(Smut warning, crack I came up with at exactly 2 am... pls laugh)
Sitting in his lap as you hungrily make out, hands gripping his shoulders as you press together as one.
He whines as you pull away, gripping your hips to bring you closer, "Where...?"
Both of you are breathless from kissing, lips covered in saliva from having your tongues down each other's throats.
With a cheeky grin, you reach down between your bodies, your hand hovering over his length, leaning closer, and you whisper playfully to his lips. "Up!" You teasingly coax.
You rub your nose against his as both of your bodies heat as the weight of his hard cock now presses against your hand, "Good boy." You coo.
"Oh, come now..." He groans as you press your palm into his cock through his clothes.
"What?" You hum, rubbing your palm up and down the outline of his arousal, "It listens to me—like you."
summary: These are my headcanons for some of the ACOTAR men as Daddy Doms, featuring Rhysand, Cassian, Azriel, Eris, Tamlin, Lucien, and some bonus character drabbles at the end! (Helion, Kallias, and Tarquin)
word count: 4k in total, each character is under 1k
author's note: This was not self-indulgent at allllll nooo. If you’ve read my stardew fics you’ll know I’m a big fan of this one. If this kink isn’t your thing, please do not read! All characters are adults in this fic. If there is a character you don’t like, please just don’t read them. This took a lotttt of time for me to make :) Hope y'all enjoy and freak with me.
Warnings: Pretty much everything in the tags below, use of term daddy, use of term s/ut, degrading, knife use (no blood), some dubcon (alcohol)
[Tags: Reader is an ADULT female, DDLG dynamic, d/s, male control, exhibition, brat taming, face sitting, overstim, shadow play, very public sex, squirting mention, light degradation, primal, chasing, drunk/sober power play, eating out, forced orgasm, sharing partner, breeding, praise]
⊹ Masterlist ⊹
Headcanons | Next ->
Rhysand | Rules and Punishments
Being Rhys’s sub is a lifestyle. He’s the type to have your outfits picked out for you each day, a combination of things you bought for yourself with his credit card, and some things he just had to see you in. He cares about appearances, and he needs his girl dressed to the nines whenever he takes you on his arm through the streets of Velaris.
Disobeying Rhys earns you fast punishment. He understands that sometimes you want to test your boundaries, but he’s quick to nip that in the bud before you start believing you can act as you please. He’ll have you bent over the nearest semi-private surface, fucking you to tears until he’s certain it won’t happen again.
If friends are around when you break the rules, though, he has no qualms with letting them watch. After all, it's very inappropriate to embarrass him like that, so you must have wanted them to see you having your behavior corrected.
“Darling, I thought I asked you to change before Cas and Az got here.”
You held out a little tray of sandwiches, an assortment of cucumber and ham and cheese. It was Guys Night tonight. This morning, Rhys had laid out two outfits for you. One was a more modest sundress for when the boys came to visit, the other was a sexy little skirt he loved to see you in. You had forgotten to change, but you hoped your thoughtful behavior would distract him.
“I forgot to change, I was busy making these for you,” you said with a sweet smile.
Rhysand’s shoes clicked across the dark wood floor of the Townhouse as he approached you. He took the tray of food and set it aside, his hands immediately falling to your hips. Your frilly skirt was short. Far too short for company.
“What do you think?” He asked his friends, eyes never leaving your barely concealed plush thighs. You hadn’t realized they were here yet. You thought you still had time…
Cassian and Az stepped out of the shadowy hall and into the cozy den, eyes on your smooth legs and wide hips.
“I think it's downright scandalous,” Cassian said, unhelpful as always.
“I’m sorry,” you cut in, trying to silence Cas.
“Ah, ah, ah. Hush. You know the rules. When I ask you to do something, you do it.”
“I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t good enough, baby, Daddy needs to know you understand him.” With easy strength, Rhys had you bent over the arm of the couch in seconds, broad hand pinning your face into the navy fabric. The two Illyrian males lurking in the room chuckled as he drew up the back of your little skirt. You knew they were aware of your… dynamic with Rhys, but this was something else entirely.
