Epilogue

Ten solar cycles later

Kipexo sat in his office behind a large blue wood desk. There were several monitors mounted on the wall to his left with continuously-scrolling data and news as well as communications with his various Raugon and Lifreet contacts abroad. The office walls were solid wood instead of glass, which is how Kipexo preferred it. Though Dradaheirn was a beautiful planet, he found it hard to focus on his work through the distractions of the often-temperamental weather and the Lifreet that traveled regularly through the trees just outside. If he was ever in need of open spaces or fresh air, both were just a short walk away.

“That route is already under contract,” Kipexo explained to the Raugon trader he currently had on the comm. “We’re not looking to add more ships at this time.”

“That’s a big route,” the trader replied. “Your current contract can handle that amount of traffic?”

Kipexo grinned. “The current contract holder is RN Cargo.”

There was a silent pause, then a single word. “Oh.”

Kipexo chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t recommend stepping on those toes, friend. Reethis and Natalie can more than handle that route, but if you’re determined to trade with the Lifreet, I might have a few smaller ones we’d consider contracting.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“A recent request crossed my desk for a few of the smaller settlements on Frohmire. They’re looking for passenger travel as well as electronics trade. Seems they want to expand their datanet with Lifreet tech and make Dradaheirn a vacation spot.”

“I haven’t run passenger transport in many solar cycles.”

“We ask new contacts to start small and work their way up to the types of trades you’re looking for. The Lifreet value reputation and loyalty.”

The trader grunted. “Well, let’s talk numbers. How many passengers and how much tech are we talking?”

Kipexo spent the next half an hour discussing the finer details of a contract on Dradaheirn. Since the war ended, many Raugon planets had reached out to the Lifreet to trade, though contracts with Raug were still fairly sparse. His homeworld would come around eventually, Kipexo knew. There was too much money to be made in trade with the Lifreet to ignore them for long.

The Lifreet had a waiting list a solar cycle long for Trotag blue trees, and they were already receiving requests from the wealthier citizens of Ipsyla who could afford to trade through private channels rather than wait for the Veil to negotiate commercial ones. Every request came to Kipexo first, who organized all the contracts based on supply, demand, and any current conflicts before they were sent up for Sovereign Luxtetana’s approval. The Veil had yet to reach out for a formal, long-term contract, but Reseila assured Kipexo she was working on it.

Relations between the Raugon and Lifreet were in good standing, though it definitely didn’t get that way overnight. It was touch and go for the first two solar cycles after the Veil announced the permanent ceasefire and peace treaty between the two races. Hatred ran deep on both sides, and there were days Kipexo didn’t know if he could hold this truce together. But by the grace of the gods and a whole hell of a lot of string-pulling, he and Reseila were able to settle all major conflicts that arose as forces from both sides withdrew from and moved into the negotiated lands and air spaces. The lines were drawn, but getting everyone on their own sides of those lines was a headache and a half. They managed it, though, in the end, and now here he sat negotiating trade contracts between two races that spent hundreds of solar cycles killing each other on sight.

He was immensely proud of that.

“Thank you, Ambassador,” the trader said once they’d reached an agreement they were both happy with. “I look forward to doing business with you.”

Kipexo ended the comm and sat back in his chair with a sigh. He hadn’t wanted this job, but damn if he wasn’t good at it. It might not be as exciting as a life spent traveling the stars, but it was honest work that made a difference. Not to mention his chances of getting blown up or shot were drastically reduced. He chuckled to himself at the thought and checked the time. It was an hour past when he usually went home for the day, so he shut off his monitors and logged out of his work comms before someone else could try to get in touch with him. They can wait until tomorrow.

Kipexo got up from his desk and went to the door on the left-hand side that led to the next room. He stood in the doorway and watched as Ethan typed away on his personal console in his adjoining office. He could just hear the faint music playing in Ethan’s implants, a feature Vroft designed and sent the Earthling via the datanet once secure channels were opened between Dradaheirn and Raug.

Unlike Kipexo’s workspace, Ethan’s office was bright and much more open. Kipexo’s office was very plain with not much in the way of decorations, and he preferred it that way, likely a result of spending so many solar cycles jumping ships with nothing more than the bare essentials. The life of a Galacorp soldier didn’t allow for many personal items, so Kipexo never let himself get attached to things, except maybe Dex.

