Spilling Ink

Sprocket the Bronze Dragon

“Y’all g’on n’ git!”

Moonstone and I darted like spooked birds as soon as we heard the angry old janitor. We took wing out the window by the theater’s main entry and were skyborne; flying playful circles around one another as we rose on the index talon’s famous updraft. A few breaths later, we were up by the spires of the College - some of the only outwardly built parts - and gliding back towards the school.

The school, though mostly hidden within the mountain, still hosted an impressive facade. Balconies jutted out in a patterned array. The left wing, dedicated to Arcane Sciences, boasted grand, interconnected balconies, while the right side housed tiered landing zones for the dormitories. Glass light collectors dotted the mountainside, sprinkled like glitter on the granite.

My mind drifted as I saw the little engineering marvels. The glass lenses embedded in the most sheer part of the mountain provided light to the interior dormitory rooms via a system of lenses and mirrors. It was entirely mundane, requiring no mana. Each nest room needed a crystal diffuser for the beam of light entering through the wall. Some even used colored gems or prisms for “ambiance”.

Moonstone flicked his tail at me to get my attention. He pointed his snout left and right. I tilted my head left, so he pitched and yawed towards the large balconies of the science wing. I followed.

Moonstone picked the largest balcony for us to land on, but we still had to back beat our wings to slow down enough to not crash. A crash here was not just embarrassing; It was painful due to the cobblestone. Soft mulch covered the dormitory landing area, so drunk dragons flying back from the springs wouldn’t break their necks.

Several students, myself included, have woken up in the mulch pits, hungover and late for class.

We landed, adjusting our clothes with practiced ease. A nervous blush colored Moonstone’s cheeks as I tilted his chin up and kissed him. He melted into my touch, and I wrapped my wing around us, savoring the warmth of his body against mine. I looked into his pretty blue eyes, then pulled and turned him so his back was to my chest. I was sitting over him, and could more comfortably wrap us in my wing. He relaxed further in my embrace, and leaning down, I nuzzled his cheek. His body was warm, and the little scales on his face tickled the tip of my nose.

“It’s such a pretty day out.” He said.

“You know what they say, ‘God Smiles on the Silver Talons’.”

Moonstone giggled at my thickly sarcastic quote. “Whose God exactly is smiling?” He bantered back.

“The god of my home town.” I said matter-of-factly. “Don’t you know I was lucky enough to be born a town that practices the one true religion?”

Moonstone sincerely laughed into my neck, and I joined him after a moment of still trying to look serious and stern. Moments passed, we settled and gazed comfortably at each other.

“So…” he said.

“So?”

“So, do you want to go on a date with me, uh… like right now?”

We had spoken little since the theater about 10 minutes ago. Did we really just stand there making out for so long?

“Absolutely. When’s your next class?” I asked.

“4 after noon.”

It wasn’t even midday yet, judging by the sun.

“Do you want to get lunch in town?” I asked.

He nodded into my chest, in no hurry to leave the warm pocket I made with my wing.

He’s still so nervous whenever he has to speak. I looked down at the dragon running his cheek against my chest scales. I want him to keep opening up to me.

His eyes were closed, and he was wearing a content smile. Everything in me suddenly needed to protect him. The wash of sudden emotion was dizzying, and I tucked my wing further around us to touch him more.

I kissed the top of his head and spoke. “Sorry, but you can’t get too comfortable in the warmth. We’re going back into that bitter air again.”

“I know.” He said forlornly. “Five more minutes?”

“We’re already cutting it pretty close with the PDA rules.”

The school prohibited students from carrying one another around or kissing for any amount of time outside of the dorm levels of the school. Holding each other like this could lead to a reprimand, but rules were subjective, depending on whoever had a stick up their rear that day.

I unwrapped both of us, and a shiver trailed down his spine to his tail. He pulled his cloak closer around him.

“See you down there.” I winked at him and then jumped backwards off the balcony. After extending my wings and rolling to my front, I was on the updraft, and shot up past the balcony. Moonstone took off more traditionally and joined my ascent. We glided past the edge of the vertical and were again in relatively still air. Turning in a tight circle, I cut altitude by pointing a wingtip at the ground and maintaining the roll. Moonstone went for the more straightforward method of cutting back and forth.

