Early Greeting

TYKE

"V

ine, I'll be back in twenty minutes."

"Yeah... that's what they all say." She's twisting and turning, struggling to get hold of Magnus, who's now the size of a shrew. "Where the hell did he go now!?"

"You better find him; he's our only chance to get out of here." As I near the exit latch, the crunching sound of pebbles under my feet lifts my spirits for the first time in weeks.

I yank open the skylight and run down the stairs. Racing down the fourth-floor hallway, every inch of my muscles begins to swell, nostrils flaring when Fay's honeyed scent comes in strong.

My speed zeroes out. Under my boots, something crinkles, and I frown when I notice glass shards lining the floor. Deon's military gambits... I'm familiar with them, but witnessing him pull these shrewd moves behind closed doors gives me a chill...

Apartment 8.

I halt, take a breath, and probe my chest, ensuring my holster straps are latched solidly, not forgetting to pass a hand over my wound—an orc dripping blood when you open the door might be considered appealing in Orcana, but not in this country.

Okay, deep breath, buddy. I knock, killing the fun of a surprise visit—I won't get used to it and never will. In other circumstances, I would've crashed the door open, a symbol of my vigor and thirst for my fated. Again, can't do that here...

Grab her hand, take her things, and leave. And whatever she does, keep your hands to yourself.

Fingers fleet over my carbine's grip as a grinding sound comes from behind the door. But then, whatever I had in mind evaporates when it swings open.

Sha... In front of me stands five feet one inch of pure hotness. My chest jolts, and I think my heart might have leaped out. She's let her hair hang long, flowing over her shoulders down to her... bare breasts.

I'm done. Gaze stuck on her tits, my cock is about to tear a hole through my pants.

Three muzzles bark, forcing me out of my stupor. Cerberios is bouncing on solid hind legs, displaying an affection I'm not used to seeing. I don't know what Deon's been feeding him, but he got bigger, claws now reaching my torso as he stands.

He gets a swift pat on one of its heads, and I crunch a hiss between my teeth when his claws add pressure on my wound.

"Sit." Can't deny I missed the bastard, but the clock is ticking, and all I want is Fay.

I raise my girl's chin. Within a flutter, I'm swept up in her eyes, thrown into a headspace where nothing matters but us. "Fay..."

"Bear!"

Fay flies into my arms, clamps her thighs around my waist, and pain or not, I lose control. We spin in a whirlwind of bliss, her golden locks enrobing us, and all I can see is her, the glint in her gaze, and her giggle teasing my smile.

"Fuck, I missed you." I clutch her backside, the other already on my belt. I gulp forward, grunt backward, and try to unbuckle, but this fairy isn't helping, with her lips on my face, robbing me of every word I might have had. I can barely breathe, can't think, maybe walk. I need to make it to the kitchen. This isn't part of the plan, but Vine could use some alone time. In all cases, I need some "we alone" time.

I shut the door with a back kick as splashes from a wet surface echo from my boots, and, as I take us to the closest spot that can accommodate us, the saying "sex begins in the kitchen" never rang so true for Fay and me.

The counter is tumbled with stuff—spoons, empty beer bottles, yogurt pots... My hand sweeps over it. Can't change the way we are. Don't care anymore... never really did.

A glass shattering on the floor later, and I settle my fairy on the marble.

Grasping at my hair, she yanks my face to her. My mind buzzes as lips crash, tongues spear, and fingertips dig at the back of my head. "Making me wait like that..." Not to be dramatic, but her shaky voice has me humming. My head turns in the direction Fay wants me to go, driving every part of my being, just as she always has. "Looking all mean, gruff, and... good."

"Mean? Bug..." A snigger makes its way into my kisses. "I'll show you how much."

A slight frown dips into the pit of her nose bridge. "Cruel," she says with a baby doll's voice. Weaving in my hair, a finger grips at my feather and the furrow in her eyebrows deepens. "Thought you'd forgotten me for a second."

"Ber' nahot Sham*. You were in everything I saw." My lips are in distress, weeping on every patch of skin. I can't contain the lustful moan rushing up and down her face, my hands going wild all over her body. "Yet couldn't think, walk, or aim straight. Your distance was too great."