The back wall of Ethan’s office was glass, which filled the space with natural light. The other walls were a light blue, like a bright sunny sky. The color matched Ethan’s personality perfectly. All the furniture in here was sized for a human, something Ethan insisted on when the Lifreet designed this space just for him. There were shelves covering just about every free inch of wall space, and they were packed with books and oddities Ethan had collected in their time on Dradaheirn, but in the middle of the far wall, proudly displayed in individual glass cases, were several books with Ethan’s name on them.

With Kipexo occupied during the day with his own work, Ethan turned to writing to pass the time and wrote and published his first novel by their third solar cycle on the Lifreet homeworld. It turned out that both Raugon and Lifreet loved the stories he had to tell, and his first book did well enough to write several sequels, all of which sold increasingly well. Truth be told, Ethan just about made more money than Kipexo nowadays, but the Earthling didn’t seem to care. He was just happy others enjoyed his stories.

Ethan was bent over his desk now, typing in a trance with his human music blaring in his ears, just like he was every day when Kipexo came to fetch him. Kipexo opened his databand and shut off Ethan’s music, which made his Earthling straighten, turn to the door, and smile.

“Done already?” Ethan asked.

“It’s almost six,” Kipexo said. “Teagan will likely give us an earful as it is for being late.”

Ethan checked the time on his databand and swore. He promptly closed out of his work and stood, cracking his back with a groan. “I’m surprised Grolpre hasn’t commed yet looking for us.”

At the sight of Ethan preparing to leave for the day, Dex got up with a long stretch and a yawn. The hebin had decided he liked Ethan’s more cheery space than Kipexo’s, and he had his own dedicated corner in Ethan’s office with a bed, food and water bowls, and a whole basket of toys. The Lifreet even installed a small automatic hatch for him in the glass wall so he could go outside whenever he wanted. Dex trotted over to rub against Kipexo’s legs, and Kipexo reached down and picked him up to carry him home. Though hebins live longer lives than most house pets, age had started to creep up on Dex, and the long walks between the office and their quarters tired him out nowadays. They still had plenty of solar cycles left with Dex, but it still made Kipexo a little sad to see his old companion slowing down.

Ethan, on the other hand, hadn’t aged a day thanks to the Lifreet’s technology, and for that, Kipexo prayed thanks to whatever gods were responsible every night as he fell asleep with his healthy Earthling in his arms. Ethan tugged on his sweatshirt, turned off his console, and met Kipexo at the door.

“How’s book five coming along?” Kipexo asked as they locked up their office and headed home.

Ethan beamed. “Really well. I think I hit the halfway mark today.”

“Your readers will be happy about that. I’ve had no less than four digital traders reach out to me asking when they can expect the next installment.”

“What did you tell them?”

Kipexo put an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “That my denmate is a literary mastermind, and they’ll get the book when he says it’s ready.”

Ethan laughed. “Mastermind…” He laughed some more. “They’re just fantasy novels. They’re not even high fantasy. Tolkien, I am not.”

“Tell that to Grolpre. She’s always so excited to be the first to read each new release.”

“But she’s family; that makes her biased.”

Kipexo raised a brow. “You don’t think she’d be honest with you if your stories lacked in any way?”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “If it didn’t benefit my well-being in some way, no I don’t think she’d ever say that.”

“When are you going to stop doubting yourself?”

“When are you going to stop using me as an excuse not to give Grolpre what I know you both want?”

Kipexo barked with surprised laughter. “Ouch. Where did that come from?”

“I don’t know, it’s just been on my mind a lot lately. I love you both very much and want to see you happy.”

Kipexo gave Ethan’s shoulders a squeeze. “I am happy.”

Ethan peered sideways at him. “Not as happy as you could be.”

Kipexo pulled them both to a stop in the middle of the walkway and turned to face Ethan. “You are my number one priority, always. Every second of happiness I get in this life is because of you. For that reason, my heart is yours forever.”

“It doesn’t all have to be mine. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, and that will never change, even if you share your heart with someone else. You already share everything else.”

Kipexo cringed.

“And I don’t mind,” Ethan rushed to add. “So don’t make that face. All I’m saying is, if you want to take that last step, I’m on board. I’m in. Hell, I think I’d be just as excited as Grolpre.”

“You would?” Kipexo asked in surprise.

“Yes. There was a time I couldn’t imagine sharing you, but so much has changed since then. I’ve thought of us all as a family since we left Raug. It’s long past time we made it official. Sam agrees.”

