That Which Is Desired :: XI: palter

Story by notIsaidthecat on SoFurry

, , , , ,

#12 of That Which Is Desired

Now, it seems Anjel is having second thoughts...


Anjel was curled up behind Akio, his long, heavy tail curled over her ankles, his warm body pressed against her back. He was running a talon up and down her side, smiling down at her. How simple it would be to just stay here in his lair forever, never leaving... hell, never leaving bed. He wanted to make love to his beautiful wolf forever.

After Akio came down from her climax, he'd crawled up onto the bed with her, laying next to her and pulling her into the position that they now snuggled in. Their hips were together, and Anjel could feel the heat of her sex between her legs. It was all he could do to keep from grinding behind her. He wanted her to know that she meant more to him than just sex... but of course, the sex was even more amazing than he'd ever expected.

Naturally, thinking about the sex was starting to awaken his already tortured organ. He'd avoided pleasuring himself while he was going down on Akio, resolutely setting his own hunger aside before he joined her in bed. Akio was tired--he'd known that, even though she never said anything to show it. She fell asleep in his arms hours ago, leaving Anjel awake to think, and to hold her.. mostly to hold her.

Anjel found himself nuzzling into Akio's ears, his heart rate rising before long. His organ hardened, pressing out of his sheath and into the soft fur of Akio's rear. Wanting to be gentle, the dragon brought his hand around her, lightly fondling a breast as he kissed the top of her head. Akio stirred, sighing softly, a blue eye cracking open. She looked back at him and smiled. Anjel felt her tail move between them, lifting and brushing against his straining organ.

"Hello," he whispered to her, pressing closer to her back after lifting her tail out of the way. His length pulsed against her buttocks.

Akio's soft, playful chuckle warmed him. "My Anjel," she muttered, turning halfway onto her back, leaning against him to give him a kiss. His tongue found hers and danced in the shared space between their muzzles before she pulled back, placing a paw on his waist. Anjel looked down to her, rejecting the sudden sadness he felt, staring into those blue eyes that changed his life from the first moment he saw them.

She bent her legs, pressing her rump against him in a way that shifted her body, allowing his organ to slip down and against the hot, slick lips of her sex. Anjel wrapped his arms around her, one arm angled down, his fingers probing at her entrance. Akio moaned softly, her hand finding the one that held her at her chest, interlocking with his fingers. She held onto him as he spread her lips with his fingers and pressed his shaft into her from behind. The new angle was closer to the method of her fellow wolves, and it opened up a new sort of sensation for Anjel; Akio seemed to know how he was going to move even before he started the motions. Her tunnel pulled him deeper, tighter, and Akio trembled in his arms, her mouth half-opened in a silent ode to pleasure.

Anjel hadn't realized his eyes were closed until he felt Akio's hand on his face, and he slowed his tender thrusts to look down to her. "Anjel," she said. He shuddered--how in the world did her voice still have such an effect on him? Akio smiled up to him.

"My rose," he answered, stroking her long and sweet. He could see the question in her eyes, and he smiled down to her.

"Anjel," she said, pausing again as he slid into her, deep, rubbing her in all the right ways. She licked her lips and looked back up to him, steadying herself with the paw that still rested on his waist. "I want you to make me your mate."

Anjel stopped his motions completely now, staring at the wolf he held in the most intimate of embraces. "What?" was all he could think to say. He was assaulted with emotions--should he be happy? For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the joy, only to be smothered with guilt from the knowledge of all Akio would be giving up. He knew in that moment that he could never take those things away from her, no matter how his heart broke.

Akio noticed that Anjel's previous vigor was flagging. His organ slipped out of her and she closed her legs, looking away from him.

"Akio," he said behind her, reaching around to turn her. She moved without a fight, turning over to face him, but she kept her head down. Anjel rubbed her ears back, kissing her forehead. "I..."

So many things were running through Anjel's head that he couldn't focus on one thought--couldn't give Akio just one reason why he denied her offer. He felt like a brute with her there, hiding from him, hurt--and he was unable to say anything to make her feel better. Anjel started to worry that this time, the damage was irreparable.

"I don't want to be without you," Akio said, as she'd said before. Anjel's chest ached.

"I want you to be happy," Anjel said. "I love you, Akio, but I'll never give you the family you want. I do not want you to regret your choice to be with me."

Akio remained silent for awhile, one of her paws tracing the edges of the scales on his chest. "I understand," she said finally.

"Once you're back home... once you have a mate, and some pups running around your feet, you won't even miss me," Anjel said quietly.

The mood was over, the intimacy once again out of reach. Eventually, Akio turned over on her side again. When Anjel cuddled up behind her, curling his arm around her body, she didn't move to avoid the closeness, but she didn't move to receive it, either. They slept, both of them restlessly, well into the afternoon.

