that somehow looked both messy and intentional, forming something of a mohawk down the center of her head. Not unlike his own hair, which - as his violet-blue eyes trailed down the rest of her - may have been the intent. Her leather jacket was open, revealing a tiny, cropped v-neck tee and a toned stomach dotted with temporary tattoos that were decent enough imitations of the ones that decorated his skin. A chunky black belt ringed the top of indecent denim shorts, the frayed hem falling over fishnet tights.

Ruhn could feel his jeans tightening as his perusal followed the little diamond pattern until they reached her knees. And there, his gaze followed little laces as they passed under chains and buckles that seemed to blaze in the moonlight, until his intense study of her form finally reached her toes. Working on a swallow, his palm absently rubbing against his chest, he found her questioning gaze. Twin burning lanterns of liquid gold surrounded by smoke and shadow. And fuck those lips - painted a sinful shade of what he could only describe as ‘fuck-me red’.

“I thought…” The fae male had to clear his throat before rasping the words, “I thought we weren’t dressing up.” Lidia shrugged, those crimson lips stretching into a satisfied smirk. She stepped forward, entering his space, her face tilted up to his.

“I wanted to surprise you,” she cooed. Then she placed her palms on his chest and stretched up to place a kiss on his lips - a kiss that was far too innocent to have come from the bewitching sex goddess before him.

“It is a very, very good surprise,” he murmured, voice husky and ragged. He needed to get her inside. Somewhere private. Hopefully his raging hard-on wouldn’t be too noticeable as he rushed her to the nearest bathroom, though that seemed like it would be too cramped to be able to appreciate what she’d put together. And it would be a shame if he tore it off her before the night had even started…

Lidia’s breath was a searing brand at his ear. He hadn’t even felt her move. “It’s not the only one,” she whispered. With a casual pat to his pectoral, the jaw-dropping shifter moved around him and padded into the mansion, leaving a stunned Ruhn Danaan still trying to catch his breath.

The cool night air seeped into his skin, the chill sealing her absence. With a blink he spun, realizing that his mate - dressed as pure sin - was alone in that house. Males would be looking at her, Flynn being one of them, and his feet moved on a surge of possessiveness. When he found her she was talking to the bastard in question, and he grew impossibly harder when he noticed the way her ass cheeks peeked out temptingly from her shorts. Not to mention the way that long braid trailed down her back, over the sword he’d worn for so many years before Bryce had revealed herself as the true Starborn heir. He never realized seeing Lidia wearing a sword was something he needed in his life, but now he found himself wondering what she would look like if that was the only thing she wore.

It was that notion that solidified his certainty that they needed some… private time.

A few purposeful strides and he was behind her, his hands clutching her hips and pulling her against him. The friction was delicious, and he knew there was no way she couldn’t feel his arousal at her back. Ruhn hummed casually, dipping his chin over her shoulder and pressing his mouth against her cheek.

“I missed you today,” he murmured, letting his nose and mouth roam up toward her ear. “And I think we need some alone time”

She didn’t excuse herself from the conversation, didn’t utter a single word. Lidia only turned her chin to look into his eyes, the corner of her lips lifting. Gripping one of the hands at her hip she began walking, leading her mate to the stairs and beginning the climb. Her ass swayed, practically in his face, those shorts hiding so little. Gods, he wanted to cup those delectable, muscled cheeks.

“My eyes are up here, Princeling,” she crooned, turning a knowing golden gaze over her shoulder as she walked.

“So all of this is purely innocent, then? No intention of distracting me with your tiny scraps that could barely be considered clothing?”

“Do you not like them?” Her pace quickened, tugging on his arm to pull him faster, until they reached the landing. He jerked his arm back, pulling her into his chest with a squeak, and let his palms find the curve of her waist.

“Don’t go putting words in my mouth, now, sweet girl.” The words were more of a growl than anything civilized, and the way her eyes glittered made his heart tumble and flutter. Lidia Cervos was testing his control.

Ruhn had always kept himself on a short leash with the shifter. Knowing what he did about her time with Pollux Antonius, he was always careful. It would gut him if he ever did something to cause her pain or fear. She’d assured him that he didn’t have to be so delicate, on more than one occasion. And now…

His attention had been so focused on her heated stare and parted lips that he hadn’t even realized that she’d pulled him into what appeared to be a study, with built-in shelves and a great desk, all crafted from dark cherry wood. And she continued her backward journey, until she was pressed against the beveled edge of the wooden surface. Ruhn leaned forward and rested his palms upon the cool, lacquered finish, caging the delectable female between muscled arms painted with intricate scrollwork and flowers and symbols. The beating pulse below her ear called to him, and he did not deny himself a taste of her sweetness.