“You spoke to Sam about this?”

Ethan smiled sheepishly. “Guilty. I wanted to make sure they were ok with it, you know, in case you two ever stopped beating around the bush.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

Ethan laughed.

They resumed walking down the hallway, and a silence fell between them as Kipexo was consumed in deep thought.

Grolpre. The thought of her brought the hint of a smile to Kipexo’s face, and he looked forward to seeing her at the end of each day almost as much as he looked forward to the nights he spent alone with Ethan. Since the day the Anamafrid flew off without them, Grolpre and Sam had shared quarters with Ethan and Kipexo. Though everyone had their own private spaces in the apartment, they were a unit, a family, just as Ethan said. After so many solar cycles spent living a lonely, solitary life by choice, Kipexo never dreamed he’d one day enjoy living with so many others, but now, he couldn’t imagine living any other way.

He could no longer imagine his life without Grolpre and Sam any more than he could imagine living without Ethan, and Ethan himself had said many times that he felt the same way.

Perhaps the Earthling was right. Perhaps it was foolish to keep denying the inevitable. Ethan had given his blessings, so what was Kipexo waiting for? What was he so afraid of?

Losing Ethan. That was always Kipexo’s number one fear. But if Ethan wanted this just as badly as he did…

Kipexo shoved his tempestuous thoughts aside as he and Ethan stepped through a set of glass double doors painted with bright colors. The large open room before them was just one of the Lifreet’s many schools, though the room held not a single desk or chair. Instead, there were large oval pillows lined up in neat rows on thick, woven rugs, each of which had a single child nestled in the middle. Each child held a tablet in their lap, but all eyes were currently fixed on the teacher sitting on his own oversized pillow at the front as he told a story in the Lifreet language that had them all captivated. They were so engrossed in the tale it took several minutes for a pair of dark, stormy grey eyes to finally look over and see Ethan and Kipexo standing just inside the doors.

Teagan quickly got up from her pillow, stowed her tablet on a labeled shelf on the wall, grabbed her bag from a hook on the wall, and marched toward them. She stopped in front of them, back straight and eyes narrowed, and crossed her arms.

“You’re late,” she said moodily.

Ethan smiled apologetically. “Sorry. I was trying to finish the chapter I was on.”

Teagan peered sideways at Kipexo with a raised, suspicious brow. When Kipexo merely grinned back at her, she rolled her eyes with a soft snort, an expression she definitely picked up from him.

Teagan was as tall as Ethan now, though that was not nearly as large as a Raugon child her age. She had long black hair that fell halfway down her back in soft waves. Her face was rounder than a Raugon’s, but her skin was still red and her fangs had lengthened enough to show whenever she spoke since her lips were thinner, like a human’s. She could speak human, Raugon, and Lifreet languages and could sign as well as Ethan. She also had Andrew’s knack for software, something they often talked about whenever he commed her, which was often.

She was a beautiful, smart, and passionate girl, and Kipexo loved her as if she were his own daughter.

“Hurry and get your sister,” Kipexo told her. “Grolpre is probably already cooking dinner.”

“It’s actually Sam’s turn to cook tonight,” Ethan reminded him.

“Oooo, Sam promised they’d make my favorite the next time they cooked.” Teagan jogged to the back of the room to another colorfully-decorated glass door, pushed it open, and called, “Valreen! Hurry up, let’s go!”

As Teagan waited at the door, Ethan silently reached over and took Dex from Kipexo’s arms like he did every day. And just like every other day, a little girl came streaking through the doorway past Teagan, her feet pounding the ground as she dashed across the room with her bag bouncing at her side so hard it was constantly in danger of slipping off her shoulder and tripping her.

Kipexo knelt, and, in a fit of giggles, the girl barreled into his arms. He scooped her up onto his hips.

“There she is,” Kipexo said lovingly. “Our big girl. How was your day?”

“Mama G didn’t let me wear my skirt,” Valreen said with a pout. Her eyes were more human than Teagan’s but only just. They were Ethan’s vivid blue in their centers where humans typically had irises, but the outer areas where human eyes were white were simply a lighter shade of the same blue. She had no pupils. She didn’t have any hair, unlike Teagan, but she also didn’t have fangs. Valreen had only three fingers on each hand compared to Teagan’s four, but both girls only had two arms. Valreen was significantly shorter than her sister was at her age, which was just over three solar cycles.