“I don’t even have to take it off of you, that’s how short this skirt is,” Rhys murmured darkly as he tugged your panties down with one hand, the other already unzipping himself. “You must have really wanted our attention, hm?”
“No, Daddy, I didn’t, I swear…” The sound dragged from your lips, warping into a moan as Rhysand filled your pussy in one thrust.
Somewhere in the background, Azriel sucked in a breath at the sight, and Cassian laughed wickedly. You quickly lost track of them, though, as Rhysand began to thrust. The couch scratched across the floor with every movement of his strong hips, likely leaving scuffs, but he would show them off with pride.
Rhysand thrust harder and hit your spot dead on, drawing out a squeal from you. “Oh, she likes that,” Rhys said with a smug little laugh, one hand digging into your hip to hold you steady while the other gripped the nape of your neck, forcing you to take it. “Loves being put in her place in front of company.”
“I don’t,” you insisted, your little voice coming out quiet and muffled.
“Yeah, you do, your sweet pussy is dripping on the couch, baby. You better not cum…”
“I’m gonna,” you moaned.
“Should I let her?” Rhys’s grin was devilish as Azriel denied you.
“No, only good girls get to cum,” Az said, watching intently.
Rhysand leaned over your body to whisper in your ear as you trembled. “Maybe next time you’ll listen to Daddy.”
Cassian | Brat Taming
Cassian loves it when you push his buttons. He loves a good tease, feeling you touch him right before he goes out to train, giving him a hard on to deal with before he can go out there. He loves hearing you talk smack about how you’re bigger and stronger than him, even when you walk around utterly dwarfed by his broad shoulders and even broader wings.
He lets you talk smack up until you’ve pushed just a little too far, until no combination of innocent blushing and smiling can take back what you’ve said. That’s when he puts you in your place.
Cassian isn’t afraid to manhandle you into a mess of broken moans, fucking you until you’re singing his praises again and completely aware of your place. He knows how to make a bad girl want to be good, just to be rewarded with the rough fucking you wanted all along.
“Is that what you call a parry? Azriel’s blade nearly sliced you in half.”
“Did not,” Cassian called back, teeth bared in a snarl. The two Illyrians had been going back and forth at each other all day, sweating through their leathers, and you knew Cassian would not be in the mood for you. You just couldn’t help yourself.
“Have you tried actually hitting him? I hear that’s the easiest way to win.” You smiled smugly as he finally conceded the win, dropping his sword into the dusty training dirt.
Azriel held his hand out, shaking Cassian’s. Cassian smiled at his friend, taking the loss… remarkably well.
He turned toward you at the edge of the ring, stalking over to you. You were so distracted by the sweaty gleam of his muscled arms that you didn’t notice the look on his face. Angry, and maybe just a little hungry for you.
“That was pathetic- ah!”
Wordlessly, he scooped you into his arms, wings stirring up dust as he leapt into the sky, flying you back to the House of Wind.
“Cassian-”
“You’re a brat, you know that…” he muttered, carrying you straight to his bedroom.
“Duh…” you drawled. Your confidence only sparked his ire, and Cassian dropped you to your feet before shucking off his leathers. Mmm, he was gorgeous.
“Well?” he asked, leaning back on the bed.
“Well what?” You blinked, not quite understanding.
“Go on. You clearly want to be in control, telling me how to fight, pretending you know everything… so take control.”
Your eyes widened, cheeks going bright red as he lay there before you, cock hard and thick and standing proud. “You want me to-?”
“Yeah, come here and show me who’s boss.” He pointed to his face, his long hair splaying out around him as he lay back on the bed, wanting you to sit.
You didn’t move, frozen in place. You thought after all that he would be eager to pound you into the bed until you drooled, not… prove a point. Cassian smirked as you stood there. “What, not so high and mighty now, huh?
“No, Daddy…” you mumbled quietly, face completely red.