Her lovely mint-and-rosemary scent flooded his senses as his lips brushed her heartbeat, then over her jaw, until he reached her crimson lips. He wanted to dive into them, plunge into her warmth. But when he ran his tongue over the seam of her mouth her hands pressed against his chest. When he lifted his eyes, he found her darkened gaze. She pushed him with more force, until he had to take a step back, and then another, and another. Until his back hit the wall.

“Lidia,” he murmured, watching her as her lips curled into a devilish smile. One finger pushed against the ring in his lower lip, and then she trailed it over his chin and down his throat, and further still. Until she had lowered herself to her knees before him, her fingers working first at his belt, then the button and fly of his jeans. “Lidia, baby, what are you doing?” he asked, but he reached over to shut the study door. His raging arousal had not quieted in the least, and he hissed as his mate pulled down his pants and boxers and exposed him to the cool evening air.

“I told you I had more surprises,” she purred, stroking him from base to tip and earning an animalistic groan. She was going to be the death of him. He stared at her as she opened her mouth, watching his cock slide between her blood red lips. It was all wet heat and pleasure, but there was something else, a new sensation as her tongue met his rigid length.

“Holy fuck,” he growled, feeling something smooth and cool flicking against him as the tip of her tongue toyed with him. Reaching down he gripped her chin, pulling himself out of her mouth. “Open up and show me your tongue, sweet girl.” It hadn’t been intended as a command, but there was no helping it. Ruhn was positively feral with need, and if he was about to see what he thought he would, he might explode right there.

And there it fucking was, a metal bar through her tongue, a little silver ball the culprit of those strange, incredible feelings. His grip tightened, and she giggled.

“I was thorough when putting together this costume, Ruhn,” she said, voice seductive as sin. “Very, very thorough.”

The prince pulled the golden-haired female to her feet, his grip hard on her jaw as he claimed his kiss, forcing his tongue into battle and playing with her new metal decoration. His erection was stiff against her stomach, growing achingly more rigid at the realization that her thoroughness may expand to other hidden areas. After all, she’d said there were more surprises, plural, hadn’t she?

He swallowed her heavy breaths with a groan and gripped her ass, pleasantly surprised that her immediate response was to lift her legs and hook them around his waist. Ruhn hurriedly walked them back to the desk, stepping out of his boxers and jeans in the process. Muscular legs relaxed when he settled Lidia upon the polished wood surface The dark-haired fae was unwilling to move his mouth from hers, but began fumbling at the buckles that kept the scabbard at her back.

“Impatient,” Lidia rasped against his lips with an amused huff. His hands didn’t slow, even for a moment, ripping the leather jacket down her arms as soon as the ancient blade clattered down to the floor.

“The only reason I’m not tearing these scraps off you is because this,” he palmed a breast over her tiny t-shirt, “and this,” his hand slid slightly further up, settling over what felt like a heartbeat as heavy and needy as his own, “are mine.” His words fell out between kisses, only separating long enough to pull the miniature tee over her head, revealing the scandalous black mesh bra that hid almost nothing, but did glorious things for her cleavage. And the little gold bar between those perfect breasts called to him - a blessed, simple front clasp.

Thank fuck.

“I waited so long for you, for the chance to stand by your side. And I don’t want to share. Is that all right, sweet girl?” Her answering moan went straight to his cock, and his calloused fingers finally unhooked the clasp to her lingerie, freeing her from her confines.

It was nothing less than an act of the gods that he didn’t cum right then.

Because through the peak of her left nipple was another little bar, each end a tiny gunmetal ball. A piercing to match his own.

Thorough, indeed.

“You’re fucking killing me, Lidia,” he growled, lowering his head to suck the pierced bud between his teeth. Her gasp was a gale-forced wind, fanning the flames of his lust as she plunged her fingers into his braid.

“Good, because it hurt like a motherfucker,” she answered. Ruhn’s chuckle was rich with dark promise as it rumbled from his chest and off his tongue, stimulating the bud he’d suckled into his mouth. Her other breast was in his palm, as he squeezed and massaged the sensitive flesh. When her fingers tightened against his scalp, he was only spurred onward.