Akio woke first. Sometime during her sleep, she had turned over and snuggled back into Anjel's chest. He was warm. His arm was draped over her still, his fingers grazing the small of her back as his body shifted with his breathing. She looked up to him, feeling the familiar tug of her heart as she did so. As much as Anjel was sure that he could never take Akio's chance for a life with her pack away, Akio knew that she would give it up to be with him. She would never be able to forget him. Her fingers rubbed the moonstone dragon that hung around her neck.

A small sound that came from behind her made her turn around--a scuffling, and Akio knew for sure that there hadn't been anyone else there the night before. A white dragoness stood in the entryway to the chamber, a hand on the cool stone wall. She was staring at Akio, her eyes very wide, but a little smirk played at the corners of her muzzle.

Akio scooted back against Anjel, startling him awake. He placed a hand on her shoulder, but looked right past her to the pretty dragoness waiting by the hall. Akio glanced from one dragon to the other, weighing the emotion in Anjel's eyes, and the judgment hidden behind the female's.

"Rayvenn," Anjel said, and the way he said her name made Akio's heart ache.

The petite dragoness moved into the room, her hips swaying just so, the pale violet silk clinging to her scaly form in ways that made the simple garb almost vulgar. "Hello, Anjel," she said, giving a perfunctory glance to Akio, as if to say that she hadn't forgotten about her.

Anjel's arm came around Akio, as if to cover her--a motion that Akio felt was ridiculous, considering how much time she'd spent naked in the recent past, but it reminded Akio that Anjel hadn't forgotten about her, either.

"You've grown," her dragon said behind her, finally sitting up and locating Akio's cloak. He picked it up and covered her with it. Akio sat up, also, pulling the soft lining closer as she scooted back against the wall, away from the two dragons. Anjel didn't even look at her.

Rayvenn was beautiful, even for white dragon. Her body was slight, built similarly to Nigh. Beneath the silk, breasts were evident that would have made the little blue dragoness blush. Her eyes were not as deep as Anjel's--more a pale, moonlit yellow. Akio found herself very uncomfortable with the way Anjel was looking at Rayvenn.

"So have you," the dragoness said, tilting her head shyly. Those pale eyes flitted to the exposed treasures in Anjel's lap. Blushing, he turned from her view, stepping off the bed and into the trousers he'd worn the day before. At least he had the grace to glance Akio's way apologetically.

Rayvenn was stepping closer, her bare talons moving almost silently over the tiled floor. Anjel turned to face her after lacing his breeches, blushing again. Akio hated the dragoness, even if simply because she could make Anjel blush like that.

"So... why did you come here?" he asked, taking a small step backwards. Rayvenn stepped forward, still closing the gap between them.

"I missed you," she said softly. "Papa said you were back, that you were staying here. Mama is more than a little upset that you didn't stop by to see her."

Anjel shrugged modestly. "She could have flown here with you."

Rayvenn tilted her head at him. "She was injured, one of her wings. She'll never fly again. I'm surprised you didn't know."

"I didn't."

The little dragoness came to a stop a few feet away from Anjel, her head tilted up to look at him. Akio felt the agony of realizing what a beautiful couple they made. She knew instantly that if she were to go home to her tribe, Anjel could be happy with Rayvenn.

To save her heart, Akio detached herself from the scene she was currently witnessing.

"I've missed you," the dragoness repeated, her fingers grazing a pelt that lay across the bed. "What you did for me, back then, I never got the chance to thank you for it. You did the right thing, Anjel. They shouldn't have banished you for it."

Anjel frowned. "I needed the lesson," he said. "I was too proud."

Rayvenn shook her head slowly. "No, they were too proud." She came even closer to him, this time placing a hand on his chest. "I'm glad you're home."

"Akio," Anjel said suddenly, looking over to her. His face was a mask--she couldn't read his emotion. "Why don't you go wash up? You remember the way to the spring."

She stared at him, disbelieving, but shortly she remembered her place and, gathering the cloak around her, she slipped off the side of the bed. "As you wish, m'Lord," she forced out, skittering away before she let the tears escape.

Akio followed her nose to the springs, dropping the cloak and slipping behind the warm waterfall, desperate to have a private place. Her body shook with her sobs as she fought to keep them quiet. Why, just when Akio knew she was ready to spend her life with Anjel, did this pretty little dragoness have to show up and take everything away? Akio slumped into the water, her head pressed against the natural stone wall.

Slowly, she recovered from the initial pain. Akio put her mind to washing herself, fending off new bouts of tears with the stern thought that crying would not make anything better. Anjel deserved to be happy, she thought... and Rayvenn could give him a family, too. She knew Anjel would be a great father.

Once she was dried off, Akio donned the fur-lined cloak again and ignored the pang of heartbreak she felt as she caught a whiff of Anjel's musk. She tediously picked her way back through the tunnels to the chamber where she'd left the two dragons, anxious as to what she might find.

