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Our second morning in Lighthaven resembled the first: both Riane and I were slow to wake and loathe to do anything more. Aside from unavoidable needs, neither of us wanted to leave the comfort of our shared warmth. It didn't matter that my muscles had mostly recovered from the less-familiar exertions of walking for three days. What did matter, unfortunately, were Riane's injuries. Her paw pads were still a little tender, but I'd applied a balm every few hours to speed the healing.

Her wings were a different story. A nurse had carried out my health inspection the previous afternoon, and the tail end of the checkup had seen a surprise visit from Cairene, the chief healer for the gryphons of the Corps. I'd been given the balm, some other supplies, and strict instructions for the care of my flight partner until her weekly visit. This included regular, careful extensions of Riane's wings.

I plied her to a somewhat wakeful state with cool, fresh water, and then coaxed her to slowly stretch each wing. The room wasn't large enough to spread them fully, but that wasn't necessary for another day or two. I knew in my mind that it was for her own good. It didn't help much.

"It feels too stiff," she said, and pulled her primary feathers back towards herself. "Perhaps the stretching could wait for Cairene's examination?" Her voice only had a tinge of worry, but I knew the twitches of her ears and tail too well to be fooled.

"We'll be careful." My palm was braced under the feathers in a gentle but unyielding plea—I feared she'd clamp her wings to her sides and refuse my help. My other hand rubbed her neck. I'd never seen her this badly hurt, and it weighed on my heart. I hadn't been there when it happened, but at least I could support her in the present. "I'm sorry to push this, Ri, but we can't wait. It'll help. I promise. Do you trust me?"

She looked at me with those cyan eyes, still beautiful even through the faint edge of anxiety. "Always."

I leaned in close and pressed my lips to her beak. "Let me help, my mate. It's okay."

Her eyes closed a moment, and when they opened again I could see her decision before she acted. The feathers spread again, and I bent down to steady and guide the extension with both hands. When I looked back, a familiar spark had returned to her gaze. "Are you sure I cannot seduce you into forgetting this whole endeavor?"

I chuckled, and shook my head. "You'll have better luck seducing me as thanks for being a kind and devoted caretaker, oh troublesome one. Or maybe I can seduce you, as thanks for being a brave and cooperative gryphoness."

She gave me a sidelong look. "Promises, promises." It was good to hear mirth back in her voice, even if still tinged by doubt. "I suppose this is best done before Cairene sinks her claws in me for disobeying instructions."

"She would be merciless, I agree." I guided her through slow, easy flexing of each joint. The wing I held was more than several times my height. They never ceased to amaze, especially with the rich range of fire-red to maroon plumes. Still, there was work to be done. My heart tightened at her occasional hiss, but she reported no pain beyond dull aches when I asked.

"Okay," I said, giving her neck a hug and her beak another kiss. "Now for the other side."

Riane grumbled. "That is the more injured wing." And that was why I'd left it for last. She followed my hands' lead without complaint, and I could feel her fears ebbing away as her motions became easier.

"Better?"

"Seduction would have been preferable," she muttered, furling her wings, but then she nuzzled my cheek. "Thank you, Tor. I should not have feared so."

"I don't blame you for it. I'd be just as worried if I'd injured my legs. Or my arms," I amended. "I guess either way would mean I couldn't really fly on your back."

She nodded, then chuckled. "Or enjoy other mounting activities?"

"My dear Ri, you seem to have a fixation this morning." I moved my hand backwards and a little lower. "Should I work on lifting your tail next?"

"Mm. I thought only to tease, but you make a tempting offer." She rolled onto her back, careful of her wings, and settled into a lazy sprawl. I tried not to stare between her powerful thighs. "If not for your plans, I might just encourage you to take time with a thorough examination."

I kneeled beside her—also careful of her wings—and danced my fingers over her chest, then to her belly. A soft churr rolled in her throat as I smoothed down red-orange feathers down to where they ended and her tawny fur began. It was a difficult line to spot, sometimes, since the two overlapped; fur wove in between feathers as the plumes grew narrower and smaller, until after a short while they were nearly indistinguishable from the hairs. It was quite the curious trait, and some early philosophers had mused that gryphons were a union between bird and beast, imbued with the power of thought and speech by a deity or spirit.

We knew better now, more or less, but those were mysteries for the sciences. My thoughts at present weren't very highbrow.

"I'd say it's been a while since I've taken anything." My hand drifted to her taut belly with its short, downy fur. It was very hard not to stare. "Certainly too long since I've been properly alone with such a lovely gryphoness." Over two weeks, in fact, given that our last experience had been on the courier route in the Dagger Reaches before the arrival of our replacements. We'd teased each other several times since, but threat of discovery and other concerns had kept us from anything more satisfying.

My hand moved a few inches downward, and she took in a breath. I wasn't usually in the habit of pursuing sex like a half-desperate youth, but we had gone without for long enough. If my fingers edged any lower they'd be between her thighs. There was heat and soft, sensitive flesh where her fur parted just below that. It was all too tempting to refresh my memory. From the way she looked at me with beak parted and half-lidded eyes, I highly suspected the feeling was mutual.

Before I could offer to go further, there was a knock at the door. I could think of worse times to hear it, but that hardly made it less welcome.

"A moment," I called out over my shoulder. I pulled my hands back as Riane shifted her hind legs to a less compromising position, and we both shared a sour look. It took a moment to wipe the displeasure from my face before I could go answer the door.