His hands found her belt buckle as he trailed his tongue up over her chest, tasting her collarbone and throat before nibbling at her jaw. “Any more hidden surprises waiting for me, Starlight?” Ruhn grinned against her heated skin, reveling in the way her need seemed to match his own, her hips undulating as he opened the belt and unbuttoned and unzipped those teeny tiny shorts. “Lift your hips, baby.” With the shorts gone, the fishnets were next. He sucked his lower lip between his teeth, and his arousal twitched with impatience.

Only the fishnets were left. And, much to his utter delight, tearing them open was a very viable option.

And tear them open he did.

“Gods-fucking-dammit,” he snarled. Her wetness shimmered in the moonlight, but it was the tiny ring in the hood that covered her clit that had sent him into a string of feral curses.

“Surpriiiiiise,” she mused, clearly satisfied with herself. But he would wipe that smug grin off her face. Ruhn would show her who was in charge, and he plunged two fingers deep into her slick heat, immediately pistoning them inside her. “Oh, fuck, Ruhn!” she cried, her fingers returning to his nape. She was so wet, so ready for him, and already so close to the edge. Not that he could blame her - he’d been about to explode since he saw her on the doorstep.

“Ready so soon?” he crooned, a question he didn’t expect her to answer. Instead of waiting for a response, he knelt down and sucked that little hoop into his mouth, tonguing the sensitive bud beneath it.

Lidia shattered, his name a wail on her lips, but his fingers kept working. His mouth remained on her, stretching her ecstasy until she collapsed onto the desk, legs trembling. Ruhn met her liquid gold gaze above her heaving breasts, flashing a rakish grin. One of her hands reached to him, brushing over his temple in invitation. He stood first, then leaned his body over hers, taking in her languid state with smug male satisfaction.

“Why are you not naked?”

Confused, the fae male glanced over to where his pants were puddled on the floor, before looking down at his black shirt with an amused huff. He hadn’t even realized. Hel, he still had his socks and shoes on. Sexy. But he took it in stride. “I could ask you the same question,” he crooned, jerking his chin toward her ruined fishnets and tall combat boots, the many chains and buckles catching the pale light drifting in through the windows.

“Well, whose fault is that?” Lidia demanded, voice cracking. Violet eyes darkened beneath a cocked eyebrow, the inked Vanir enjoying the challenge in her tone, ready to tease.

“As I recall,” Ruhn drawled, turning his attention to the zipper on the inside of her calf. The boots were a veritable bondage wet dream, if he were honest, the silver hardware glinting against the supple black leather. “You were quite impatient.” He tugged at the pull slowly, devastatingly so, humming in satisfaction as her shapely calf was revealed to him, inch by delectable inch. When he finally reached the bottom, he gingerly tugged the shoe off her foot, looking into his mate’s eyes as he tossed it carelessly to the floor with a few clinks and a thud. Then his focus shifted to her other leg. He dragged a finger over the three gleaming buckles at her ankle and the leather straps that circled it, before lifting a few strands of thick layered chains. When he dropped them the links jingled against each other, a sweet song of kinky promise. Ruhn found himself wishing they were detachable, his erection reminding him that he was still very much wanting as his mind conjured visions of his Starlight’s wrists and ankles wrapped in metal. He looked up at her again, finding that she’d lifted herself, sitting up and leaning back on her hands.

“I like these.” He smirked at the faint blush that colored her cheeks, wondering if she was imagining the same things he was. “A lot.”

“Is that so?” she replied breathily as Ruhn unzipped the remaining boot, eyes glued to fathomless pools of amber. He assumed it fell to the floor, but he was truly aware of nothing. Nothing except her. “You like leather and buckles and chains?” He didn’t miss how her tongue darted out to wet her lips. How her voice did not seem timid or fearful. But still he hesitated, wary of digging up any triggers that the Hammer might have left in his wake. Toeing his shoes and socks off, he let the silence stretch, watching her expression for any hint of uncertainty. When he saw nothing but her piqued interest and a tilt of the chin he leaned in, placing his palms on the desk on either side of her hips, the tips of his fingers brushing across her manicured nails. Her breath warmed his lips - so close - and he craved a taste.

“And what if I said that I do?” Ruhn waited, watched. Every blink, twitch of her lips, crinkle of her nose or brow. Searching for the slightest bit of concern. It didn’t take her but a moment to answer.