“You wore that skirt yesterday,” Teagan said as she joined them again. “We have to wash it first.”

“Can I put it on at home, Papa?” Valreen asked Kipexo, wrapping her little arms around his neck.

He chuckled. “You’ll have to take that up with Mama G, sweetheart.”

Valreen whined at that answer. Kipexo put her down, and she immediately went to Ethan, who passed Dex back to Kipexo before kneeling to accept her hug since she was too heavy for him to pick up now.

“Daddy, can we wash my skirt?” Valreen asked Ethan. “You and me can wash it? I can wear it tomorrow?”

“We’ll see,” Ethan replied, and he took her bag to carry for her then her hand. “Let’s go home and have dinner first.”

“Yes, please,” Teagan said with a groan. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving,” Kipexo said as they stepped back out into the hall. He held the door open for his family, smiling with pride as they all filed out. He waved to Teagan’s teacher before following after them.

Valreen chatted nonstop about her day as they made their way through the winding halls toward home. Teagan walked at Kipexo’s side and eventually took Dex from him. Besides Ethan, Teagan was Dex’s clear favorite. He fluffed himself in the girl’s arms and nibbled her nose and lips as she praised him, calling him beautiful and smart in three different languages.

At last, they came to the door of their home: a five-bedroom apartment built especially for their large and growing Raugon and human family. Ethan let them all in, and the scent of cooking food, fresh flowers, and home made Kipexo take a deep breath in and let it out on a sigh. Dex trilled as he jumped from Teagan’s arms and streaked across the room, Valreen squealed as Ethan wrestled her playfully to the floor to take off her shoes, and Teagan headed down the hall calling for Grolpre, who answered from somewhere deeper in the apartment, asking her how her day was. Shoe-free at last, Valreen was quick to follow her sister and ask her Mama G about her skirt.

Ethan laughed as he stowed away the girls’ shoes and kicked off his own. He shook his head at Kipexo, who could do nothing but smile.

This life was like night and day compared to the one Kipexo led not so long ago. His days of being a soldier and those months he spent sulking miserably after his accident felt like a dream, and not a good one. Those memories were veiled in loneliness and death now, and he couldn’t help but wonder how he was ever content living that way. The thought of denmates and children made his skin crawl in those days, but now? Now he couldn’t imagine his life without either.

This life was loud and colorful chaos full of love, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the universe.

Ethan gathered Valreen with promises to see to the fate of her skirt at last. They raced each other down the hall to the girls’ room, the last door in the hall. Sam called Teagan to the kitchen to have her taste test the meal he was cooking, the smell of which made Kipexo’s stomach rumble in anticipation as he wandered down the hall to the second door on the right. He leaned against the door frame and watched silently as Grolpre plucked clothes from a box coated in a thin layer of dust. She shook each item out, inspected it for damage, and either dropped it into a laundry basket at her feet or tossed it into a small pile beside the box.

Though the extra Raugon, human, and child were initially a surprise for the Lifreet the day they all started living here, they welcomed Kipexo’s entire family as if they’d been part of the deal from the start. Grolpre did the same kind of work on Dradaheirn as she did on Raug: helping soldiers work through their traumas. Though it was no doubt odd for some at first to discuss such things with a Raugon, of all people, Grolpre had a way with others that quickly broke down those barriers, and she soon found a place for herself amongst the Lifreet medical staff as a trusted and respected member of their team. Sam accompanied her to work in the beginning, but it turned out they had a knack for working with kids during difficult medical procedures, so they often helped out in the children’s annex nowadays.

They’d all come here to find their place and start a new life, and as far as Kipexo could see, they’d each succeeded.

The clothes basket was nearly full by the time Grolpre finally looked up and caught him staring. She smiled lovingly at him, and when she turned, her shirt was bunched up just above her large, rounded belly.

Without a word, he crossed the room to her and slid his hand across the bare skin of her belly. She giggled and put an arm around his neck. He touched his forehead to hers as the baby kicked against his palm. When she tilted her head back, he captured her lips and kissed her deeply.

It hadn’t happened overnight, but after several solar cycles of subtle looks and passing touches, Kipexo and Grolpre could no longer ignore their mutual attraction and sat their Earthlings down to discuss their feelings on the matter. To their surprise, both Ethan and Sam laughed, saying they wondered how long it would be before Kipexo and Grolpre stopped denying what everyone else could see plain as day. They’d already discussed it together many times and gave their master and mistress their blessings.