"Good morning," said the oblivious man in waitstaff's clothes. He lifted the tray in his hand. "Breakfast for two, as ordered: fruits from the south wall orchards, fresh morning bread, an assortment of smoked meats, and seed cakes for your flight partner." At my invitation, he stepped into the room to place the tray on the table. "Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes, thank you." To my credit, I kept my smile mostly genuine—he hadn't known what he was interrupting, and he was both pleasant and professional. Once he left, I locked the door and sighed. "Breakfast is here, Ri. It might almost be worth the interruption."

"Bring it in," she trilled. I took the tray and re-entered the bedroom to find she'd reclined, somewhat, on the cushions. "I would invite you very close, my dear Torio, but I'm afraid hunger is winning over pleasure."

I chuckled and kneeled down next to her. "If my stomach weren't about to growl, I'd ask what I was doing wrong. Here." I fed her a piece of smoked beef, and brushed the backs of my fingers over her beak as she swallowed. "How's that taste?"

Her low murmur was answer enough. "I could get used to such pampering."

"Only the best for you, of course," I said, and bit into a rounded roll of morning bread. It was soft, still warm, and held hints of honey. Another followed it. We brushed against each other as we ate and talked in low, warm tones, but the moment for intimacy had passed.

The remote, repetitive route had changed us. Once we had agreed there was no real shame in rutting each other senseless, it had become an almost nightly ritual—it brought us closer, it gave us outlet for the tensions of the journey, and it felt pretty damn good besides. Mateship seemed the next logical step: neither of us were going our separate ways, nor could we ignore the deeper feelings we shared. But, now that we were out of the wilds, things might change yet again.

It was all uncharted territory, really. I didn't know how to navigate a proper relationship, let alone one where we had no small differences between us. Courtship and casual bedding, sure, but my past exploits had been purely chase, catch, and release—with myself on the line as often as not. Now I—we—had to build a future together if we wanted this half-mad experiment of love to work.

"What troubles you?" Riane asked, brushing her beak over my ear. Her cyan eyes held a smile for me, and I smiled back. The softness of her feathers against my hand, the smoothness of her beak, her features, her body, her upbringing—all of these were so very different from my former expectations of a lover, but Riane was better than I could have imagined.

Whether or not our mateship was possible, it was worth every effort.

Still, I thought about how to respond without giving the wrong impression. "Just wondering what we'll do to keep ourselves busy, what with your healers and my physicians all but leashing us to Lighthaven." The three months had been kinder to me than Riane, but I had my own share of stretches and exercises for muscles and tendons that hadn't fully endured many long hours in the saddle. "I know of a few places already, but it's a big city. There must be no end of places to go, people to see."

She nodded, and held one of the seed cakes in her beak while she thought. "Ah, 'erhaps," she said, muffled around the small disc. A mischievous glint in her eye answered my sidelong look, and she broke it apart before swallowing. "But what could we do together that would not attract undue attention?"

The question didn't have a ready answer. "We'll think of something," I replied after a pause, and gave a little shrug. "Mating in public is out of the question, of course."

"A pity." She ate a few of the berries I offered. As I gathered more, she huffed and shifted around, then rolled onto her belly with flattened ears. "Perhaps we should find me a new body, first."

"You okay?" I moved the half-empty tray aside as she scooted closer and plopped her head on a pillow. "Back acting up?"

Her ears folded back, and she seemed to resist looking away. "I do not wish to be a burden."

I snorted and ruffled her crest feathers. "Well, wish granted. You're not." Her feathers were worn nearly to their vanes where I'd sat in the saddle, and a pang struck my chest as I felt the changes in the muscles along her back. Even with a well-fit saddle, the wear built up—just as it had with her wings.

"If anything," I whispered, "I've been the burden." I hoped I'd never repeat whatever idiocy had driven me to allow the contract extension.

Riane lifted her head, and before I could say anything more, her beak touched my lips. "You have never been a burden on my wings, Torio." A soft churr rolled in her throat, and I pressed closer, hugging around her neck, until her voice lilted with mirth. "The message satchel, however, was a different story."

"Hah! I'm sure. We were probably carrying a brick of gold." My hands spread over her back, feeling around until she indicated a tense spot. She groaned as I started massaging the muscles, mostly in spots where the saddle had rested; it was something I'd done fairly often on the contract run, and I suspected it was partly responsible for the lack of any serious damage to her back. For now, it would help soothe the stressed bundles of tissue beneath her feathers.

Between the boon to healing and her pleased sounds, I was all too happy to do my part.

"Mm, this is nice. Almost as nice as your earlier touches," she murmured after a few minutes. Her head tilted so she could regard me, ears twitching. "Is it shameful to keep inviting you so? I do not want to sound needy."

I chuckled and rubbed over her ears. "Not at all, Ri. I want you, too. There'll be plenty of time for that later. Plenty of time." My fingers lingered in a spot she liked, and a low, rumbling purr rewarded my efforts. "Maybe one of the next few nights, if you're feeling up to it?"

She pressed back into my hand, and nodded. "Tonight. It has been long enough."

"Agreed." My hand drifted down to the underside of her beak as I brushed my lips over her ear. "I've missed being inside you."

Riane's hearty growl vibrated against my fingers. "And I miss taking you, Tor. We have much lost time to make up for." We settled into a close cuddle filled with nuzzles and whispered promises. Much as we both wanted to do more, time wasn't on our side.

Minutes later, I donned street clothes and left Riane to nap. I had to meet my parents before they left the city.

I made my way down to The Jetty, a peninsula of markets and food stalls amidst the warehouses and river docks. Colored awnings and booths lined and divided the extra-wide street, offering goods both domestic and foreign—Orian, Erean, and Denari merchants, with a scattering of gryphon crafters and even a few lizardfolk from the far southeast of the continent, all hawked their wares from colorful booths and tents.