“You told me once that you’re a dominant male,” she began, dragging her plump lower lip between her teeth. Ruhn lifted a hand to cup her cheek, the rough pad of his thumb sweeping across the apple.

“And I also said that I don’t pressure my partners into things they don’t–” Lidia silenced him, closing the distance between them and stealing his words with a kiss. Her fingers skated over the buzzed side of his head, and he shuddered.

“Show me,” she whispered against his lips. Ruhn drew back, only a breath. Only far enough to let her words wash over him and his wide-eyed stare, to see the truth in her gaze.

Any remaining restraint he’d had vanished the moment her lips tilted into a gentle smile.

Ruhn surged forward, splitting her grin with his tongue and plundering those delicious red lips. Her hands cupped his face, holding on tight. His chuckle was dark against her mouth, and he brought his hands up to grip her wrists, pushing them away from his face before grabbing both in his broad palm. Lifting them over her head, the tattooed male leaned over her, forcing her to return to her back, her arms hitting the surface of the desk a moment later. Ruhn’s braid dangled down over a muscled shoulder as he loomed over her. Something deep within him stirred as he glanced up to her wrists in his grasp and pinned to the lacquered wood. He returned his focus to her face as he slowly, gratuitously drew his other hand up her body - her toned stomach, then up between her breasts. Until his palm fell against her neck, his thumb caressing her bottom lip.

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His whisper was fierce. Reverent, even as his fingers burrowed into the hair at her nape. He lowered his lips to the corner of her mouth before flashing a devilish grin. “I have you right where I want you now, Starlight.” The shifter seemed to shudder beneath his touch, and it went straight to his aching cock. He could smell her arousal, heady and sweet. He needed to feel it, to be in it. And so his hand began a downward journey, retracing its path down her torso until it dipped below her navel, then further still. Until he reached her apex, calloused fingers stopping just short of that aching bud he’d had his mouth on mere minutes before. His thumb found that little ring in her hood and she gasped, the cool metal reminding him just how perfect she was. How she knew just how to push all his buttons.

“Are you ready for me, Lidia?” he crooned, inching his touch lower, until he found wetness and delicious, searing heat. His eyes rolled back, his exaggerated inhale and exhale stuttering. “Gods, you’re practically fucking dripping for me.” He looked up to her, casually shrugging a shoulder before sinking two fingers deep into her. Her wrists tensed in his grip as she flexed her fingers, a moan passing through her lips. Ruhn leaned back in, stealing a tender kiss. Then another, then a third. All the while, he lazily pumped his fingers in and out. Gods, all he wanted was to be inside her, burying himself to the hilt over and over with a punishing rhythm. But there would be time for that, and he was a patient male. Just because the sexy shifter had asked him to take charge didn’t mean it was going to be some messy, thoughtless, animalistic rough fuck. Ruhn was prepared to take his time, to drive his mate mad with pleasure. After all she’d been through, it was the least she deserved.

But, of course, he would be pounding into her before he was through - ideally reaching his climax to the sweet song of her screaming his name.

He took this chance to take her in - the way her cheeks and chest flushed, the way her eyelashes fell low over liquid pools of pure gold. A tiny whimper fell from her lips, and her hips bucked against his ministrations.

“Tell me what you want, Lidia,” was his response. Her answer was something of a groan mixed with a growl, and his lips quirked. “Use your words.” The pink in her cheeks deepened at the command, as if she only now realized that she might have to verbalize the things he was going to do. So instead, she bared her teeth.

“I thought you were going to fuck me,” she hissed, but her eyes rolled back as he curled his fingers up inside her, brushing that oh-so-sensitive place.

“Don’t worry, greedy girl.” The shifter’s breath hitched, and Ruhn grinned - a dazzling, devilish thing - as he leaned down again, their noses nearly touching. He could breathe her in, devour her impatience, give her something else to do with those lips that seemed far too willing to make demands. “Soon enough, I’ll be burying myself so deep inside you so hard that you won’t even remember your own name. Hel, it might even happen before that, because I’m going to make sure to wring every ounce of pleasure from this wicked little body - until you don’t think you can take anymore - and then I will fuck you. But until then, you have to be patient. Can you be a good girl and be patient for me?” Her eyes had blown wide, her hips now undulating rhythmically with the pace of his fingers. Lidia gave a weak nod, to which he responded with a tsk as he pulled his fingers out.

The things her frustrated cry did to his cock when he did…

His voice lowered an octave, gravelly and nearly hoarse. “Use your words, sweet girl. Are you going to be patient?” His mate’s reply was almost immediate.