And now she carried his baby. Their baby.

Kipexo never expected to feel this way toward another after Ethan, and it wasn’t quite the same as the love he’d found with his Earthling, but it was close, close enough to make him want to take the last step.

“How do you feel today?” Kipexo asked.

“I feel great,” she said.

He raised a brow at her. “You forget that I’ve been in your condition before. I know exactly how you feel, and ‘great’ isn’t how I’d describe it.”

“You worry too much.”

“I worry just the right amount.” He softly kissed her cheek.

She sighed. “My back hurts today.”

He grunted. “I remember that. Can I do anything to help?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’m just wrapping up in here for today. What do you think?”

Kipexo looked around the room, picking out the changes from the day before. She’d put together the baby’s bed, which now sat against the left wall next to the same table they’d used when Valreen was an infant. The new dresser sat under a back window that looked out at towering blue trees and the lightly falling snow of a mild Dradaheirn winter. On the right wall, several of Valreen’s drawings had been framed and hung on proud display. They were perfect décor for a baby’s room.

“It looks amazing,” Kipexo said. “But please tell me you didn’t assemble that bed yourself.”

“And hear you lecture me about it for the next week? Sam did most of the work and all the heavy lifting.”

“Good.” Kipexo nodded down at the box in the middle of the floor. “Are those Valreen’s old clothes?”

“Yes. I dug them out of storage so I could go through them and see what we could use this time.”

He remembered the many bright pink and frilly outfits Valreen had worn since she was born and asked, “What if it’s a boy?”

“Some pink in his wardrobe won’t hurt,” Grolpre replied. “But I’m mostly picking neutral colors. There’s plenty to choose from.”

“Send me a list of anything you’re missing, and I’ll place an order from Raug.”

“Let’s wait a bit until we know for sure. If it’s another girl, we won’t need to buy anything at all for a while.”

Another girl. The thought made Kipexo chuckle. The two they already had made his head spin, but he loved them with every fiber of his being. He thought he was protective of Ethan, but those girls were his world in a way nothing and no one had ever been before.

Another girl.

He secretly prayed it was.

She’d be as stubborn as he was no doubt, like Valreen, and as pretty and smart as her mama… He didn’t realize he was staring at Grolpre’s face until she cocked her head and gave him an odd look.

“What?” she asked.

Kipexo swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. He couldn’t ask. He shouldn’t. He’d made a promise to Ethan long ago, and that promise meant everything to Kipexo. Making the same promise to another felt like a betrayal, but this desire in his heart wasn’t going anywhere no matter how much he ignored it. Ethan’s assurances from earlier weakened Kipexo’s long-held resolve, and the look of love and concern in Grolpre’s eyes shattered what was left.

“Grolpre…” Kipexo said quietly, his nerves flaring as he searched for the right words. “I… We… You know we’ve been…” He stopped, cleared his throat, and started over. “I want to ask you something.”

Grolpre’s eyes widened, but she didn’t reply, and Kipexo nearly lost his nerve. He was too far in this to back out now, so he rushed to say the rest before he froze entirely.

“Will you be my denmate?”

Grolpre was silent for a moment, then she started to laugh. She laughed so hard she was soon breathless, leaving Kipexo wondering what her reaction meant.

Eventually, she caught her breath enough to say, “Took you long enough… you stubborn thing.”

Kipexo chuckled nervously. “So… is that a yes?”

Still laughing, she replied, “Of course it’s a yes!”

He breathed a huge sigh of relief and swept her up into another kiss, stealing away the last of her laughter. When they broke apart, she rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes only to pop them open a heartbeat later.

“Oh!” she said. “Ethan. Is he ok with this?”

“He is,” Kipexo assured her.

“Sam—”

“Is also fine with it.”

“You three have been scheming.”

“Technically, our Earthlings have been scheming on both of us.”

Grolpre clicked her tongue. “Don’t they always.”

Kipexo nuzzled her cheek. “How long until dinner?” His hand clutched the back of her shirt suggestively.

She chuckled. “Not long enough.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Oh, will you now?”