The peace was driven by trade, but strained nonetheless. The Orians and Ereans kept their distance from one another and tried not to speak, let alone argue in the streets—their once unified nation had broken when the threat of the old Kingdom of Ethana had passed, and the two sides had feuded over philosophy, resources, and everything else ever since. The lizardfolk remained taciturn towards humans, Aurelians in particular, unless coin was involved. They still distrusted descendents of those who had once tried to enslave them.

Such was the Kingdom's tyranny that even after many generations, the Aurel Empire still worked to heal the terrible scars left in its passing.

I pushed the history out of my mind—given my parents' professions, it was little surprise I'd read too many books when growing up. Painted stalls and equally colorful shoppers passed me by until I found my destination. The smell of roasting meats, fresh bread, and cooked vegetables grew stronger even before I'd spotted it. The Riverfront Grill wasn't the only food vendor on The Jetty, but it was known even outside the Empire. Little wonder my parents had wanted to try it before leaving.

Their voices called my name when I stopped to scan the tables, and I headed straight for them. They were both middle-aged, with hair starting to turn more gray; perhaps more so since I'd last seen them, but that could've been the light. Mother was a year younger and a bit shorter than I was, with darker skin and thinner eyes than my father. His family had intermarried our lost islander blood with the light olive features common in southern Ethana over several generations—a common enough thing, though a few still grumbled about it.

"I'm so glad to find you well," my mother said, hugging me, then pulled back to look over my face and arms. "I think that's as tanned as I've ever seen you."

"Three months of sun will do that." My father clapped his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm glad I could find you both," I said, smiling. "We almost waited for you in Logan's Redoubt."

Dad chuckled. "You'd have waited a while. We're taking a detour to Port Evermist to copy two antique books for print."

"Unique texts," mom added. "One of them dates back to the first years of the old Kingdom."

I nodded and gestured towards the docks. "So that's why you're leaving by boat? It sounds very exciting."

"Not compared to your trip! Come, let's get food, tell us all about it." She grabbed my hand and pulled us towards the open grills where several cooks seasoned and cooked a variety of meats and sausages.

"It was pretty routine, after the first few weeks," I started, going over what I hadn't covered in letters to them and ending with Riane's prognosis. "She should fly again, but it may be a few months before we're back to long-distance contract work."

My dad had a lingering grimace from my description of the injuries. "That sounds terrible. Please send our best wishes. You're taking good care of her, I hope?"

Mother elbowed him. "Toshiro, please! I'm sure our son is meeting her every need."

I had no desire to tell them how true that was. "She's not bedridden, just resting more often for better healing. Otherwise she'd be here to see you again."

They smiled—and it was genuine. When I'd first set off to Lighthaven over two years ago, they'd expected I would sate my wanderlust, maybe work some odd jobs, then return home and help with the family business. My decision to join the Corps and become a gryphon rider had been something of a shock, though not entirely unexpected. They'd never treated Riane with anything less than respect, but at the same time they didn't know how to relate to her. Logan's Redoubt was a mildly prosperous town, but hardly a magnet for interspecies trade or contact; she was the first gryphon they'd ever spoken to at length. They'd warmed to her after a couple meetings, though, and I suspected they'd consider her part of the family before long.

Naturally, that would mean swapping embarrassing stories at my expense.

"Please pass along our best wishes," my mother echoed, picking up a skewer of meat. "I hope the Corps is supporting her, and you?"

"Of course!" I waved away any suggestion otherwise—and remembered to do so with the hand that wasn't holding my food. "The only thing we could've done is turn down the contract extension, but we weren't reckless. They're not going to punish us for an accidental injury."

Father rubbed his chin. "Would turning down the contract have been better?"

"Toshiro." Mother gave him a pointed look.

"I'm not—forgive me, Torio," he said. "I'm just curious at the consequences to that decision."

"No forgiveness necessary," I said, shrugging it off. "Riane and I talked about it for almost an entire evening. We thought we could take a couple days to rest and be fine." I sighed. "They were offering quite a hefty bonus—enough to cover our expenses for the next year. More than that, now, with the Platinum Seal."

He nodded in agreement. "That kind of money is tempting."

"It was." I hesitated, and pushed a piece of meat around my tray. "But, we both agreed a couple days ago that we were a little overconfident. The trip was pushing our long-distance rating, and we should have negotiated longer rest periods."

They glanced at each other for a moment. "She'll recover, though?" my mother asked. When I nodded, she smiled. "Then you learn from it and live life all the better. You still have many years ahead of you, and I'm sure you'll be far more careful from now on. But enough about the past, my son. Eat! All will be well in time."

With Riane at my side, I knew it would be. I didn't give thought to telling them about us; maybe I should have, but things weren't entirely certain yet.

We finished our food and talked more about their upcoming projects—they had steady business printing, binding, and selling books, but with their reputation growing, they were trusted with copying old manuscripts and unique texts. Most of them wouldn't see commercial publication, but having copies in various libraries meant their knowledge could be preserved through disaster and age. In some ways, I missed the work, but I could never give up flying.

All too soon, our visit was cut short—their ferry would leave at noon, and the sun was climbing high. At the very least, I insisted on carrying as much of their luggage as I could manage as we threaded our way down to the riverside. Lighthaven's docks weren't as sprawling as Port Evermist's waterfront or as fortified as Morwyn's military harbor, but there were still rows and rows of piers for the river barges, ferries, and over a dozen flat-bottomed war boats. I couldn't tell which ones came from upriver and which were bound for the sea a couple days south, at least not until my parents asked around and found their boat.