Anjel and Rayvenn sat on the bed together, their bodies turned intimately towards each other as they talked. Any awkwardness that Anjel showed previously had evaporated; he smiled, he laughed, and when the dragoness touched his shoulder, he did not blush or move away.

Akio watched them, envying the dragoness of the camaraderie.

Rayvenn noticed Akio first, and when she glanced her way, Anjel looked over, his joyful appearance of only a moment ago now suddenly gone--replaced with guilt. Akio lowered her gaze and walked over to the dragons, looking one last time up into Anjel's amber eyes before dipping down, crouching on the floor at his side, as she had done so many times previously for Falqon.

Anjel's hand grabbed her arm, wrenching her up. She felt her ears flat against her head, but forbid the tears that formed in her eyes to fall. She couldn't look at him and stared, instead, at the dragoness who had changed everything.

"What are you doing?" Anjel hissed at her, then took her jaw in his hand and turned her head to face him when she didn't reply. "Akio."

She looked down her muzzle at him, unable to lower her head in his firm grip. He didn't look angry at her, just confused. Akio stole a glance at Rayvenn. The white dragoness shielded her interest with a look of tried politeness.

Anjel loosened his grip on her, instead wrapping his arm around her waist and trying to pull her down on the bed next to him. Akio didn't have the will to fight him, so she sat down meekly.

"Perhaps I should leave," Rayvenn said, placing a hand on Anjel's knee. Akio stared daggers at it and Rayvenn pretended not to notice.

Anjel looked at Akio before answering, his own pain unhidden on his face. She met his eyes, afraid that he might realize how much she was hurting, that his heartbreak was only mirrored now by hers. Anjel looked over to Rayvenn and nodded, stroking back Akio's ears as he stood. Rayvenn stood with him.

Akio stayed on the bed as Anjel walked the dragoness out. Their farewells must have been short, for it was not long before Anjel came back to her. He stood a few feet away from the bed, looking at her, his countenance a tempest of emotions. Akio looked up at him, feeling the lump rise in her throat again.

"Why are you acting this way?" Anjel asked quietly.

Akio straightened, holding the cloak tightly around herself. "You have feelings for her," she said accusingly, instantly regretting the tone of her voice.

Anjel lowered his head, his crest rising slightly. "We grew up together. She was like my little sister."

"Was like," Akio muttered, moody. "The way she looked at you. I know there's more..." she paused, her voice hitched on a sob. Quickly, she turned her head into the cloak, shifting away from Anjel, too conscious that he was rushing to her side.

"Akio," Anjel cooed, "No, no, no. My rose, don't cry---don't be sad. Gods, no." He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. He stroked her back and kissed her tears until she buried her face against his chest, crying quietly.

Eventually, Anjel began to speak.

"I was not given to the fellowship at birth, like the other ghosts. My father was highborn, and I was one of twins, the first sons given to him by his mate. My father thought to keep me, but eventually he was pressured into sending me away to the fellowship in the mountains. I was older, I hadn't been submitted to their brainwashing from birth.

"I was too young to fall in love. Rayvenn was the only other dragon there besides Diamon and Ghaleon, and we bonded. We were playmates, but never more. Neither of us was interested in anything more.

"Once we were a bit older, but still quite young by dragon standards, we were often sent to market to buy things for the household. Candles, linens, food that we could not grow or hunt ourselves. It was always exciting to go to town, to be among the other dragons. I never understood the superstition about white dragons the way that Diamon and Ghaleon did, and I could never accept it the way that Rayvenn did. So, when the group of adolescent males snatched Rayvenn and bore her silently away, I did not stand by and let them rape her. I chased them through the marketplace.

"At first, Rayvenn was quiet. She expected this sort of thing from life, being what she was. When I cornered them, the other dragons started to rip Rayvenn's clothes off. That's when she started to cry, to beg for them to let her go. I don't remember what they said, exactly, before I tore into them like a demon.

"I did not intend to kill any of them, but one of them did die."

Akio was looking up at Anjel now, her ears pressed forward, listening. His gaze had been distant as he remembered, and in the quiet now, Akio saw that he was replaying the events in his mind. Anjel looked back down to her and tried a smile, his talons rubbing circles on her back.

"Rayvenn is important to me, but she's not my lover. I never wanted to be with her, the way I want to be with you."

Akio's fingers tugged at the pelt she held bunched at her chest. She wanted to tell Anjel that he should be with Rayvenn, because she could make him happy and give him children, and he could be with other dragons. And yet, she selfishly wanted to cling to him, to claim him as hers forever. Akio simply did not want to imagine how life in her tribe would be if Anjel did return her. Would anyone take her? When her mate mounted her at night, would she be dreaming that it was Anjel?