Touching down, I stopped, but the world did not. My legs all tried to operate simultaneously, and I fell over. Laughing, I looked up to see Moonstone looking down at me, bemused.

“Dizzy.”

“You goof,” He teased, with a playful wing slap to my shoulder, “You should know better.”

“Oh, I do.” I grinned at him. “Knowing better has rarely done much to stop me.”

***

We arrived at a tearoom. I’d heard of this tearoom because of its multi-species accessibility. Soft velvety cushions allowed us to curl up in front of the low tables. They even had little leather talon guards for guests who didn’t dull them on their own. They designed the environment to be as cozy as possible for as many species as possible. It’s not that the human specific shops didn’t want to accommodate quadrupeds, like in other parts of the kingdom, but the vast majority of their clientele were local humans. Dragons, gryphons, and such only stopped by for “new experiences” or out of curiosity. This was, however, a distinctly multicultural and multi-species space. Low, wide couches; adjustable tables, and an extremely varied menu attested to this.

Dark wood and the scent of pine and hickory burning in the fireplaces were the first things I noticed. Soft music lulled me into the shop’s cozy comfort. Then Moonstone stepped in front of me in line. I looked at his rear for several heartbeats before I caught myself. A little less obvious there, Sprocket. I thought to myself. After that, the sound of small, infrequent pops from the fire joined the tinny music playing from a phonograph. I stared at the device for a moment, the Artificer part of my brain trying to reconstruct it from base parts. The quartz needle likely has a sound enhancement enchantment for amplification…

“Right this way, you two,”. The host said.

We followed and seated, as expected, at one of the quadruped compatible tables along the side of the teahouse. The server followed us to the table and asked if we needed a second to look, or if we already knew our orders.

“Yes, I do.” Moonstone said. “Just the house green tea, please.”

“I’ll get what he’s getting.”

With a curt nod, they left us at the table with a jug of water and two glasses.

“As much fun as Tyrannicide was, I’m glad to be onto something else.” I said.

“The Legate, The Keyser, and the Pharaoh?”

“Yeah! That one.”

“Well, now that I can get the benefits of that play ‘as many times as I like’, I do not mind moving on either.”

“Did you really use the theater club to kiss your crush?” I asked with a chuckle.

Moonstone scratched behind his head. “A little, obviously I still like being in the club, I was only referring to this play.”

“I’m just teasing. It’s pretty clever, actually. A sort of try-before-you-buy sort of deal.”

“I just wish it hadn’t gotten in the way of us actually getting together.”

The server returned with an ornate platter containing two teapots, cups, and pastries.

“The treats are compliments of the tea room owner, Mr Gregory.”

“Tell him he doesn’t have to, but that it’s appreciated nonetheless.”

“Very well, Mister Moonstone.”

After they walked away, I looked back to Moonstone, who rolled his eyes.

“What was that all about? Also, bread as treats for dragons?” I grinned and winked.

“Yeah, he clearly doesn’t know our ways, despite being a self proclaimed ‘multi-species’ entrepreneur.”

“I mean, that’s a pretty progressive goal.”

“Yes, but he simply views it as is an opportunity to make more money. He doesn’t care about unity, he just wants every species’ money.”

“Ahh. Well, these spaces aren’t created by the owners, anyway.” Moonstone gave me a curious look, so I continued. “These kinds of safe spaces and communities are built by the people that come together there, not some guy trying to make a coin off it.”

“I need to spend more time in places like this.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Obviously, I was very sheltered growing up. I missed out on a lot.”

“What do you mean, obviously?”

Moonstone looked at me, confused. Then his eyes shot open.

“Oh, gods. I never told you. Oh, And you wouldn’t know.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“Oh, you know. Uh… sheltered?” He offered.

“Okay, but what about that is obvious?”

After a bit more eye shifting and fidgeting, his shoulders slumped, and he spoke to the ground.

“Sprocket. I’m part of the royal family. My father is the Duke of The Silver Talon Mountains.”

That… made sense, actually. As memories of spending time with Moonstone re-contextualized, pieces fit into place, and that made sense. For example, I’d been an enormous influence in helping de-formalize his speech, but I had never stopped to ask about its origin. I put my face in my claws.