"We'll be fine from here," my mother said, laughing, when I offered to help them aboard. She gave me a big hug. "You should get back to your flight partner. Take good care of her, and tell her we said hello."

My father clasped his hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad we could see you, son. Be sure to write!"

"I will." I smiled, and watched them board. I wanted to watch them go, too, but the captain waved me along—not impolitely, at least. They still had cargo to load before departing, so I turned back after one final wave. A larger, fancier ferry from the south dropped a ramp further ahead, and I waited a moment to slip past the crowd of disembarking passengers.

"Torio?"

I looked up the ramp, a bit bewildered at the familiar voice. "Lillian?" The black hair and sharp features were still familiar even after months, and she'd certainly recognized me at a glance. My thoughts quickly regrouped; she was obviously here for a reason, given her more formal attire and luggage, and the lack of guards suggested she'd slipped away from her odious brother's 'governance.'

"Well, I've always heard the world has a way of bringing people back together," she said once she'd slipped away from the crowd. "Well met, again, at long last."

I bowed to her. "Well met, indeed. What brings you here?"

"I'm settling some legal business." She grinned and gestured around herself. "You might have noticed the lack of escort—turns out my ass of a brother made one too many bad deals, and he's been stripped of most of his titles. I'm trying to get what should've been our assets in my name, now."

I had to grin along with her. "That's fantastic news. Forgive me for saying, but he really was an ass."

"Nothing to forgive." She waved away the very suggestion. "It's the truth, and he's finally getting what's coming to him. How about you? The docks are a bit far from the Eyrie."

"My parents were visiting, and I wanted to see them off." The crowd ahead finally cleared enough for us to start moving. "If you have a few minutes, I'm quite curious to hear how luck turned your way. Kaya hadn't heard much when we'd met two weeks ago."

Her expression brightened even further. "You met Kaya? How is she? It's been so long—well, I suppose I should ask if you have a few minutes, too."

I did, and we casually strolled past warehouses and up to the main road as we swapped stories. I told her about the contract, meeting Kaya, and Riane's accident and injury; she expressed sympathy for the latter. In return, she told me about her brother's descent into blatant corruption, how one of his contacts turned out to be an undercover tax investigator, and how she'd managed to obtain a few files and prove her brother had wrested control of the family fortune from her. Now she was securing her rightful share, and trying to ensure what was left of the rest came under her control as well.

Best of all, she had a vested interest in backing some of the Corps' upcoming projects and contracts.

"Anyway, I have to find the hall of justice and get things started." She turned to face me, and brushed a lock of hair aside. I knew what was coming next. "Perhaps we could meet later, for dinner? I'm sure we have many more stories to share, and if you're not busy afterward, my room is free of nosy guards."

"Sorry, but I don't think that would be wise, Lillian." I kept my tone friendly, despite the confirmation of her intentions. Our brief friendship had been quite the series of trysts, though we'd made a clean break—she had been stuck under guard, I had to leave for the courier job to Frontier, and at the time I'd thought it unfeasible to leave my heart in one place when I might only have a dozen weeks out of the year, if that, to visit. Now, my loyalty lay elsewhere. "I'm seeing someone. Otherwise I would, don't get me wrong."

A flicker of disappointment came and went, and a genuine grin took its place. "Oh, that's very good news! They're damn lucky. A dinner invite still stands—perhaps you could invite them along?"

"She's not here, I'm afraid." It wasn't a lie, of course. Technical truths were very useful. "But I'll be in town for a while if you want to share those stories. I don't know how long I'll be staying in my rooms, but you can send a message to the Corps and it'll reach me within a day or two." It wasn't the best of options, but it was neutral, and would give me time to think things through.

"Absolutely." She bowed. "Give my best wishes to Riane."

"I will." I had no idea how to break this news to my mate—by the way, the woman who I had a bit of a flame for is in town. Yes, the one I'd said I would court, if I could. Then again, things had changed. I had chased and been chased in the past, but even in my wilder days, I'd rarely been comfortable engaging with more than one woman. In the present, I wouldn't have eyes on any others. My loyalty was to Riane. I'd have to tell her about it, somehow, but I trusted that she'd understand.

At the very least, the conversation had given me an idea.

Torio returned as I woke from a long nap—a recovering gryphon needed such things—and found me devouring the leftover seed cakes from breakfast. He seemed happy to have met his parents, which was heartening, though it made me miss my dam and clan for a few moments. What brought me out of my reverie was his preoccupation with the surprise meeting with the woman from his past. I listened, patiently, as he danced around the subject, clearly conflicted about some part of it. It was somewhat adorable.

Still, I decided to cut to the heart of the matter.

"A dinner invitation between friends is not unreasonable, yes?" I hummed when Torio nodded. "Then you should go socialize. You did once tell me that you felt isolated, at times, from moving around so often. We should both seek out more friendly company where we can."

He agreed but still seemed unsure, in part, though I couldn't guess how I knew this. Perhaps something in his tone, or demeanor. Human faces were so strangely malleable, yet their ears were inflexible and crest nonexistent. The subtler expressions often escaped me, but I knew him well enough to manage.

I also knew that he would come around to the conclusion on his own terms, so I didn't pry.

"You're right," he said, "but there's more than that."

I tilted my head ever so slightly. He was about to open up. "How so?"