Akio turned away from Anjel, looking across the bed. The pelts were still rumpled from their stunted lovemaking earlier that day. She suddenly felt very tired. Her eyes burned and her head ached from crying. "I'm tired," she told him distantly. Anjel's arms loosened around her, letting her move away to lie down on the bed.

He didn't join her. Instead, he pulled one of the heavy pelts over her, to keep her warm. Before her eyes closed, Anjel crouched down beside the bed in her view, placing a tentative kiss on her nose. "I do love you," he said. Akio blinked at him sleepily, unable to bring herself to reply. Anjel stood up and moved away, leaving Akio to sleep in peace.

Hunger woke her. She had lost all sense of time--was it morning or noon? Midnight? Anjel was nowhere nearby. She got up and stretched, brushing her fur flat where it stuck up from sleeping.

Stepping out into the hallway, Akio could smell fresh meat. It made her mouth water instantly, accompanied by a hunger pang and a growl from her stomach. She went back and searched around the room for her clothes, but only found Anjel's blouse that he'd worn to visit the white dragons. Akio found herself holding the heavy cloth to her nose, breathing in his scent, before she pulled the shirt over her head. It was much too big for her, but preferable to walking around in her furred cloak.

She followed the hallways all the way to the mouth of the cavern, her arms wrapped around her torso to keep warm. It wasn't as cold as before; warm sunlight lit the area, angled perfectly to warm the cavern, but it was still cool. Anjel was rinsing his hands in a bucket. Off to the side, three rabbit pelts were stretched out on wooden frames to dry. The carcasses were hanging from a pole that leaned against a wall, blooded and ready to cook. Anjel looked up when he heard her approaching, standing and shaking his hands dry. The water in the bucket was red.

"Feeling better?" he asked her, his voice reserved.

Akio tugged at the fabric that covered her paws--the sleeves were much too long for her frame. "I'm actually hungry," she said, looking over towards the rabbits. Anjel smiled to her, walking around the bucket. He stepped behind Akio and wrapped his arms around her.

"This is quite possibly the sexiest thing you could ever wear," he rumbled in her ear, nuzzling. Akio's eyes widened a bit, but she couldn't help herself from smiling. Her paws came to his arms, holding them closer.

"I'll wear it every day," she said, "if you'd only let me stay with you."

Anjel's head lifted a little. "You know you're welcome in my home as long as you like." She could feel him pressed up against her.

Akio shook her head. "I don't want to be just your guest... your bedmate. I want to be yours, Anjel." She steeled herself, taking a deep breath. "How can I believe you love me, if you won't take me forever?"

The dragon was quiet, but Akio heard him sigh over her head. He turned her around and she peered up at him. "How can you not believe I love you?" he asked, hurt. Before she could answer, he bent his neck and smothered her words with a kiss, tentative at first. As he grew confident, he picked Akio up and carried her to a wall nearby, his fingers pushing the oversized shirt up over her hips. Anjel unlaced his breeches with one hand as Akio held onto his neck, still locked in a kiss that had turned from shy to passionate in mere moments.

He was already hard, baring a hunger of his own. Akio gasped with the suddenness that he thrust into her, his dragon size stretching her without any slow, comfortable strokes to prepare her. She clung to him as he placed one hand on the wall beside them, the other cradling her rear against his vigorous movements. Anjel slowed after a few moments, breaking the kiss to take a panting breath, staring into Akio's blue eyes.

"You bring me to life," he said.

"I could never go back," Akio whispered. "I would never stop thinking about you."

Anjel's muzzle dipped, kissing and nibbling at her neck. Akio shivered as he held her there against the wall, impaled. She hugged him with her thighs. His strokes were quickening again and Akio could feel his knees shaking. As his organ hardened further inside her, she felt the tickling edges of her own orgasm; the growing heat, her tightening muscles. "Anjel," she whispered, and he trembled beneath her paws.

"We can't," he began, panting, and for a terrible moment Akio thought that he was going to back out. "We can't take it back. Dragons mate for life."

Akio's thighs clenched around his waist, her hips rocking to take him in the best she could in the position. "So do wolves," she murmured against him. "Please, Anjel... make me yours."

Her dragon groaned, pushing into her almost roughly, his dull talons scraping on the wall. Akio felt the thick shaft inside her throb, pushing against her walls, nudging her over the edge of her climax. She moaned into Anjel's shoulder as he gave into his own end, pumping his seed into her deepest recesses. He held her against his hips, his body quaking as their twin orgasms rocked against one another.

Anjel lowered himself to his knees, still holding Akio tightly. He looked at her and smiled, raising a shaking hand to rub her ears. Akio kissed him. "My rose," he said quietly.

The sound of gravel falling to the cavern floor made both of them look back towards the entrance of the cave. Rayvenn stood there, her pretty little mouth open just barely, her eyes narrowed in a way that made Akio very nervous.