"Didn't know you fired at dust and floating debris," she rasps. Her eyes have lost our course, now fixed on the glitter drifting between us, twinkling.

I'm selfish, mostly craving, so I take the easy route, and my teeth lightly close over Fay's neck.

And it's a win all around. The nip makes her chuckle, stabbing another of her demons about to crash our reunion. "Kar' bren Thar, Fay. My favorite beacon in the dark."

"Karbrintar?"

My tusks are now tracing the length of inquisitive lips, and with her turquoise eyes on mine, I can only reply, "Stars that go down."

As it happens, this stardust flares out in a snicker. "Falling stars, bear. Falling stars." It makes my ears burn.

Our laughter fades, tongues trading passionately in silence, my grips flinging over hips, breasts, just about everywhere. I must be dreaming because of how she looks at me or touches me, starting with those lips of hers pressing to mine as she rips off my belt.

I fold a hand over her grip and take it back. I've been fantasizing about this moment since our skin parted, giving her what she wants without making her work for it.

With her wrists pinned above her head, I linger on her mouth, speaking in a rasp that wasn't meant to be tough. "I've had a rough day."

But Fay's not one to be baby-handled, quite the contrary, and begins chasing my tongue to trap its tip between her teeth.

I clasp her head, her fucking fine head, pulling it away. She's triggering this hunger. It's surreal.

She doesn't care that I need to look at her. No, she dives back on my lips, whispering, "Let me fix that..."

Her words have me shuddering, "Fix me," as I shoot for my belt, careful not to break the seal of our lips.

There is no separating us. Even as I feed my belt through two cupboard handles, I keep kissing her, drinking her mouth, notes of smoke and flowers edging every part of my tongue. And I recognize this jag she's sending me, a shot of my one and only drug...

Ensnaring her wrists in the loop, I pull hard. It's more than a yank, and she moans from the friction, leaving every pulsation, breath, and standing bone in shakes.

I need this moment to last. I don't want to rush. Run. Hide.

Right now, I want her. I want her touch. I need her blinks, shallow breaths, and everything Fay is, down to a bloody cell. My hands smack against the cupboards, caging her stoked face.

I look her straight in the eye.

She looks at me.

I can feel my heartbeat.

Feel hers.

My body heat rises when I lean over Fay, "Fuck me," flowing across her snarl.

The wick is set.

Our foreheads touch, my lips desecrating hers. "I'm going to fuck you, Fay. I'm going to fuck you hard."

Her devious smile prints on mine, the cabinets above her vibrating under the weight of anticipation. I watch her bring her hips closer to me in a squat, heels on the counter, lifting. "Do it."

A firestorm takes over my bloodstream. Feral, the speed of my hand is brutally faster than my thoughts. Grasping her hair at the back of her neck, I tilt her head up, her little cry striking me like chimes made of ice.

"You're going to take it like a good little fuckgirl. I swear, I won't stop until you're shaking."

My she-devil licks her lips. "Feel me shake with your tongue."

One hand at the back of her neck, the other tips up two fingers at her surprised eyes, those widening even more as I bring them to her lips. "Suck them like you know how."

She's on it, dipping her mouth over my digits, glaring at me. I stare at her just as hard.

I let her take her time, our eyes jousting with desire. She's sending me one of those headrushes, and I'm already gasping for air. I slide them out of her gaping mouth, making her lips bounce a string of saliva attached to them. With my thumb, I smear a coat of shine over her lips, and they nibble at it. "Fuck, you turn me on."

I slide my arm under her legs, revealing the most hidden part of her body. And as she rolls on the small of her back, her feet press against my chest, Fay's vivid eyes fix on mine. I simultaneously slip my index finger into her godamazing, dripping hole and my major into her tighter spot, her pupils immediately eating away her irises like a shark with blood.

Fay jerks, the cupboards clapping as she strains against the belt. While they sink in slowly, I press my forehead against hers, my murmur burning between us. "Take them in full. Don't resist."