He frowned, and exhaled, gathering his thoughts. "It wasn't just friendship with her, though. It was—well, there might have been something more, if we'd let it happen. Don't get me wrong, it's very much in the past, but I don't want you to get the wrong impression. I'm not interested in that kind of relationship with her. You have my whole heart."

And there it was. My crest rose in pride at his declaration, though that feeling mingled with bemusement at his confliction. "And you, mine. Which is why I have no fear of this Lillian snatching you away from me." I leaned a little closer and fixed my eyes on his. "If you have such a fear, that is something to discuss further?"

"I don't," he said, tone decisive. A soft chuckle followed. "I guess I just needed to make sure that was clear, and to trust that we can trust each other."

It took a moment to parse the repetition—Imperial was such a strange tongue, at times—but it brought a smile to my beak when I grasped the meaning. "Everything with matters of the heart is based on trust and communication, is it not?"

"It is." His fingers stroked through my neck feathers, and I pressed into his palm with a soft purr. "And I hope we never stop either one."

"Count on it," I murmured. There were questions I would have to ask in turn—for many in my clan, mateship was something that lasted a few years before finding a new mate. My dam's clan, however, often mated for life. I had never thought where my preference might lay, and it seemed I would have to discover that before too long.

For the present, we had enough to occupy ourselves.

Minutes passed as he kept caressing my plumage—it wasn't the same as a beak's preening, but his fingers were amazingly dextrous and gentle. He gave loving attention from my crest and ears down to my shoulders, and I leaned closer to encourage further exploration. If anything, I had many thoughts on how much farther back those fingers could go. It sparked a tingle of warmth, a familiar tug at my core. The feelings had been toyed with but unsated for far too long.

Alas, his voice sounded again before I could think of a sufficiently sultry invitation. "Oh, the meeting did give me one idea."

"Do tell." I hoped we were thinking the same thing, and repressed a grumble when his hands stopped roaming.

"I shall, my beautiful gryphon." He smiled and smoothed down my feathers. "I'd like to share a dinner with you, just the two of us, together."

It wasn't what I was expecting, but I kept my confusion at bay for the moment. "We eat many meals together, but I am guessing this is more than that?"

"It is," he said, nodding. "I'd like to take you on a dinner date—you and I, as mates. We shouldn't be too affectionate in public, of course, but that doesn't mean I can't treat you to a pleasant evening. Food, good company, maybe a stroll through the park in the sunset."

"I would enjoy such a dinner," I murmured, purring. The circumstances of our newfound relationship had left us with little opportunity for proper courtship, making this quite the heartwarming turn of events. "Perhaps this evening? I will certainly be hungry again in several hours."

Torio stroked over my crest again. "It's a deal. I'm not hungry either." He leaned closer, and just as I was relaxing into his caresses, his lips brushed over my ear. "But, maybe we could work up a bit of an appetite between now and then."

My feathers twitched as a slight shiver ran through me. Now he had the right idea. "I would greatly enjoy that, my handsome mate." I nuzzled him and started to turn. I wanted him in me, and I'd washed and groomed to be all the more presentable. Before I could get far, he stopped me.

"Let's try something different, now that we're somewhere softer than dirt and rock." He grinned and made a turning motion with his fore-finger. "Roll on your back, beautiful. Let me see you all spread out."

I hummed and tilted my head—he'd mentioned this was the way humans often preferred, and while I hadn't minded him touching me while on my back, it was a rare thing for gryphons to mate that way. Still, curiosity and arousal easily tempted me into doing as he suggested. It took some adjustment to keep pressure off my wings and saddle-worn back, but after propping my head on several pillows he moved down my body and guided my hind legs apart. It was a curious thing, being mostly immobile and exposed—vulnerable, even—and yet I felt no discomfort or anxiety. If anything, his presence made me feel safe; a strange thing from a male barely more than half my size, but I trusted him with both body and heart.

It helped that his nails drew teasing furrows through my belly fur and down to my thighs. I could feel his eyes on me, drinking in my form, and not just the cleft under my tail—though that did draw a fair amount of his attention, and he licked his lips like he was about to savor a fine meal. It felt fantastic to be so desirable.

I growled as he started disrobing, urging him to move faster, though he was all but tearing off the shirt, the pants, the underclothes—and finally, he was bared to me. I drank in the sight of his light bronze skin and the muscles underneath—it was so much easier to see them without fur. He looked the very picture of a lithe, virile male about to claim me. No beak, no wings, no tail, and a little on the small side, but he had fingers, flexibility, creativity, and plenty of stamina to more than balance out those differences.

His shaft rose quickly, but instead of putting it to good use straight away, he moved backwards. Perhaps he meant to tease me further. The roaming fingertips fueled the tingling warmth in my core, and I shivered as he stroked from underbelly to haunches in just the right way to spread my nethers. I could feel the wetness building, the slight swelling of my arousal, and his hungry expression suggested he'd noticed the signs.

Much as I wanted him right away, it was nice to be pleasured in advance. He was far from dissatisfying, but sometimes I did miss the way a gryphon could fill me near to stretching. Foreplay made me all the more alive to the pleasures he could give—and wet enough to ease his thrusting besides.

Torio's fingers teased my entrance, but they didn't slip inside. Instead, he lowered himself closer. It took a moment to realize what he was planning. He'd mentioned it was something he'd learned with females of his kind, and implied he'd like to try it on me, but I hadn't quite come around to it before. The concept of using one's mouth—even if it was softer than a beak—was quite strange.

"My dear Riane," he murmured, close enough that his warm breath washed over my exposed nethers. "I've used these fingers on you quite a few times, but I think you'd like it if I put my lips and tongue to work, too."