“That’s what I thought. Now come sit on my fucking face, little brat.”
You crawled onto the bed and his big hands lifted you by the waist as soon as you were in range. He settled you onto his face, his full lips slotting themselves against your clit as he began to lick and suck eagerly.
“Cas-”
“I know,” he said against your folds, breath caressing your sensitive skin. “You want this cock, huh?”
“Yes, Daddy…”
He slid a long finger into your entrance, curling it slowly. “Say please and maybe I’ll fuck you after I stretch you out."
Azriel | Overstimulation
Azriel may be quiet, but he certainly won’t rest until you’re anything but. He loves pushing you to every limit until you’re crying for him to stop, the pleasure much too intense for your body. Every plea for a break that he feels you haven’t earned only adds another orgasm to the tally.
And not only he feels this way, no, his shadows love seeing you fall apart. As an extension of Azriel, they naturally agree with his feelings, but they are somehow even more possessive and twisted than he is.
If you squirm before finishing your third orgasm, they’ll pin your legs apart for Az, keeping you wide open to his touch. If he’s busy fucking you, they’ll take care of your other sensitive spots, coiling around your nipples and suckling your clit until you scream.
“Not again, please, Az,”
“That’s one more.”
“Please, Daddy,” you corrected quickly, but the damage was done.
Azriel pinched your clit gently, a warning of what was to come. He loved watching you like this, frantic and mindless with pleasure, especially when you could focus on nothing else but his touch.
His shadows had settled over your eyes to block out the rest of his bedroom, where you stood pinned to the wall. Every drag of Az’s warm fingers up your hips and beneath your breasts tingled more than usual now that you were blind and unsteady.
“You can take it, I know you can. Just one more.”
“I can’t…”
“You’ve taken more than this before,” Az said, pressing teasing kisses to your clit. You had never hated being blinded quite as much as right now.
Pinned to the wall with Azriel kneeling before you… fuck, you wanted to see him. “You’re so cruel.”
“Cruel? I’ve let you cum twice, I think that’s pretty kind of me.”
“You made me cum twice…”
“I think that’s the same thing.”
“It’s not- ngh-” you whined as a cool, soft substance traced up your leg, dipping inside your cunt to curl inside you. “Fuck.”
Azriel hummed with pleasure. His shadow curled deeper into your core, searching for the sweet spots that made your eyes roll back. It seemed to purr as your cunt twitched and fluttered around it. “It seems they’re just as excited to see you melt…”
You gasped as Azriel licked up your clit, your temporary reprieve now over. You tried to pull your hands free, but they were secure. Silk-lined metal cuffs looped them above your head, where one of Azriel’s sickening seven inch knives pierced the metal into the drywall. Yeah, you weren’t getting free.
Sweat dripped down the back of your neck as he began to eat you out in earnest. Legs shaking, you struggled to keep yourself standing with every pass of his tongue over your swollen bud. His shadows became relentless, the one inside you tracing over your cervix and pushing against your walls.
“One more, baby, give Daddy one more.”
Eris | Exhibition
Allowing Eris to take on the role of being your dom would be an utter mistake. He’s far too cocky for it to be a secret. It starts with telling his men, until you hear whispers from the knights every time you pass by. A few weeks down the line he’s got you sitting half-naked on his lap while he lounges in his throne.
He doesn’t mind other people seeing what’s his. He wants everyone to know how beautiful you are, and just how pathetic you are for him. Every squirm cues another comment about how slutty you look. You’re desperate, and he knows it.
And if you’re that desperate, what’s stopping him from spreading you open right there in the throne room? He wouldn’t want his sweet little girl to suffer any longer…
“Behave, pet.”
“I’m trying,” you whispered. The dress you were wearing could hardly be called a dress. It was merely two swaths of fabric, curving down from your shoulders and over your breasts. It was only held in place between your thighs by an ever so thin gold belt. Gold, and red fabric. Eris always had you dressed in Autumn’s colors. His colors, now.