A half moan breaks through her clenched teeth. She's biting her lip, and I know, feel from the constrictions of her inner walls that she wants to give in. "Nice and easy, girl. That's right."

Nectar glistens under her, dripping on the counter, and I can't stop bending over to lick it. "You've always tasted great, but today you're downright delicious."

"Filthy orc," she sobs.

"Yes, and famished," I say, burying my face between her thighs. My tongue plays with her nub as my fingers etch further at every moan.

I can't ignore her pounding breasts. A nipple soon greets my lips as I curl my head into the tangle of her hunched muscles.

A suppressed gasp blows out of her as I nip at one.

Enough fooling around. I free her of my hands, unclip my armed chest strap, and place it next to Fay in a clank of metal. Her gaze shifts from it to me, and I know what she wants—the knives on her skin.

I wink at her. "I've got other plans for you."

My zipper flashes down, arms yanking out of my sleeves. The bulletproof vest stays on since my injury might raise questions, and I have no time for them right now.

As my suit sags around my thighs, my underwear quickly follows. My cock springs out, tip slapping against my abdomen. It's oozing with desire, and I can't let it go to waste.

With one hand cupped at the edge of her chin, I release a growl. It's a commanding one Fay knows well.

Spit spills, and I snigger, "Submissive little thing..."

My keen smirk reflecting on the sweet sap running down her middle, I begin stroking myself, coating my cock with saliva. Blushing softly, Fay slants her gaze to my crotch.

And as I fall on her, I halt, my lips a filament from hers. "Afraid?"

Pulling at her bonds, Fay attempts to reach my mouth with her gritted moan. "Put it in."

I snigger as I grip her face. And tilting her head, I muffle her cries with a kiss, gradually inviting myself in. "Oh fuck, Fay..."

As soon as I start thrusting, Fay squirms. A dangerous foot comes flying to my face, and I catch it, securing it firmly on the counter. My cock is cranking her from within, and I smirk to find her little hands battling the handles. "Your cunt is made for me, better every fucking time..."

"Tyke, please!"

I smirk in the crook of her dewing neck. "Anything for you, little bug."

In dealing with Fay, I know by default that the stronger my thrusts, the louder my name gets.

"Tyke..."

And I love the sound of my name coming out of my fairy, so I drive into her harder...

"Tyke!"

Faster...

A moan that could harden a cloud ricochets across the flat.

Her ass might have been built for back-shots, but her face was made for full frontal sex... I can't keep my hands off every line, freckle, and recess. There's no ending to how much I crave her. Once again, I grip her hair and force her stare upon mine. She's stunning, gasping for air as tears roll down her cheeks, whimpering, "Yes..." at every push.

A gasp makes my head turn to the left.

Donna?

The arch of her eyebrows and the width of her mouth might indicate that she's surprised.

I'm so engrossed that I greet her with a wink, sinking deeper into Fay because this is the now-or-never moment.

I don't mind Dona watching; in fact, the presence of onlookers only excites me more. Donna opens a cupboard next to Fay's bound hands, brings out two mugs, grabs a coffee jar, pulls a drawer next to Fay, and takes a spoon like it's just another day. I go back to stretching my fairy's muscles, and fuck, is this session edging.

I pick up the pace and give my bug my roughest. She howls, and I snigger viciously.

"Oh, gods..." Donna whispers before disappearing just as quickly with her cold brews.

My fairy's taking my cock so well, a tight fit. Dripping like rain, her inner walls pulsing... It's like nothing else.

And I want more.

In one ruthless thrust, I bury myself to the hilt, and something guttural comes out of Fay as she bangs her head against the cabinet.

I lick a tear of frustration from her cheek. "You're such a good girl..." While my cock stirs her wet, my fingers trace up to her throat, right under her jaw. They fold over her throbbing skin, adding pressure. "And this good girl can breathe when she comes."

My voice drops, my lungs working in sync with my heaving movements. "Now, fairy, you're gonna soak up my cum till the last drop." Her skin on mine feels like steam, and I'm nearing my boiling point.