As I'd suspected. "I am still unsure how it will feel," I replied, slowly. "But I am curious, and you are quite persuasive, my handsome mate. Let us try it." I brushed the tuft of my tail over his thigh. "One way or another, I do expect you inside me, properly."

He grinned. "Deal. For now, though, just lie back and relax." Another heated exhale, far more deliberate, sent a tingling buzz through my lower body. Any frustration at the tease vanished as his lips pressed to my folds. I had known that part of his mouth was soft, and warm, but it was another thing entirely to feel them there. They flexed and tensed in ways that instantly put my beak to shame, and I found myself wanting to squirm when he pulled back.

Then, his thick, broad tongue stroked the whole length of my cleft, and a faint groan escaped my beak.

His fingers still did not penetrate me, but they spread me enough to let his tongue swirl over my entrance. The touches came light, then firm, and then fleeting or languid; from the way he would look up at me every so often, he was testing my responses, much as he'd done the first times he'd slipped under my lifted tail in the mountains. This time, his own pleasure didn't distract him when he worked that rounded, textured tip over a spot that had me gasping. My hips rolled against his face when he paid more attention to my nub.

I'd thought the pleasure was amazing, but it was just the beginning. He pressed his tongue into me and wrapped his lips around my folds. I barely had time to recover before he did it again, and I arched my back, crooning, trying to keep from begging him for more. I didn't have to. The tongue was replaced by a finger, then a second, and he curled them while still working his mouth over the hood of my nethers.

It wasn't until he slowed down and ducked that I realized my hind legs were twitching, almost kicking in the air, but I was too far gone to apologize. I didn't have to do that, either, as he simply grinned and licked his lips—a motion that had me whining, now that I knew what he could do with them—before going back to work.

Each stroke of those fingers sent a hot pulse into my core, and the workings of his mouth only fanned the flames. The tension built quickly, almost haphazardly, as the sensations fueled an unfamiliar yet unmistakable surge. My muscles went taut as a peak hit by surprise, and I groaned as it provided only a moment of blissful relief before redoubling my desires. It didn't go unnoticed, either, as he kept teasing me towards that edge again and again, backing off the moment I arched or tensed.

Finally, I couldn't take it any further, and managed to utter his name. "Torio," I repeated, panting hard, not caring how my feathers stood on end or my hind legs splayed to either side, presenting myself with wanton abandon. Nor did I care to roll onto all fours for a more proper mating; he'd convinced me to try anything he'd ever suggested. "Take me. Now. I want…"

He leaned up, panting almost as quickly as I was, to catch his breath before carefully crawling up until he straddled my hips. I could see his shaft bobbing, pulsing with blood, and restless moments passed as he coated his length in my slick juices. It was all the better for when he finally gripped himself and leaned forward. That rounded tip spread me before his shaft slid inside, thick and hard and incredibly hot, claiming me as a mate ought to.

The sight of his relief and anticipation, and the feel of him so deep and intimately close, was almost enough to bring me to my full climax.

Somehow I held out. Somehow I didn't growl, or beg, or otherwise debase myself—though the sounds in my throat might have sounded like whines to the untrained ear. I was rather beyond caring, regardless, especially as he leaned forward to meet the gyration of my hips. His parted lips and unfocused gaze betrayed how lost he already was to pent-up needs. Knowing that I'd so thoroughly disarmed him brought a new rush of heat through my belly.

He reached up to stroke my neck, and I managed a purr before another thrust robbed me of my composure. If we'd made any effort to hide or tame our lusts, they were for naught; we were thoroughly lost in our carnal embrace. His exotic body was strange against mine, but he could move in such wonderful ways. I wanted to drink in his desire for my body and love of my heart. He was a magnificent mate, species be damned.

He was also a magnificent lover, one who had already teased me close to peaking more than once, and seemed determined to finish the job. Short, hard thrusts nearly matched the force of a gryphon male, and his free hand trailed down my chest and belly to tease me all the better. The touches didn't last long; the hand gripped my thigh as he took with ever more frantic motions.

My heart pounded as I clenched around him—and as I'd hoped, he groaned and ground his hips against mine as his shaft twitched inside me. His seed rushed into me with delicious heat, and I kept squeezing, coaxing him to give everything he had. Neither my body nor my mind cared that it wasn't gryphon essence. Torio was male, virile, and welcome to fill me until he made a mess of my fur and feathers. Some of it did just that, but much of it pooled deep in me, stoking my lusts near to bursting.

When the motions of his hips slowed, his fingers resumed their wonderful touches, and before long I was trying not to squirm and writhe under him—I knew how he got oversensitive after his release. Still, he kept going, and then I was simply wrapping my legs around his hips, pulling him towards me, moaning his name, and finally crying out as the tension came to a peak. I didn't doubt my own wetness had made a mess of us both, nor that I was imagining his own groans through the dull roar in my ears.

It had been far too long since we'd enjoyed each other so, and as the pleasure gave way to a warm fog of lethargy and tenderness, a happy little sigh escaped my beak. He fit so well against and inside me as we held each other close. His shaft was still somewhat firm and twitching with each slight movement, undoubtedly giving me the last few drops of his gift before he slipped out of me. Perhaps there was more within him—the courier route had taken too much energy to allow for consecutive ruttings, but now we were rested and relaxed. Anything could happen.

Even with the lingering afterglow, the true pleasure came from the way he smiled at me, and ruffled my chest feathers before kissing where plumage met fur. The contrast had always fascinated him, just as his hair had commanded my curiosity; one benefit of our newfound intimacy was getting to further explore those details.

Better yet, we had seen into each other's hearts.