After killing Beron, he had seized you as his own, even before he had seized his lands.
“Trying to grind on me will get you punished, you know.” Eris rested his chin lazily against his palm, his other hand firmly gripping your hip. You couldn’t help but move, you were right on his cock. You felt it harden beneath your soft, barely clothed rear, but Eris remained apathetic toward your desperate wriggling.
He shifted, sitting up straight, but his eyes did not leave the crowded ballroom before him. You gasped he pulled a knife from his boot and snapped the thin gold band holding your dress together.
“Eris-”
“Hold still.”
You dropped your hands from where they had reached to clutch the fabric of your garment. In seconds, the yards of suede freed your breasts to the viewing pleasure of the ballroom.
A few males stopped dancing, but Eris waved a hand. “Continue.”
His command was firm. The dancing resumed, but more than a few stares still lingered on your body. They were drawn right to your thighs, where Eris was easily pulling them open.
“You’ve risked so much in disobeying me, I have to reward your efforts.”
“No-”
“Address me properly, or I’ll finger you until you squirt all over my throne.”
You mewled like a kitten as his thumb found your clit beneath a stretch of cloth. “Mmm sorry, Daddy…”
“And?”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re such a stupid slut.” His fingers sped up just a bit, rolling at the perfect pace to have your muscles locking up. You shut your eyes to the hungry stares that came from every corner of the ballroom as two of Eris’s long fingers delved into your pussy, tightening on your spot.
“Eris, please-”
“I’m not stopping until they see you cum~”
Tamlin | Primal
Tamlin as a daddy dom would be soft with you one moment, and absolutely rabid for you the next. As a shapeshifter, he’s always in tune with his beast form, claws falling out the second he smells your arousal in the air.
He’s terribly gentle when you need him to be. He’s not shy about fucking you on your period or through your mood swings, and he knows how to give it to you slowly, coaxing out your pleasure over the span of hours.
Sometimes, though, he just can’t control himself. After hours of staying up with courtly business, just seeing you walk past him is enough to get his blood pumping. And if you run? He’ll chase you down. Through the halls of his massive manor, out and into the prim and pretty gardens, especially through the woods he knows like the back of his clawed hand.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing up?”
Tamlin's eyes flashed from within the dim light of his study, the green of his irises nearly simmering gold with magic.
“I couldn’t sleep, Daddy,” you said, a quiet whine for him. You had gone to bed in his nightshirt, missing the feel of him in bed. The long billowy fabric was nearly a dress on your body, his own stature making you look like a little doll in comparison.
He tilted his head up, scenting the lilac and fresh rain that clung to you. Instantly he was rising from his seat, the quill in his hand splattering onto his desk in a little puddle of ink. “Fuck, sweetheart… you smell like me.”
The warm faelight lamp behind him gilded his body, and you could see the silhouette of his claws slowly dropping free. He was careful not to hurt you, not unless you asked, but the sight of them was a sign that his desire was brewing.
You backed up a bit, and he stopped in his tracks. “Darling?”
As quickly as you could, you scampered out of his office space. Darting down the hall, you could only hope Tamlin would give you a headstart. A low growl echoing from down the hall was his affirmative.
Your bones trembled with delight at the sound. Tamlin’s voice was low and loud, only growing closer as you twisted through the winding corridors of the west wing. If you could make it to the ballroom, then you could lose him.
“Little Bunny~” he sang. His voice was perfectly steady, the complete opposite of your pathetic panting. Making it to the ballroom? You wouldn’t even last five minutes. “Gotcha.” A startled squeak escaped from you as Tamlin turned a corner in front of you, somehow having looped around to cut you off. “Did you really think you would get anywhere? Daddy always catches you.”
Tamlin threw you over his shoulder, towing you to the bed you were supposed to be sleeping in. “Naughty girl. Don't worry, you’ll be sleepy when I’m done with you.”
He carefully slid you down and into bed, nesting you in the thick downy blankets as he bullied his way between your soft thighs. His cock was hard, the broad tip leaking for you as he ducked down to lick up your neck. His nose was in your hair, then up against your soft skin. Any place within reach.