Kipexo was just leaning in for another, more heated kiss when Valreen’s little voice rang out as she ran down the hall. “Mama G! Mama G!” Kipexo groaned then snorted as he let Grolpre go just as the girl came skidding into the room. “Daddy is washing my skirt! Can I wear it tomorrow? Please?”

“Hey, you guys,” Teagan said as she came to the door. “Dinner’s ready.”

Kipexo and Grolpre exchanged matching smirks.

“Later?” Kipexo asked.

“Later,” Grolpre agreed, and she sealed her promise with a quick kiss on the lips before they followed their children to the kitchen.

*****

Hours later, Kipexo woke in the dark in Grolpre’s bed. He stretched and rolled and tried to go back to sleep, but just like every time he woke in the night in any bed but his own, he couldn’t get comfortable. He tried to get up without waking Grolpre, but she was a light sleeper and turned with a groan as soon as he folded back the blankets. He rolled over and kissed her on the cheek.

“Go back to sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll send Sam in.”

“K…” she mumbled.

Kipexo got up and crept out and down the hall to his and Ethan’s shared room. It was the door at the very end of the hall, set apart from the others for various reasons. He let himself in and crossed the room to the bed where Ethan and Sam were both sound asleep, curled around each other in a tangle of limbs and bedding. He gave Sam’s shoulder a gentle shake.

Sam woke with a grunt, looked up at him through one slit eye, and immediately sat up and threw their legs out of bed. Though the Lifreet had offered Sam the same treatments as Ethan once they realized another Earthling would be living with them permanently, Sam wasn’t interested in extending their life. As a result, where Ethan looked exactly the same as he did when they first arrived on Dradaheirn, Sam had aged a bit. It showed in their face and in the few tiny grey hairs along their temples. They still carried the same stuffed hebin, though, as they padded their way sleepily down the hall to their mistress’ room.

Kipexo crawled into bed with his Earthling, and it wasn’t until he pulled Ethan close against his chest that Ethan woke with a soft snort.

“You should be with Grolpre tonight,” Ethan whispered.

“I was,” Kipexo replied. “But now I want to be with you.”

“She just became your other denmate, Kipexo…”

Kipexo rolled, pinning Ethan beneath him. “Let’s get one thing straight, boy. I love Grolpre, but I need you, and that’s never going to change.” He ground his hips against Ethan’s. “This desire, this love, this need is the foundation of our entire lives, our roots, and I will always come back to it. As long as you’ll have me.” He leaned down and kissed Ethan, delving his tongue into the Earthling’s mouth until they were both breathless. “Do you want me?”

“Always,” Ethan murmured.

Kipexo stripped Ethan in seconds, tearing what cloth wouldn’t cooperate. Ethan shuffled Kipexo’s pants down, and the master kicked them off the bed.

“I want you on your hands and knees,” Kipexo said, his voice low and growly. He slid off the bed and yanked the covers to the very bottom of the mattress before going to the large chest in the bottom of their closet and retrieving their bottle of lube and his new favorite gag. It had a rubber O-ring instead of a ball or bit. Kipexo tossed both items onto the bed by Ethan’s feet then crawled up onto the mattress behind him.

Kipexo picked up the gag first and leaned over his Earthling. “Open up,” he ordered, and Ethan opened his mouth, accepting the ring between his teeth that held his mouth wide open instead of stuffing it. The point of this gag wasn’t to silence but to turn every little moan and whimper into a loud cry, and Kipexo couldn’t get enough of that lately. He buckled the gag tight at the back of Ethan’s head then leaned down near his ear. “I’m going to pound my fist in your ass and touch myself to all the delicious sounds you make while I do.”

Ethan moaned loudly.

Kipexo spanked Ethan’s ass hard enough to leave an immediate handprint on his skin.

“Fuck,” Ethan said around the gag. “Harder.”

Kipexo obliged, slapping Ethan’s other cheek so hard the spot would likely welt.

Ethan cried out and hung his head, sticking his ass out and spreading his legs in invitation.

“Good boy,” Kipexo praised. He picked up the lube and slicked two fingers with it, quickly finding and slipping both digits into Ethan’s ass without difficulty. His boy was used to taking everything he had to give now, and all he had to do was warm him up. “Relax that hole for me,” Kipexo urged as he slid a third finger in. “This needy little ass loves when I make it gape, doesn’t it?” He spread his fingers, stretching Ethan’s ass as wide as he could before adding lube to his hand. He was knuckles deep inside Ethan, but with a few little thrusts and just the right amount of pressure, Kipexo’s hand slipped in clear to the thumb.