As my belt creaks under her pull, her orgasm slams into us.

Heat spills out from under.

As promised, I release her throat, but instead of claiming her body as expected, her labored breath ruins it for me. "Don't come inside..."

I withdraw within a second, cum flowing.

"Bug..." Closing my eyes, I sigh softly before bringing her thighs together, concluding this short but fucking insane session. "Why the sudden angst? Nothing would've happened, and you know it."

After freeing her wrists, my gaze flicks from the belt sliding between the handles to her eyes. This was never a problem before. Fay knows it would take a divine intervention for her to fall pregnant. When the Gods mapped the gene pools, they forgot about the orcs, leaving us with no choice but to fuck to our heart's despair.

"The drugstores are closed. Couldn't get hold of the pill."

"Fay, you don't need the pill with me."

"There's a saying: two monsters in love, three in the pudding club. Miracles happen, and I'm taking zero risks," she says, her breathing refusing to slow.

Never heard of that, but I got the gist. My snigger comes out cold, eyes a skip from Fay's ear, unblinkingly, mostly burning the entrance door. I'd fucking love to have pudding all over me...

Ultimately, these swerve on her. And as I follow her gaze, evading me at a thread, she seems as absorbed by the window behind me as I was with the door. "Fay, don't say th?—"

I'm cut off as the bright of her eyes climb on me. "The future's not looking great, bear..."

I blow, frustration rising through strands of blonde hair. Fay's stare, it's soft, yet—goddam—brutal. How can one continue this kind of conversation without flinching? A swarm of goosebumps breaks out inside my chest, destroying my face enough to have the urge to hide it. It's so violent my gaze drops in the sink.

"Speaking of the future..." Leaning my hips in for a quick rinse, I realize how reality is fast to poison the moment. "We need to talk."

Fay releases a sigh, and I'm still reordering my thoughts as to how I can explain the fucked-up mess going on without frightening her.

I tear a paper towel from a kitchen roll and run water over it––water that stops flowing after a few seconds. Authorities cut the water...

My cock still tingles as I run this homemade sponge over her face, chest, and inner thighs... and only as lust leaves me do I notice them thinner than when I last saw them. "Your bones are showing." I kept my grunts in check until now, but learning she was angst-ridden while I was away has me agitated.

"They're not. Stop fussing."

I snort as I open the trash cupboard. "Right..." and throwing the tissue, recenter our convo. "Now, I want you to open your ears."

"Listening." Her voice is suddenly so small, and I turn my head to her. There's a cut glazing the side of her right shoulder.

My teeth in greets, I slam the bin shut and grab her arm. "Who did this to you?" Her skin is warmer than usual and yet, she's shivering...

"It's no big deal," she says with a fleeting glance.

"Let me decide that."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fay, I've had a strange day. Don't make it harder for me."

But she does, as the bluest of eyes come raiding my heart. "Donna unwillingly threw a broken bottle at me."

"Unwillingly..." Is that why the wolf was so indiscreet ten minutes ago? Grudging over. "Her eye?"

"Me..." she mutters as I release her hands and the cabinets from the belt.

I keep listening as I pull up my suit mid-waist and slide my belt into the belt loops. "It was an accident. Well, not really." She's sobbing now.

"Stay here."

Walking to the couch, I kick over a pile of clothing nearby. From the mess, recognizable lace, delicate and pink, catches my eye.

With pink panties in hand, I turn my head to a braided basket near the armrest. It's full of blankets and cushions no one ever seems to use. They're simple wraps, yet I'm now crouching, shuffling them, searching for a specific color. Green. She likes green.

Picking one out from the pile, this straw-like container tips and rolls to one side. Paws awake, immediately scattering on the parquet.

Growls are in the making. Breaking straws and gnawing wimps as well.

My head turns, nerves in a twitch. Cerberios is dragging the basket through the corridor, a gray blanket between one of his jaws, and sinks into its dark end like a scavenger. I'm about to roast this giant muskrat when a thin tinting of laughter like those of temples throws a wrench into my plans.

The smirk.

Hers hits me like a brick every damn time.