“I’m gonna fuck you so good, you’ll never rid my scent from your body.”
Lucien | Drinking
Lucien would love making a mess of you with his charm. His roots are as a rake, and even though he’s settled down, he’ll never stop trying to make you blush as red as his hair. He loves bringing you to parties, flaunting you on his arm, and he also loves seeing you enjoy yourself. You’re so easy to fluster, it becomes a game to see how quickly he can have you begging to sneak off.
Part of his routine in enjoying a party with you might be turning a blind eye to how many drinks you’ve had. Lucien can’t help himself, you’re just so cute when you’re drunk and needy and hanging all over him, blushing at simple eye contact.
Once he’s gotten you alone, Lucien is all over you, feeding you pleasure until you can’t even form a sentence. His words are always full of praise, letting you know just how good you are, even if you can’t stand up straight.
“You can barely stand, love, we need to get you to bed.”
“I’m not tired.”
Lucien laughed at the way you poked your bottom lip out, just coherent enough to remember to sass him. A gentle hand cupped your cheek as he kissed it away. “Don’t be difficult, you know what going to bed early means.”
Your head snapped up, cheeks flushing as you gave him a giddy, lovestruck smile.
“Cute,” he said with a grin, half carrying you up the stairs and out of the throng of revelers. “We need to put a limit on how much faerie wine you’re allowed to have.” He gently tickled your sides, coaxing out a bubbly giggle. “On second thought, I don’t know if I could go without hearing your laughs.”
Lucien held you up as you crashed through the doorway, managing to bump into nearly every surface on the way to your shared bed.
“In you go.” You tumbled into bed and Lucien sat on the edge. He lifted your feet into his lap tracing the arch of the elegant kitten heels you had on. “My poor love, you must be sore.”
His deft hands unbuckled the strap of your shoes and he slid them off, pressing his thumbs to the arches of your feet to help you relax.
“Mm… feels good…”
“Does it?” Lucien pressed a soft kiss to your ankle, then carefully propped you up to peel off your silky dress. “Bet I could make you feel really good…”
The dress pooled in a pile at the foot of the bed, Lucien not pausing to fold it as he spread your legs out before him and dove underneath the covers. Your muddled mess of a head couldn’t understand what was happening, not until the flat of his tongue traced up your inner thigh.
“Ah!” Your yelp had him chuckling as he left love bites along your skin. “Gentle. Please, Daddy.”
“Well, when you ask me so sweetly…” Lucien’s warm breath grazed your folds as he kissed along the seam of your cunt.
“Not that gentle…”
“You’re awfully demanding tonight.” But he obliged you. His tongue dipped to circle your clit as he worked you to the edge. “My pretty girl.”
Bonus!
Helion | Sharing
Helion loves you far too much for his own good, and that means knowing exactly what you need, and what to give to you. He’s not the kind to turn down a night of fun, especially not when you look so adorable smushed between him and his men.
“Doesn’t he feel so good inside you?” Helion crooned, cupping your pretty, blissed out face in his hand. “You look so pretty taking your third load.”
“I need you, Daddy…”
His golden eyes glinted with mischief as he brushed tangles of hair back from your sweaty forehead. You had been like this, on your hands and knees on the floor of the training room, for well over an hour now. “You need me? I guess your mouth is still available…”
Helion knelt before you, powerful thighs blocking out the view of the sweaty, hungry figures surrounding you. You could only see him, dark gold skin and proud, heavy cock as he knelt in front of your face.
“Make Daddy feel good then, needy girl.”
Kallias | Breeding
Kallias’s first concern as a high lord has always been the children of his court, caring more about their safety than his own. He would love being a father, and would especially love the process of becoming one with your help. Even if you couldn’t have kids together, there’s just something about seeing you so full of him every night that drives him wild.
