Crucible of Fate

said huskily, my voice deeper than usual and scratchy because I was tired.
    “So you made it clear to him that it was me.”
    “Of course!” I huffed. “But he doesn’t really want me anyway, not really.”
    “No?” he fished as he stood up and patted my shoulder to get me to follow.
    “No, I think something happened back at home and he got scared and came to see me.”
    “Why?”
    “Because if he chose me, even though I’m a man,” I said as I rose and followed him away from the table, “no one would question him. I’m the semel-aten, right?”
    “But what? If he finally chose to be gay, others would question him?”
    “Maybe.”
    “But if he is the mate of the semel-aten, it would be okay?”
    “Yeah.” I shrugged as he took hold of my bicep and walked me under the canopy of a shop, around a display of some kind and then out into an alley.
    “Why is he questioning now? What’s with the timing?”
    “That’s what I asked,” I almost purred, very content to be manhandled behind my mate, led to wherever he was taking me. “Where are we going?”
    “So what did he say?” He ignored me, leading me around the side of a building to a door he opened and pulled me through.
    “He didn’t answer,” I said, glancing around at the tiny room, hung with runners of gold and dark blue silk. There was a table with a pitcher of water on it and one glass, a dark bowl of glistening, scented oil, and a freshly made cot. “What are—you know I still have to talk to the semel and—Yuri!”
    He shoved me back against a wall, not hard, but firmly, and then kissed me. It wasn’t his usual claiming, devouring kiss; this one was gentler than normal, slower.
    “What’s—” I kissed him back, dragged my tongue over his. “—with you?”
    “It’s done, I see that now,” he answered, putting his hands on the sides of my neck as he opened my mouth wider, suckling, nibbling, then pressing into me gently, drawing each kiss out. “I’m not worried about Koren Church anymore.”
    “Why—” I pushed my tongue deeper into his hot mouth, tasting, the whimper in the back of my throat making him smile against my lips. “Why would you ever worry about Koren? I already—”
    “I know,” he said, moving his hands to my hips as one languid, drugging kiss became another and then another, each one building, each one making me need a little more. “It’s done.”
    When he parted my thighs, the whine was involuntary and much hungrier than I would have liked. “What’s done?” I was trying to catch my breath.
    “You and me,” he answered, fusing his mouth to mine. He unbuckled my belt and undid the button on my pants before shoving them, along with my briefs, to the floor.
    Him and me? “Yuri, what—”
    “Shut up or someone will hear us,” he said, and I realized his pants were already down, puddled around his ankles as he reached for me.
    “What—oh.” I bucked forward into his big, strong hand, now slicking up my cock with the oil from the table. It smelled like citrus and musk all rolled together.
    “We’re not done,” I gasped as he stroked me from balls to head, pulling hard, how he knew I liked it.
    “Not with each other, but with worry or uncertainty, we sure are. From right this second, I know you choose me.”
    I felt my stomach flutter at the sound of his voice, the faith in it, and the possessiveness. His eyes, locked on mine, were hot, his pupils blown with desire.
    “I missed you.”
    “I know you did.” He smiled suddenly, and it was beautiful, full of trust and heat and surrender. “Now just fuckin’ have me.”
    It was his yearning, his submission that flipped a switch inside me. I spun him around and bent him over the bed.
    He trembled and moaned, and the animal inside of me recognized prey.
    “You take it,” I demanded, snarling. “Spread your legs.”
    He obeyed quickly, and his moan was sweet as I grabbed hold of his big beautiful ass and parted his cheeks, revealing the pink puckered hole.
    “Grab your cock.”
    The second his hand moved, I positioned myself and thrust. There was no gentle pressing, no slow breach; I shoved inside of him, the oil allowing for an easy glide even though his body tightened around me like a fist.
    “Domin!”
    I waited, even though I wanted to slam into him over and over. I held still until he got used to me filling him, stretching him, until I could feel his muscles rippling around me.
    “I have to move,” I said, my voice cracking