“Oh, gods. Are you angry? I’m sorry.” He said.

“No, Moonstone, I’m just realizing that I am an idiot.”

Now it was his turn to look at me quizzically. I continued.

“As you said a moment ago ‘obviously’. I should have realized sooner you were from a royal or noble family.”

“But that’s okay?”

“You’ve never acted like some blue blooded snob to me or anyone, for that matter, so yes, Moonstone. I can’t fault anyone for whose nest they hatched in.”

“That’s good. When I realized I hadn’t been forward with it, I was worried you’d think I was hiding it.”

“Eh, I don’t think I would have blamed you if you had.” I put a claw on my chin. “What do they do now, anyway?”

“We still do all the social traditions with the former noble families, and pretend we still have the authority of a real monarch’s family.”

“So stroking off in a mirror, I got it.” I winked with the deadpan joke.

He chuckled demurely, then placed his claw on top of mine and we enjoyed a quiet moment of hearing the multilingual hubbub of the other customers, the aroma of brewing tea, and the warmth of each other’s scales. As we waited for the tea to steep, I bumped my shoulder into his with the beat of the music. He smiled, and moved with the song as well, but before long, he began to softly, maybe even unconsciously, sing along. I only caught scraps, but from what I heard, his voice was beautiful, and he had a genuine connection with the lyrics of this song.

“Because I still miss you…”

“I miss those stormy summer nights…”

“I miss your clothes on my floor…”

“But most of all, I miss being spoken for.”

As the last notes of the song pattered out, Moonstone’s eyes shot open, and he turned to me.

“You have a lovely voice, Moon.” I paused. “Sorry, Moonstone. I didn’t ask if I could shorten it.”

“It’s fine Sprocket. I, uh… I miss being called moon.”

He picked up his cup to hide his face. I took a sip of my tea as well.

“I assume the last person who called you Moon was who made you connect with that song?”

He nodded at me, took a sip, and sat his cup down.

“There’s no need to dwell on it though. Let’s just enjoy now.” He said.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

***

Marquess Moonstone the Opal Dragon

Sprocket’s parting kiss still warmed my lips, like a phantom of him had remained, just to preserve the memory. Just to accompany me during our time apart.

We both had class during this time block, but had agreed to meet at the dining hall afterwards. I intended to invite him to my room.

My heart fluttered at the thought. The sturdy bronze dragon had not left my thoughts for weeks and every time I tried to ask to court him, my voice left me.

Was that even the correct term anymore?

Staring into the dark green of the chalkboard, my mind wandered. Sprocket was right between medium and large size, and he wore it well. He was lean and moved like someone with an excess of energy. In my mind’s eye, I could see him hopping around a workshop, happily wrenching on some machine, or contorted into some crevice to work on a part, only to emerge with little smudges of grease and dirt on his face.

I guess I have a thing for goofy, happy guys. I thought. My smile fell as I recalled an eagle-like face. I turned my inner eye away, towards later.

My mind slipped into thinking of Sprocket over me, and his breaths behind my ear, and how he’d hold me while…

I shook my head, banishing the thoughts. I knew what I wanted. I could feel it deep in me, but I couldn’t know if Sprocket would forgo tradition just to… mount me, rather than the other way around.

I tried to think of him under me, maybe facing up? I could put my claws on his chest while I rode him - dammit, no - I mean, while I was in him.

I’m helpless, I thought.

The song from the tea shop resurfaced in my mind, and with it, who connected me to it. I saw the gryphon’s face clearly. The mental visage nodded in a direction that felt like further into myself. Into my memories. I sighed and followed. I associated this face with boundless optimism, silly jokes, and deep, painful shame.

Why is this coming up now?

***

Five years prior

Hero’s beak didn’t detract from our kiss. The only actual difference in kissing a gryphon or avian person is that it looks strange from the outside. Being the one experiencing it, however, was just as fun and tender as any other kiss. I enjoyed how his thicker, stronger tongue dominated my thinner, forked one. His Avian foreclaws pressed me into the wall of the closet, while my own wandered from the downy feathers of his ribs to the feline fur of his sides and haunches. Our tails ran between his legs along the floor and played a similar game to our tongues. My advantage was the only difference.