“Look at that,” Kallias growled, carefully pulling a little crystal plug from your used up pussy. His icy blue eyes traced your body, watching the steady dripping of his seed from inside you. “Kept it nice and warm for me, didn’t you, little love?”
“Yes, Daddy,” you chirped proudly. His long fingers slid through the sticky mess between your thighs until you purred.
“Are you ready for another round?”
“Another-?” That would be the third time this evening. Fucking like animals was the best way to ward off the mountain cold, but already you were sore…
“I’m not stopping until I see you with a cute little bump.”
Tarquin | Praise
Tarquin would take his role as your daddy dom so seriously. He will make sure that you never have to worry about feeling insecure again, that you are loved and taken care of at all times. Not only does he take care of you, he spoils you rotten.
“My love… you know you can’t wear something like that around me and expect me to be able to work.”
Yeah, that was kind of the point. He had been ignoring you all day. Not on purpose, of course, he had to do his job as the High Lord well. For your benefit, and for the benefit of your people. But he needed to learn how to take a break sometimes.
You perched on his desk, your soft rear almost completely exposed by the thin lingerie you had put on. “Pay attention to me now.”
He laughed, sitting back in his chair with an amused grin. He patted his lap. “Come sit, pretty girl. Let Daddy look at you.”
That was his mistake. Instantly you were straddling his lap, making sure to wiggle softly against his growing bulge.
“I should have known better than to leave you to your own devices for that long. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you.”
acotar
🌙 mine | adult!nyx archeron x reader | smut 18+, fluff
🌙 misogyny | adult!nyx archeron x reader | angst, fluff
🌙 tolerate it | azriel x reader | angst, fluff
🌙 opposite pt 1 | azriel x reader | angst
🌙 opposite pt 2 | azriel x reader | angst, fluff
🌙 innocent | rhysand x reader | smut 18+
🌙 safe word | azriel x reader | smut 18+, fluff
🌙 scars and all | lucien vanserra x reader | angst, fluff
🌙 babies | azriel x reader | fluff
🌙 flowers | part I | part II | part III | part IV | azriel x reader
fourth wing
🌙 missed you | bodhi durran x reader | smut 18+, fluff
🌙 bruises | brennan sorrengail x reader | fluff
pjo
🌙how you get the girl | luke castellan x reader | smau
🌙how you get the girl part 2
🌙life lately | percy jackson x reader | smau
🌙down bad | luke castellan x reader | smau
celebrities
🌙the lucky one | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙love bite | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙rage | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙butterflies | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙teenage love triangle | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙afterglow | part 2 | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙remember... | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙hey stephen... | charlie bushnell x reader | smau
🌙average girl's fantasy | woo do hwan x reader | smau
🌙grid princess | part 2 | milo manheim x reader | smau
🌙making headlines | isaac arellanes x reader | smau
formula one
🌙colonizing at its finest | oscar piastri x kohli!reader | smau
🌙can't a girl appreciate her boyfriend? | oscar piastri x reader | smau
🌙so... who's the wag? | oscar piastri x bellingham!reader | smau
🌙they're both homewreckers... for each other? | jude bellingham x wolff!reader | smau
🌙gen z on the track | ollie bearman x antonelli!reader | smau
🌙like mother, like daughter | oscar piastri x reader | smau
🌙what like its hard? | lando norris x reader | smau
🌙fia approved baby sitter | ollie bearman x lindblad!reader | smau
xo kitty
🌙secrets | part 0 | part 1 | minho moon x reader | smau
Summary: Helion has been attempting to get reader into his bed for years now, what happens when she finally gives in?
Warnings: smut | minors dni | fingering | p in v | creampie | controlled orgasm | dom/sub dynamics | so much banter | so much smut | they break a table | they do it on the floor | probably a lot more
A. Note: I think this is the longest fic I’ve ever posted so apologies for the wild word count, but also most of this is smut so you’re very welcome ;)
9.6k words.
