Flesh and Flame

Ari's POV

I came apart with a shattering scream. I'd never felt anything like that. And if what I felt earlier was incredible, this was something else entirely—like every nerve had caught fire and I was burning from the inside out.

But stars above… he hadn't even taken a single layer off yet.

And I was already out of breath, trembling from the sheer force of it all. I could barely hold myself upright. Was he torturing me? Or was this just what it felt like to finally be alive?

"Come here, little one," he said, his voice gravel and heat.

I tried to stand, legs unsteady, but his voice halted me. "Stay on your knees. I'm not done with you yet. I want to know if that pretty little mouth of yours is as untamed as your thoughts."

The air between us thickened. I swallowed hard.

"Take me in. But the minute you get careless, the consequences will be real. No teeth. Not too much pressure. Tell me you understand."

"I understand," I whispered. "I'll be careful."

"Good girl." The way those two words curled from his lips sent another shiver up my spine.

He stepped closer, still fully dressed, and placed two fingers inside my mouth, pressing deep until my throat reflexively tightened. I licked and sucked around them as he pulled back slowly. "Just like that. You'll learn."

He finally undid the closure at his waist, letting his pants fall. My eyes widened. He was… more than I expected. More than I thought anyone could be. Thick and long, pulsing with need. My hands, trembling but eager, reached for him.

I moved toward him slowly, like a predator stalking prey, letting my body sway with purpose. I knelt before him again and ran my fingers along his length. It twitched at my touch, eager, waiting. I leaned down, letting a long, teasing trail of spit fall from my lips before I began stroking him with both hands, my pace slow and calculated.

The look on his face—lids half-closed, jaw tight—fed something deep inside me.

I leaned in further, the tip of my tongue sliding along his skin, tasting the salt of his desire, and then I took him into my mouth. I moved cautiously at first, testing my limits, letting my tongue guide the rhythm. Each sound he made spurred me on, each groan and growl setting my body aflame.

When I looked up, his head was tipped back. I smiled inwardly, then focused again.

It was intense. My eyes watered, throat tightening around him. I pulled back when I needed air, signaling him with a gentle tap. He let go immediately.

"Sorry, Daddy," I whispered, flushed and breathless. "I need a second."

He just nodded, eyes dark with pride and patience.

I traced my tongue lower, licking his inner thigh, savoring the new taste of him, every part of him. His breath caught as I explored, gentle and slow, keeping him on edge.

"Keep that up, and I'm going to lose it," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

That's when I stopped. I wanted more—all of him. I looked up at him again, eyes wide with need.

"Wrap those lips around your teeth and open wide, little one."

I obeyed, and with a sudden pull, he guided me forward. His rhythm was rougher now, and I braced myself, focused on breathing, on not choking, even as tears stung my eyes. I whimpered through the intensity, but I didn't stop. I didn't want to.

"Almost there… just a little more," he said through clenched teeth. "Swallow. Every drop."

When he finally released, it was like a lightning strike. The warmth flooded my throat. I tried my best to take all of it, but once he let go, I gasped for air, dizzy and dazed.

He knelt in front of me, cupping my face.

"Good girl," he murmured.

And then everything went black.

I woke slowly, surrounded by something soft and warm. Ivy draped above me like a canopy, the soft flicker of fireflies lighting the edges of a dark cave. The air was damp but not cold. There was a fur-lined bed beneath me, thick brown blankets covering my body. Everything smelled like earth and magic.

I sat up, disoriented. "Where… where am I?"

His voice came from the shadows. "You're in my home. Behind the waterfall."

I startled, not realizing he was watching.

He stepped forward, candlelight casting golden shadows on his skin. His gaze was intense, but not unkind.

"This place… it's beautiful," I breathed.

"So are you."

I flushed. Gone was the Ari that had been so bold before. I felt… seen. Exposed. He'd brought me here, carried me while I was unconscious. He hadn't taken more than I gave.

"What kind of fur is this?" I asked, brushing my fingers across the soft brown blanket.

His expression turned guarded. "Selkies. Don't worry—I didn't kill them. They shed their coats when they walk on land. These were left behind… when they attacked."

I nodded slowly.

"So…" I licked my lips. "We haven't officially… mated yet. Right?"

He sat beside me on the bed, eyes meeting mine.

"We have. In Fey terms, the moment I kissed you, the bond began. But if you want it finalized—completely—I'll wait for your word. I know you're still pure. That matters. I won't take what isn't freely given."

He cupped my chin. "Say the word, and I'm yours."

My thoughts went silent. I reached up and kissed him.

He responded immediately, guiding me back onto the bed. One hand rested on my throat, the other tracing down my side. I felt like I was melting into the furs.

"This is going to hurt, little one," he whispered against my skin, "but I promise… I'll make it worth it."