"Have I ever told you," Torio said, still panting, "that you are amazing, and feel amazing?"

I chuckled and leaned down to nuzzle the crown of his head. "Several times, my mate, and I feel the same of you. It is good to continue hearing it, of course."

"Of course." He kissed the tip of my beak, and we nuzzled each other. "My beautiful, brilliant mate."

I purred, then chuckled again and brushed the tip of my tongue over those soft lips of his, tasting myself on them. An equally soft gasp was my reward. "Beautiful, even after you made a mess of my fur?"

"In some ways, especially then." He grinned and teased his fingertips over the edge of my ear. "A pleasured gryphoness is a sight to behold."

"Especially by the male who pleasured her, I am sure." I hummed and touched the tip of my beak to his nose. "I admit, you have earned the right to see me all you want." Something else struck me. "Mm. This position puts you in a very regal light."

"Is that so?" He pushed up and straightened his back, which had the added benefit of pressing his loins more firmly against mine. "I think I like being regal."

It was a very good look, indeed, and I let him know it with a slow roll of my hips. To my delight, I felt him stir in response. "Then do not stop." I meant to tease my tongue over his lips again, but they'd parted, and I felt the warm, soft touch of his own tongue between them. I'd seen humans kiss like this before, but I'd never imagined it possible with a beak. It was difficult, still, and he took care to avoid the sharp edges.

He didn't stop, though, and gently cupped my head in his hand to help guide me.

It was a strange mix of sensations. His eagerness had him experimenting with different positions, and curiosity drove me to follow his lead. When we found a particular tilt of our heads and swirl of our tongues that worked, an odd sort of thrill ran through me, and I found my heart beating faster. It was unfamiliar, but quite intimate. Being able to share in a human courtship ritual meant one more way we could connect despite our differences.

As we parted for air—and to grin at each other—I shifted my hips again, feeling his smooth, firm penis slide against my damp fur and heated flesh. He was almost ready again, but I wanted him in me. I kept pressing against him until he dropped his free hand down to guide himself to my entrance. He looked up, but didn't have a chance to ask before I arched and took half of him back into me.

The soft grunt caught in his throat stole whatever he was about to say, and he swallowed before speaking again. "Eager for more, I see."

"Mm. That I am." I nuzzled him, and he returned the favor over my beak in the gryphon style. It was pleasant to share in his own rituals, but he'd made a point of learning and reciprocating the basics of gryphon affection, and it filled me with pride that he was so willing to compromise. "That I am," I repeated, "and this time, do not distract yourself with my pleasure while you rut me, please."

He raised an eyebrow. "Riane, your beauty may forever catch my eye, but pleasing you is never a distraction."

I giggled, and my ears twitched. "Flatterer. That is not quite what I meant." I turned my head to brush my beak over his ear. "Your tongue has sated me well enough, and now I want you to enjoy yourself." I dropped my voice to that low, husky tone he liked. "I want to watch you take me. Rut me however you see fit. If you feel you must, you can attend my pleasure after you've filled me like you want to breed me. Not before."

Sure enough, a shiver ran through him, which looked and felt nothing short of delicious. "How could I say no to that?" He didn't hesitate to start thrusting at a steady pace, filling the air with the wet sounds of our mating and the slap of his hips against mine. His eyes started to lose focus, only to snap back to my face when I growled my encouragement—then they narrowed in a wince when that growl turned into a warning. His hand had drifted towards my nethers.

It was sweet of him to make a reflex of being attentive, but I'd been quite serious about my desires. It was pleasure enough to watch him shiver and pant, to see how his hips drove his length deep into my grip, over and over. Human forms were better suited to this position than gryphons, hence the difference in preference, but belly-to-belly had no small appeal. Even in my more lucid moments, being taken from behind didn't allow for this magnificent view. I could see all of him. Better still, he'd have an easier time pleasing me with those fingers when he wasn't being selfish at my behest.

For my part, I kept my legs parted and back arched, finding ways to invite him as deep as he could manage. I rolled my hips and tensed my muscles to further please him—and, admittedly, my own desires were flaring up. His recent climax had given him added stamina, and he was putting it to good use. If anything, he was taking me almost as hard as he could manage, with each slap of his hips sending a shudder through my legs and tail. We were joined in a whirlwind of heat, and from the feeling of mixed fluids trickling down my feathers and fur, I imagined we were making a thorough mess of ourselves and the bedding.

He was long past the point where he usually couldn't hold back. Just as I wondered if he could keep this pace all evening, his fingers tightened against my fur, and a low groan rose from his throat. His motions grew ragged, and he slowed, obviously trying to last longer. I humored him, at first, then tightened around that rock-hard, blazing hot girth to coax him onwards. The last of his restraint broke. He bucked his hips again and again, pressing deep enough inside me that I could forget he wasn't a gryphon.

"That's right, my mate," I murmured, clenching again. "Take me. Breed me."

My words or my deeds—if not both—did the trick, and I felt a rush as his bare-skinned body writhed against me. I had no climax, but it was quite satisfying in its own way, and more so when that handsome voice broke into moaning. His cock throbbed as his balls tightened, and I keenly felt every motion, and then that warm, sticky essence coated my insides for the second time. Unlike the fog after a strong release, my senses were sharpened, everything seeming and feeling brilliant, as if every feather and all my fur was alive and focused on the male atop and inside me.

I closed my legs and paws around him, holding him close as his passionate shuddering subsided. Encircling my wings around him would have been a lovely touch, but alas. He didn't seem to mind, though, as he was somewhat insensate while he panted to catch his breath. Silly males. I murmured my appreciation, and he stirred somewhat, mumbling something about cleaning.