“What do you want, Moon?” he asked into my ear.

I knew exactly what I wanted. As soon as these kinds of feelings arose in me, I knew I was destined to disappoint my family. With Hero’s claws all over me, and how badly I wanted him in me, I knew I’d never feel this way for a dragoness, or a female of any species. So I said damn it all and decided to be happy for just this once.

“You, Hero.”

Hero had been remarkably unsubtle in his advances. Since that first kiss, we’d found private places like this closet to kiss, cuddle, and touch, but we had yet to give in to our urges. For the next several wondrous hours, we could be, and would be, unaccounted for.

My father, or “The Duke” to everyone else, rarely even acknowledged the servants, so him visiting their wing of his mansion was unheard of. His mansion, not my home, not our dwelling, but his alone. He frequently reminded me I was a resident, not an owner.

“Moonstone.” He said, as my claws traced circles around his belly. He shivered for a moment, then sat his beak on my shoulder and purred.

Hero’s family were our royal servants, and therefore nobles in their own right. We had been close for years, but in one another we found someone who felt the same, that their born-in instincts would doom them to eventual banishment from nobility. From the tenuous political strings nobles and royals dared to call family.

What I wanted, dearly, was profane to this spiderweb family. My needs were a careless stone thrown through its intricate, delicate strands. Those of higher rank than I were all blood of mine, so to lie under someone, I would have to go “beneath my station”. As my father put it, or “be a whore for my lessers”.

I locked eyes with Hero, and gently pushed him back to give myself room, then got on my belly before him. I bit the end of my tail to pull it aside more than my muscles alone could. He got over me. I could feel my heartbeat, and I whined needfully as he pressed his chest into my back, brought his beak to my ear, and spoke.

“Moon, I’ve wanted to say this to you for months, but I couldn’t ever find… nevermind, Moonstone, I love - “

The closet door crashed open to reveal a confused looking elder gryphon, and an absolutely enraged slate gray dragon. I froze, but Hero jumped up quickly and spoke.

“It isn’t what it looks like!” He pleaded.

Both elders looked down his chest and saw the lie he couldn’t conceal. I tried to disappear further into the closet, but my rear hit the wall just behind me, and I yelped, drawing the attention of all three. I put my face in my claws and just begged whatever gods may be that I was dreaming.

***

A tear had come to my eye before I returned to the present. I blinked and felt it run down my cheek. The professor had already begun his lecture, and everyone besides me was furiously scribbling notes with pens or claw tips into tomes.

Anger rose in me as I recalled my father’s angry “lesson” afterwards.

“You will save your love for a dragoness who can give you progeny. No one cares if you dump your seed in servants or concubines, but you will sire our family’s future. You are the eldest son. It is your duty.”

Then more ranting, and something about never ever, ever again lifting my tail.

I never saw Hero again. My father fired his father from the staff, and my letters went unanswered. After we both became adults - three years ago - I finally got a letter back.

It was a wedding invitation, and it had a note scribbled on the back.

Father said you ruined our lives, but I only ever felt alive when I was with you. My fiance is making me send this, but please don’t come. I can figure out how to be happy with her.

Also, since I never got to say it: goodbye Moon.

***

Sprocket the Bronze Dragon

As the minute hand dragged itself past the half hour mark, I sighed. I may be as forsaken by the gods as I feared. The internal joke brought a smile to my face. The smile faded, however, as Mom’s face intruded into my mind. Suddenly, I was in no mood to ponder The Gods. I felt like spitting, but swallowed and stared at the professor as he continued his lecture.

I swore the Gods in common, just as everyone else did, and spoke with the religious heritage of my own Draconic tongue, but I cursed each God as often as I could. To ironically swear on Hekestuses Hammer or Ogkrig’s missing eye was my delight.

All just “stories created to explain nature”, “preserved words of greedy self-proclaimed prophets”, and “the illuminated delusions of the mad”. I knew all the common dismissals of religion, but they were just that: dismissals. They didn’t acknowledge the real danger of it. The contagious form of madness those stories, words, and delusions carried with them.