“Yes! Yes, Ruhn. Please.”

With a satisfied hum his fingers returned, pistoning into her sex hard and fast. His thumb found her clit and spread her wetness over it, before rubbing in tiny circles. Working that sensitive bud as he coaxed her ever-closer to the edge, her chest heaving with the extra effort it was taking her to breathe. Ruhn dipped his head and pulled her newly-pierced nipple between his teeth, feeling her walls clench around him.

“That’s it, Lidia. Cum on my fingers. I know you’re close,” he murmured against her breast. Then he sucked the tip in again, curled his fingers up against her spasming muscles, and ground the calloused pad of his thumb into that bundle of nerves.

“Oh, fuck,” she moaned, voice cracking, as he pulled her climax into his waiting palm. Lidia’s crackling moan turned into a sharp wail as Ruhn’s fingers worked her through every second, dragging from her every last muscle twitch and stuttered breath and strangled curse. When her orgasm subsided and he finally drew his hand away, he stared straight into a lustful gaze and licked his fingers clean.

“You’re an animal,” Lidia scoffed, but affection shimmered in her eyes. The fae male chuckled and finally released his grip on her wrists.

“And you,” he began before claiming her mouth in a long, promise-laden kiss, “are delicious.” Sliding his hands under her, he lifted her up so she was sitting, with his nude, hard body between her legs. Moonlit indigo eyes grazed over her form, his impatient, needy fingers following. He cupped her left breast and brushed a thumb over the dusky nipple, its warmth at odds with the cool metal spheres on either side. His gaze dipped lower, to her apex, the silver hoop still gleaming like a beacon to his desire, though it was hidden from the light. “So when did this happen?” he asked as he returned his attention to his mate’s expression. Burning Solas, she was so fucking exquisite. He had always thought so, even when her stares had been hard and she wore her mask of cruelty and ice. But Lidia’s beauty had transformed into something warm and comforting. Looking at her was like coming home. He’d always had his mother, Bryce, and the boys, but this was different. Lidia never judged him. She listened and discussed and offered her thoughts and experiences, but the love he found in the amber ocean of her gaze was powerful. All-consuming.

“Today.” Ruhn’s brows shot up at her answer, though he should have known. They’d had sex the night before, and he definitely would have noticed her accessories had they been there. But if she’d just gotten them today, there was no way she could be fully healed. They may be Vanir, but she’d still had holes poked through her flesh. That didn’t just magically go away. The fae’s dark brows furrowed as he worried his lip ring with his tongue, and she giggled. “I may or may not have asked Hypaxia to help speed the healing.”

“Ah,” he breathed with an absent nod of realization. “So she was aware of your devious plan? Is this why you were so quiet today?” Lidia chewed on her lip and looked up at him through thick, dark lashes. His erection twitched, as if to remind him that he was still very much wanting. As if he couldn’t see the vixen right in front of him.

“I didn’t want to spoil the surprise,” she murmured quietly. Her lips twitched. “I wanted to see what you’d do. How you’d react.”

“And did I satisfy your wicked curiosity, sweet girl?” Ruhn leaned in, still stroking a thumb over her piercing as his other hand moved to grip her hip. His mouth pressed against her neck, right below her ear, before his tongue darted out to taste her sweet flesh. He nibbled there, suckling at the sensitive spot, and gave a dark, stuttered huff when she gasped and her body jerked in his grasp.

Her breathy yes was barely a whisper, even though it seemed to echo through him. With great effort he removed his hand from her breast, sending it downward so he was gripping her hips with both hands. Ruhn looked down for just a moment, placing himself in line with her entrance. As he thrust into her he captured her mouth, inhaling her moan as she took him to the hilt. He pulled out almost completely before pushing back in. It was a slow, patient pace, but deep and hard, and she panted against his lips with every upward thrust.

“Fuck, you feel so godsdamned good,” he rasped. It turned into a groan when he felt Lidia’s fingernails digging into his back - a delicious, erotic pain. “Oh, yes, baby. You better hold on tight.” He picked up speed, continuing to pound into her as her nails raked over his skin. His grip was firm on her hips, though he was momentarily distracted from her lips by the glint of her nipple piercing as it bounced in the moonlight.

“Ruhn.” The way she drew out his name felt like decadent sin - the slow, sickly sweet fall of honey from the comb. It lit him from within, flames churning his blood, driving his hips into a frantic rhythm.