And I smirk back like the dumbstruck fool I am. Yet, anger fires another shot at me. I'm corroded with it, my bones walking without my consent on a mission code-named Fay. Everything in me feels mechanic, automated, as though reaching that paper-thin line between self-control and breakdown. Images of blood and Donna etch in my mind, chilling me to the marrow because I'm exhausted, the concept of control a mirage I can no longer see.

As Fay's legs hang, I take a knee to the ground and slip her feet in her underwear, racing my hands and this tiny elastic band right up to her thighs. I stand as I reach her hips, Fay bracing her arms around my neck as she lifts her backside.

"I'm not a baby, you know," she mutters against the shell of my ear.

I cup her chin. "You're a big baby." Fay's head rises instinctively to my touch. I let my smirk run unchecked, stretching every line and crease as I define it for her, "Mine."

"Then..." Our eyes meet, Fay's head swaying slightly as her voice slips into a drawl. "If that's the case..." sadness has left her eyes, and in its place burns a smoldering blue fire that I feel growing within me, "I accept."

My lips dip on hers.

She bites my lower, and I tuck in my chin, forgetting my name. It's like an emotional wrestling match with Fay and me fighting over who can offset the other the most.

"Who's the big baby now." She giggles.

"Bug, I'll be anything you want me to be." I cover her with the blanket despite my mind scalding.

Fay grapples at the sides of her shoulders to snag at the fabric. I help her. Fold it over her like a candy wrapper, crossing the hems over her chest. As I do, my fingers stumble over her arm. She winces, and everything goes back to being pure werewolf hatred.

"Glad you didn't back down without a fight." I'm evaluating the reasons I could skin a wolf... Fay's cut comes in straight-up valid. Donna touches her again, and it's a fur coat for her.

Fay stays silent.

In fact, she's been unusually quiet. I left behind a chatterbox and returned to find a little mouse in its place. The fault lies with me; I abandoned her—at least, that's how it feels, anyway—and that will never happen again.

"Come here." I swaddle her in my arms, feeling her wings vibrate against me as I lift her. "I forgot how much I never walk or flit when you're around," she says.

"You're so hard to track. Allows me to know exactly where you are."

Her lips flicker in response before settling her head against my elbow, the curb of her nape relaxing against the fold. She exhales a freeing rush of air, which my body instantly mimics.

Recently, I've begun carrying Fay in a way I never tire of doing: with two arms. Something orcs never do, the hand holding the axe always left free... But to me, she is my ax, a blade that spears every threat aimed at me. This feeling binds me for good when fingertips smooth up my torso like goddesses' shawls.

Tusks, lips, whatever of mine catches in her touch, waver in the crook of her neck, and for a second, maybe three, I close my eyes to her warm scent. "Dera'mhun.*"

Walking us to this wide window ledge she loves so much, I chase her eyes, and I fucking smile to know she's chasing my own. "Hunting me?"

She curls a finger around the arc of my brow. "Hunting you..." The rasp in her voice rolls up in my ears, and one twitches. "Tykerish." Little bear... I shouldn't teach her this shit. It bruises as much as it heals.

I keep staring at her, taking everything in my wake: stool, rug, a black bag lazing on the floor...

It's her pull; it's too strong. She reminds me of Orcana and its skies of thunder, the endless grass plains, and their tall blue blades, constantly quivering in the cold breeze. Crisp, calm, and unpredictable...

"Bear..." trails off her lips, and there's nothing but her now, echoing in me like I'm a canyon.

My feet, blind, collide with the radiator, but it's a hit that doesn't break our gaze.

Only dawn's gust dares to swath over us. I try to ignore it, but its sharpness is begging for attention, enough to steal my gaze from Fay onto the gray tarmac. Even the window is broken...

I sit us down. My little bug keeps wiping her tears, so I dig a little black flower out of my pocket. "I don't want to hear any of your girly squabbles. Take this. It's a Blackore Datura. Grows on ash." Black or red, not one petal isn't creased and torn...

Fay's eyes brighten, and I remember why I fell in love with her. "It's beautiful."