I stood and left the classroom, going to the restroom to wash my face, and self soothe the rage my ruminations had built up.

In the restroom, I connected my mana to the gem beside the sink bowl, right in front of a window. It tugged on my mana slightly and filled with water. I plunged my head into its frigid relief. The chill of the water made the despair, guilt, and fear feel smaller. There was only the simulated shock and the bit of adrenaline it caused. I easily squashed those feelings. Squashed like bugs under claw.

Pulling my head from the water, I felt that soothed happiness and charm come back, and I grinned out the window.

I walked back to class with my head held high.

***

Keeping our claws to ourselves on the way to my room was a feat worthy of human myth and bardic song.

As soon as we found one another in the dining hall, Moonstone whispered his invitation into my ear, and we forwent dinner. I also offered my room, as it was closer.

After making the turn through the doorway into my den, the smaller dragon’s weight assailed me and dragged me to the floor. Moonstone kissed me hungrily, and his claws wrapped around my wrists. The aggression was exciting and earnestly shocking, given his typically reserved demeanor.

Serenity poked his head out of his nest room.

“Oh… well. Y’all almost made it.”

Moonstone looked up from me, embarrassed, and scurried the rest of the way to my nest. With a chuckle, Serenity vanished into his own room.

I fixed my hoodie and scanned the room. Our den had four dragons, with a shared restroom on the left and a fire pit in the center. An interesting set of air mana enchantments piped the smoke out of the mountain, and we used the carved out seats around the fire for socializing.

Oh, right, Moonstone! I hurried into my nest.

Moonstone’s smile seemed forced, and his voice wavered in its attempt at a confident affect.

“I’ve been - uh - excited about this for a while.”

“Good. Is this your first - “

“Do you want to do this the normal way?” He asked suddenly, and all at once.

“The normal way?” I asked.

“Y- Yeah, where y- you lay under me?”

“Lay under?” I cocked my head at him. “Why are you using such old terms? Are you saying you want to top?”

“Top?” He asked.

My jaw fell open, and I looked at Moonstone in disbelief. Pieces started falling into place in my mind, and I seriously didn’t like the picture that was forming. Moonstone’s fake smile fell away, and he looked confused, then angry.

“I don’t know what that means!”

“The hells do you mean by the ‘Normal way’?”

We spoke over one another, and Moonstone stopped, but I didn’t.

“Cause it sounds like you’re saying that because you’re rich that you ‘get’ to top.”

“I just wanted - “ he started. I began to interject with an angry “what?”, but before the word left my tongue, I looked into his eyes, and I saw fear. It brought me back to my senses, and my heart caved in on itself.

“I’m sorry.” I said.

He took a breath and nodded.

“Sprocket, if I’m completely honest, do you promise to not laugh at me?”

At that, I bridged the gap between us and took Moon in my forelegs.

“I’ll keep your secrets Moonstone. Have I ever given you the impression that I wouldn’t?”

“No, I’m just… I’m not normal.” He buried his snout in my shoulder.

“I’ve known you for years, Moon. You’re safe with me.”

“I don’t want to- uh- top, as you said.”

“That’s not weird at all, Moon.” I said. “What- oh!”

My eyes went wide. This poor thing.

“You’ve never been with someone before, right?”

“I was close once, but… I don’t want to talk about that.”

I stroked the spot between his horns and wrapped him tighter in my wing.

“So, the noble families still believe that bottoming, er, ‘lying’ under another dragon is submitting?”

“My father always said it was a disgrace to our titles.”

“I’m sorry, Moon. You know that’s not true, right?”

“I didn’t know what you believed about all that. I didn’t want you to think I am a freak in the way my family sees me.”

“Damn, I was kinda hoping you were a freak.”

He looked up at me, and I winked. He smiled, and I continued.

“And to answer your question, not only I, but nearly everyone has moved on from those practices. It’s just the nobles and the grouchy old dragons who haven’t gotten tail in decades who hold those traditions up.”

“Do you still want to…”

Heat flared up in my belly, and a grin crossed my face.

“Of course.” I said. “But I have to ask, now that I know this is your first time, do you know about getting ready, or stretching?”