"No, my dear Torio," I said, grinning, "I am fine. The bath is just next door when we need it." It felt a little too naughty to say the rest, even though we'd play-acted this very thing: some deep part of me liked what the mess represented, beyond the lusts involved. I had no interest in carrying or rearing young, but having a male fill me with seed—twice in one evening, no less—stoked some primal instinct. It settled in me with molten heat, copious enough that I felt the excess dribbling down my fur and onto my tail, but enough stayed that I felt very well bred, indeed.

It didn't matter that it would never take. Or perhaps, it meant I had no worries when my season arrived. Perhaps his essence would even sate the heightened desires. I shivered, grinning to myself. Yes, our differences weren't so insurmountable.

"You can clean me later," I added, when it seemed he wasn't convinced.

"Makes sense." He stroked over my chest feathers, though the motions were somewhat clumsy. "Staying here, then."

I giggled and touched my beak to his forehead. "Besides, I would not want you to escape this lovely cuddle."

"Mmm." A few moments later his chest shook in a silent laugh, and I knew his thoughts were returning to him. "Heh. Neither do I, though I think this is the most mess we've made together."

"That we did."

He resettled his hips against mine, and it was my turn to shiver—he was still inside me, and it took self-control to not keep squeezing his oversensitive flesh. Perhaps I did, though, and perhaps he shifted again. "Worth it, my beautiful Riane. I'm sure soap and water will have your fur and feathers as pristine as ever."

I giggled and gave him my best coy look. "When we bathe, remind me to have you wash my back."

"I can do that for you, sure." He leaned up to kiss my beak, then the implications began settling into place. "Well, I'd have to do it from behind you. And there's no sense wearing clothes in a bath."

"You have the right of it, my mate," I purred. "For now, though, let us enjoy each other's company."

And so we did, at least until my legs grew uncomfortable from the strange position, and the fluids began growing chilly and sticky on our lower halves. The cushions were easy enough to wash, thankfully, and Torio had the foresight to bring a towel before I stood—we'd both been rather productive, so I'd have dripped everywhere.

He drew a bath for us a minute later, with some centrally heated reservoir delivering quite warm water through a thick pipe. The stone tub set in the floor wasn't quite large enough for my whole body, let both of us, but it was far and above better than trying to wash in a cold, narrow brook in the mountains. Nor did we pass up the chance to take our time and enjoy the luxury, even indulging in languid, opportunistic friskiness.

As the bath refilled for the third time, a knock came at the door. It was still no less annoying a sound than it had been earlier in the morning.

"I'll get it," Torio said, wrapping a towel around himself and leaving me to manage the flow of heated water. I heard him say he wasn't decent and couldn't take guests, and the rest was muffled as my attention returned to the faucet—its knobs were designed such that my forepaw could manipulate them. I shut it off after a few more moments, and turned back towards the bathroom door—Torio was still in the main room.

A minute passed, and I nearly hauled myself out of the tub before he finally reappeared. "Is all well?"

He held up a letter. "Hard to say. That was a marshal of justice from the Imperial Senate." A soft sigh, born at least partly of worry, left him. "We've both received a witness summons to a special committee session."

I tilted my head; beyond the basics, I knew little of Empire law or politics beyond what was necessary. "What does this mean?"

"It means we have to testify, under a lawful oath, on 'matters relating to contracts, injuries, and conditions within the Allied Flight Corps.' What that will involve, well. I don't know. That's up to this Senator Cassia person who's heading the whole thing." He shrugged, and tossed the letter on a nearby shelf. "We're not being investigated, so I don't think we're in trouble."

"Will we have to answer many questions? It seems this is related to my injuries."

"Maybe. You'd mentioned Cairene was frustrated at careless contracts." He shrugged again, though I could tell his mind was still at work. "Anyway. We'll deal with that when it comes. For now?" The towel came off and landed on the long table—a bench?—against the wall. "I have a mind to enjoy a pleasant evening, just the two of us."

He was, once again, gloriously naked. My beak trailed over his thigh, and I carefully teased the smooth front against his nethers. My reward was a shiver, and a stirring. "This sounds very pleasant indeed."

"Mmm. Don't forget, oh temptress, that I still intend to take you to dinner."

"That is true. Filling as you may be, I find I've worked up a healthy appetite."

He laughed and patted my beak, then sat on the edge of the tub with his feet in the water. "You and me both." A pause. "Then again, we could have our date tomorrow if we're enjoying ourselves too much."

He hadn't easily hardened at my touch, but I knew he could—he'd been quite stiff when he'd washed under my tail, and if there'd been room in the bath he might have taken me a third time. "We can have food delivered again, if we'd rather care for other hungers."

"You are insatiable, my dear Riane." He paused, then grinned. "Though I suppose I'm just as guilty."

I nodded my agreement and nuzzled up his chest until my beak rested under his chin. He kept petting over my damp feathers, holding me close, and I didn't dare let him go.

"You make me happier than I'd thought possible, you know," he whispered after a minute.

"You do the same for me, my love." It seemed such a casual thing to say, but it struck me that this was the first time it had been spoken aloud. The slightest hesitation in his caresses told me he realized it as well.

There was a natural pause, but no hesitation as he smiled down at me. "I love you too."

Thoughts of food and other desires were forgotten, for a time, as he slid into the tub to hold me close. Perhaps we would have our date, perhaps we would need another bath before the night was done. Either way, we were in love, and we were going to enjoy ourselves.

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Please see the following journal for more information. <3

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