Ethan moaned and arched his back, pressing himself into Kipexo’s hand, begging for more.

Kipexo spanked Ethan again, enjoying the feel of the Earthling’s ass clench around his hand when he did. Ethan cried out as his master struck him four times, and by that point, drool was beginning to drip from Ethan’s chin onto the sheets below. The sight always drove Kipexo mad. He fucked his hand in Ethan’s ass over and over until he knew Ethan was ready for more, then he worked his thumb inside, slowly pushing deeper as Ethan’s body quivered and stretched around him.

Ethan whimpered as Kipexo’s hand slid in past the last knuckle, and the boy’s ass expanded then contracted around Kipexo’s wrist. The heat of Ethan’s body wrapped around his hand made him want more, so he started thrusting, slipping a little deeper with each new plunge. Ethan began to moan with every thrust, and they found a rhythm that was music to Kipexo’s ears. The squelching slip of his arm going deeper and deeper into his Earthling’s body next to Ethan’s intensifying moans was intoxicating, and he only got his arm in halfway to the elbow before he started stroking his hard, aching cock.

“We’re going to get me in past the elbow this time, aren’t we?” Kipexo asked. He shoved his arm in another inch and Ethan croaked out a helpless cry. Kipexo’s own desires were sweeping him away at the sight of his boy kneeling and drooling on the bed with his master’s arm buried in his ass, and he tightened his fist around his cock, teasing himself relentlessly while refusing to let himself come. He was three-quarters of the way to his elbow now, and this was the deepest they’d managed to go so far. Kipexo pulled his arm out to the wrist and slipped it clear back in. Ethan sucked in a breath and whimpered, rocking himself in rhythm with Kipexo’s arm as he did it again.

“That’s it,” Kipexo said breathlessly. “Take me deeper. Fuck yourself on my arm. Good boy. Harder. Faster.” Another inch, then another. “Almost there.”

Ethan pounded himself onto Kipexo’s arm, and the noises he made as he did so were animalistic and carnal. Thank the gods their room was soundproof. Spit flowed freely from Ethan’s chin to the bed, which was soaked. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Ethan chanted as he took his master deeper and deeper until, finally, Kipexo was elbow-deep for the first time.

“Good boy,” Kipexo said, and he jerked his cock faster. “Oh fuck you feel so good. Come for me. Come with my arm in your guts.”

Ethan screamed and burst into tears as he came. His entire body convulsed around Kipexo’s arm, and the feel of it tipped the master over the edge. Kipexo withdrew his arm long enough to spray his seed all over his lube-slicked hand, then he plunged it right back into Ethan, fucking him with his cum.

“Fuck, Ethan,” Kipexo muttered as he jerked from the force of his own orgasm. “My perfect boy. You take me so well.” Kipexo pulled his arm from Ethan’s ass and watched the boy’s hole quiver and gape. He leaned down and licked it, humming at the taste of Ethan mixed with his cum as he flicked his tongue in and out of Ethan’s wide-open ass. “You’re amazing. I could fuck you every minute of every day and never get enough.”

Ethan sank to the bed in an exhausted heap, and Kipexo went to their private bathroom to wash himself up. He brought back a wet rag and cleaned Ethan’s ass then unbuckled the gag from around his head. Ethan’s face was a mess of tears and drool, so Kipexo cleaned him up with his own discarded shirt. He picked Ethan up and settled him in his lap, holding him like he always did as the boy flew in subspace. By the time Ethan came back down, Kipexo was more than ready to cuddle up with him in bed and go back to sleep.

Ethan blinked back to reality and looked up at his master.

“Hi,” Kipexo said softly.

Ethan smiled wearily. “Hi,” he whispered. He turned in Kipexo’s lap, wrapped his arms around Kipexo’s neck, and fell to the side, dragging Kipexo to the bed beside him.

Kipexo laughed and worked the blankets back up onto the bed with his feet. He pulled Ethan close then covered them both up.

Ethan snuggled closer and kissed Kipexo on the nose. “I love you.”

Kipexo buried his nose in Ethan’s hair and snuffled the boy’s scent. The words didn’t come close to describing how he felt, but there was only one response to give as Ethan’s breathing slowed and Kipexo’s eyes drifted closed.

“I love you too.”

The End