“I- uh- don’t.” He whispered. “I was always told that my body would tell me what to do if I were to wed or find a mate, and that if I was- uh, ‘craving a male’ to find a concubine or a servant.”

“That’s… deeply problematic. Did you ever do that?” I asked carefully.

“No. I respected my father’s staff.”

“Thank the gods.” I said. “Did you say ‘wed’ a second ago?”

“Yeah.”

“The nobles still do that?”

“Mostly in secret, as alliances between houses. Even I know how frowned upon that is.”

He wasn’t kidding. Marriage was an institution rejected by dragons after the fall of the Monarch. The abuses guised in the name of “arranged marriages” were a driving factor in getting the dragons to cooperate with the new government.

Moonstone stopped the history lesson in my head by putting his claw flat on my chest, then looking up at me.

“I would like to learn from you.”

“Well then, follow me. We’ll get cleaned up, and then we can get started.”

***

Marquess Moonstone the Opal Dragon

“Do you usually get this clean?” I asked as we walked back to Sprocket’s nest. We had undressed for the baths, and returned in just our scales.

Arriving in the warm, smallish room, Sprocket turned and spoke directly in my ear.

“No, not every time, but I intend to use my tongue on you.”

A shiver ran through me, and I gave a small whine in reply. He then licked my ear, and I gasped, falling to my haunches, and grabbing onto his shoulders.

“Oh, Gods Sprocket, I don’t know what to do.”

He dropped his voice to a husky whisper and chuckled before he spoke.

“That’s no problem, Moon. How would you like to be my student?”

I swooned at the use of my nickname, but externally I laughed nervously, and looked down, blushing.

“I- I’d like that.”

He reached for me, but then I spoke again.

“But,” I paused, “this doesn’t have to be- uh- acting?”

Sprocket’s voice returned to normal.

“In this context it’s called roleplay. And that’s fine. I don’t have to use the voice.”

“Maybe next time though.” I mumbled.

“Certainly.”

To my surprise, he lifted me and sat back on his haunches in his nest. I was then in his lap, belly up. The larger dragon placed a foreclaw on my chest, and our size difference became a lot more clear. I could stand under him without bending my legs a lot, and with both of us looking forward, his head would be right on top of mine. That… is a very nice thought.

The thought of my back pressed into his underside added fire to the want inside me.

“You’re already peeking out.”

I had to fight the urge to bring my knees together. Sprocket was looking between my legs and looked pleased, so I arched my back and pushed my hips up. My face burned, but something deeper in me craved the attention, so I displayed myself to the dragon I was mating with. No, wait. This isn’t mating, just sex, but… we are in a relationship; dating at least -

Sprocket interrupted my frantic thoughts.

“So, stretching prevents discomfort and potential damage. You can use a toy or your talons, just be extra careful if you haven’t dulled them in a while.”

Sprocket’s claw resting on my chest rose and fell with my breathing. I was craving his touch, and this just wasn’t enough. Fortunately, he continued.

“I’m going to put one of my talons in you. Just remember to relax, and that I’m going to go slow.”

Sprocket lifted his claw from my chest to retrieve a bottle of oil from beside his nest.

“Olive oil. A true classic.”

“You really like human stuff.” I said, as he dipped his index talon in the oil.

“I like stuff from all cultures. I think dragons are way too up their own ass about preserving traditional pride and whatever.”

“You’re even using human swears.” I giggled.

“I took a gap year and worked with a lot of humans and elves.”

“Oh, so we’re the same age? - !”

Sprocket applied oil to my tailhole, causing my voice to rise with the last word. He chuckled and returned one of his claws to my chest, while his other rested on my tail. I grabbed his wrist.

“Remember, relax and breathe.”

He slid the tip of his index talon in, and I gasped. The contact felt good, but I understood what he meant by discomfort. Slowly, he continued, and I took measured breaths.

“Okay, and now let me show you why you’re about to have a better time than I am.”

Using the soft part of his talon, a joint I think, he pressed up against a small knot I hadn’t realized was there. I groaned deeply as he stroked it, and I fully unsheathed. It felt wonderful in so much larger an area than stroking myself ever had. Even in the few times I put my own talons up there, I had missed it.