“Tell me, Lidia. How does it feel having me so deep inside you? Do you like it when I fuck you like this?” Her only response was a whimper, as he felt her walls begin to flutter. With a snarl he pulled out and jerked her off of the desk. Her feet had barely touched the ground when he flipped her body around and then pushed her hips against the wood, a hand on her shoulder pushing her chest down on the lacquered surface. When he thrust back into her soaked core she cried out, and the vibration made his cock ache in the most satisfying way.

And then he was pounding into her.

His mate’s voice broke as she wailed a curse, and he felt her muscles clenching as she climaxed, but he wasn’t finished. The tattooed male kept thrusting, fucking her through her orgasm, his attention fixed on the way her fingers clutched at the beveled edge of the desk, knuckles white.

“Oh, fuck, Ruhn!” Gods, he loved the way she called his name in the throes of her ecstasy.

“Mmmm yes, sweet girl? Did you just cum on my cock?” When she didn’t answer, only panted in time with his thrusts, he brought a broad hand down upon her ass. It won him a curse from her lips, and he grinned. “Tell me, Lidia. Do you like it when I fuck you like this?” Another slap, against her other cheek, and she answered with a roughened scream.

“Yes! Fuck, yes, Ruhn!”

He knew he wouldn’t last much longer, so he pulled her back up by her shoulders, her back arching as he wrapped his arms around her. One hand palmed her throat, the other squeezing a pert breast as his movement stalled. With an inhale, he breathed her in and reveled in her essence. Then his lips brushed the shell of her ear, breath hot upon her flushed skin.

“And do you want to cum again, sweet girl?”

Her response was a stuttering whisper. “Y-y-yes.” He practically purred, the sound rumbling through his chest, as he began to saw into her again. He kept his grip on her neck while his other palm slid down her stomach until his fingers found their destination. Two callous-padded fingertips circled her clit, already swollen and sensitive from his attention and her arousal. The new stimulation drew a strangled shriek from her throat, the sound humming against his grip. His pace became frantic and uneven, and he knew he would burst soon. But he knew that his mate wouldn’t last long, either. So he whispered his indecent encouragement into her ear.

“Now be a good girl and cum for me. I want everyone on this fucking block to hear the pleasure I’m giving you.”

Lidia detonated around him, squeezing him so tightly he couldn’t stop himself from falling over the edge with her. She screamed - a jagged, crackling wail - as he jerked and released into her. His fingers continued rubbing at that bundle of frayed nerves, coaxing tremors from her body, the spasms milking him until they were both spent.

Ruhn slowly lowered himself to his knees, pulling out of her before guiding her down with him. He didn’t want her to come down from the high splayed across the desk. He wanted to hold her and touch her and love her, so he sat on the floor and gathered the golden-haired shifter against his broad, glistening chest. His hands roamed over her back as her shivers subsided, and he whispered sweet words of praise and gratitude against her hair as her fingers traced the tattoos on his pec and toned stomach.

“Was that okay, Starlight?” he asked, apprehension building as the silence lengthened between them. Sure, she’d asked him to take control, but he wanted to be certain. Needed to be. Lidia lifted her head and palmed his jaw, drawing his gaze into warm pools of gold.

“I loved it, Ruhn.” She pulled him down and placed a tender kiss upon his lips. “I loved it and I love you.”

The Valbaran prince wasn’t sure if he’d ever smiled so wide. “I love you, too, sweet girl.”

After a few more minutes Ruhn begrudgingly acknowledged that their absence had likely been noticed by now - assuming nobody had heard Lidia’s screaming climax - and that they should probably get dressed. He lifted the shifter from his lap and gathered the clothes that had been scattered over the floor. Something jingled when he palmed her leather jacket, and his brows nearly rose to his hairline when he drew the source of the noise from one of the pockets.

A pair of shiny silver handcuffs.

“Lidia,” he started, turning to her with them hanging from a finger. “Do you want to tell me why these are in your pocket?”

His mate just shrugged, pulling her tiny shorts over her now-bare legs - the fishnets had been considered a lost cause and discarded. “I was prepared to offer additional encouragement if you were still unwilling to take control.” Ruhn groaned, willing his growing hardness away with grinding teeth.

“Such a shame. If I’d have known I had these at my disposal…” His voice trailed off as Lidia sauntered to him and grabbed the cuffs and her jacket from his grasp. She rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek.

“There’s always next time, Princeling.”

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