“Your cock is beautiful.” Sprocket said. He had stopped to stare, which gave me a moment to breathe.

“There’s one more thing.” He said, grinning. “I don’t have to use my talons, so I’ll give you another little demonstration.”

He looked into my eyes, and I didn’t just see desire. His eyes held a promise of safety I hadn’t felt with anyone before. I believed him, and I burned for him. I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d want to go on this terrifying, exhilarating journey with.

I nodded at him, still feeling the digit he had inside me. Sprocket then carefully removed the talon, slid me off his lap, then briefly contorted himself such that his snout was at the base of my tail.

He then licked around my entrance, and I moaned.

“Oh Gods, Sprocket.” I cried.

Then he stuck his tongue in me. What came from my maw could no longer be recognized as language. He focused on licking that spot from before as more and more of his tongue slowly slid in. He held my leg and my tail, but I still couldn’t help but squirm in his grasp.

The feeling was growing in me at every stroke, and I braced myself against the floor with my free foreleg. The other grasped around over his nest where my elbow wouldn’t let my claw find any of the blankets or pillows piled inside.

Once he withdrew, he looked up at me with a satisfied, almost smug, look on his face. I panted and watched him. His face held my eyes, and I just wanted to indulgently stare at him, memorizing every detail I could.

“Gods, Sprocket.”

“The nice thing about that, is I bet you didn’t even notice the stretching.”

He was right. The sensations of warmth and pressure eclipsed the soreness.

“Sprocket, please.” I mewled.

“Do you want to be on your back, or your belly?”

I responded by rolling over into his nest, landing amongst his bedding. My limbs were all tucked under me, so I was especially small compared to the dragon that moved to stand above me. I brought my tail tip to my mouth and pulled it aside.

“Heavens, Moon. That is so hot.”

I could already feel the heat radiating from his body. Then Sprocket moved his claws from each side of my head to my shoulders and pushed me further into the blankets and pillows of his bedding. Even though my rear was still resting on my calves, it was up in the air because of his weight on my shoulders.

He let go of one of my shoulders, and I felt his claw brush my leg as he reached back to line himself up. Everything in my body was screaming out for him. The emotions that welled up in me made me realize how insensitive jokes about crying during sex were. I wasn’t at that point, but I felt need for him.

He brought his snout to my ear and whispered, this time without the husky performative tone. Need had crept into his voice, and I shivered in anticipation.

“I’m still going to go slow. If anything hurts, tell me to stop.”

It didn’t hurt. Even that discomfort of stretching was gone, and all that remained was the wonderful fullness he provided. It felt like wonderful hours passed before his belly met the small of my back, but once it had, I let out my breath in a mix of a gasp and a moan.

“Please go, Sprocket”. I pleaded.

With a gentle touch, he turned my head to the side, kissed my cheek, and then nuzzled into my face as he began.

I had never felt so honest with someone, unable to help the sounds I vocalized, barely able to control my own pushing back into his thrusts. Lies had brought me safely to this school, and now I got to feel the earnest pleasure of being totally and completely vulnerable to someone. Sprocket was just the same, delightfully losing himself to his instincts as he pressed his face to mine, occasionally kissing or licking my cheek.

The feeling built in me for longer than I thought possible, my member being pressed into the softness of the blankets I lay on, and his weight pushing me back and forth against it was more than enough to get me there eventually, but feeling how he withdrew and then deliberately thrust every inch into me did far more.

“Sprocket, I’m so close.”

“I know, dear. I can feel it. I’m close too.”

Sprocket went first, and ground himself as deep as he could into me. He cried my name into my ear as I felt his throbbing, and how his muscles tensed in everywhere his body touched mine. I followed shortly after, less capable of language, animalisticly growling and biting a pillow in front of me.

Still panting, he withdrew and collapsed beside me. I turned the opposite way, so we were belly to belly on our sides.

“Sorry about the blanket.”

He laughed gregariously, and I joined him with my own demure chuckle. He pulled me in so I could lay my head on his chest.

“Gods, Moonstone. It’s no wonder I…”, his jaw snapped shut and his eyes went wide.

“What?” I asked, but then his facial expression said everything I needed to know. “Oh!”