Sitting in a large, worn leather chair positioned in a secluded corner of the library, I was half-hidden by towering shelves of books. The room was steeped in quiet, interrupted only by the occasional creak of the shelves under their heavy load or the soft turning of a page. The smell of old parchment mingled with the lingering scent of rich mahogany and leather—a sanctuary of knowledge and peace. And yet, even here, there was no escaping the High Lord.
"You've been avoiding me." Helion's voice cut through the tranquil silence with a casual grace, as he rounded one of the shelves that had been sheltering me. His amber eyes gleamed mischievously as he approached, a book tucked under his muscular arm. I highly doubted it was for actual reading.
"And you've been following me," I replied dryly, eyes fixed on my book. The words on the page blurred slightly, my pulse quickening from the mere presence of him.
"This is my personal library," he countered smoothly, leaning against the shelf, his broad frame casting a shadow over me. His proximity was a cage, yet the alcove still felt oddly cozy. "I'd say you're the one hoping to run into me." He gestured at the books surrounding us, a small portion of his vast collection, his smile all too knowing. "Besides, I happen to like reading."
The soft, golden light from a nearby lamp warmed the deep brown of his skin, making him look almost otherworldly as if carved from the light itself. I forced myself to stay calm, sinking deeper into the chair as I replied, "What book is that, then?" My chin jerked toward the novel he held so proudly, though I leaned back, attempting to appear indifferent.
With one of his signature smirks, Helion pulled the book from under his arm, holding it out like a grand reveal. "The Art of Seduction," he mused, his voice dripping with confidence.
"Subtle," I muttered, tossing him a glare before trying to lose myself in my own book again. The pages held nothing for me, not while Helion loomed over me with that look in his eyes. That ever-present challenge.
Unsurprisingly, he didn't leave. "Thought I could brush up on my skills, seeing as you seem so indifferent to my irresistible charm," he chimed, far too pleased with himself as he slid into the chair directly in front of mine, uninvited.
I narrowed my eyes, fighting back the heat rising in my cheeks. "Really? Out of every seat in this library, you choose that one?"
He shrugged, his casual air too relaxed for someone invading my space. "Well, you've stolen my usual one, so I must make do with lesser options." His lips twitched, eyes gleaming with amusement as he cracked open the book he clearly had no intention of reading, propping his feet up on the low table between us.
I stared, incredulous. "They're the same chair."
Helion gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes flashing with humor. "True, but that one smells like me."
I froze for a moment, my fingers going still against the soft leather of the armrest. The faint, intoxicating scent of sandalwood and bergamot swirled around me, and I cursed inwardly. It was familiar, inescapable, and frustratingly warm, like the High Lord himself. My gaze flicked up to his, and for the first time, he seemed genuinely absorbed in his book, a small line forming between his brows as if the words were the most fascinating thing in the world.
I had to stifle a laugh at the sight. I wasn't sure he'd ever actually read a single page of his vast collection, yet there he was, looking like a scholar lost in study.
We fell into a comfortable silence—Helion reading, or pretending to read, and me half-heartedly flipping through my book, both of us mirroring each other, our feet propped up on the table in an unspoken truce. The moment felt oddly peaceful, and for a brief second, I allowed myself to enjoy it.
But, of course, it didn't last.
Only a few moments later, Helion shut his book with a soft thud, and I felt his foot nudge mine from across the table. I resisted the urge to respond, cursing his long limbs and moving my legs out of his reach, but he persisted—sending a glare of sunlight directly into my line of sight, making it nearly impossible to read.
"Would you stop that?" I snapped, lowering my book and glaring at him from beneath my brows. He only grinned, looking far too pleased with himself.
"What book is that?" he asked as if the answer mattered.
I sighed. "Some random one I found on the shelves." It wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't the truth, either.
"Sunshine," he drawled, his voice like velvet as he leaned forward slightly, "I've read every book in this library. That one, I'm not familiar with."
I ignored him, focusing back on my book, though I wasn't reading a single word. The heat from his gaze felt palpable, like sunlight warming my skin.
"What is it?" he pressed again, his voice dripping with faux curiosity. His fingers twitched, and I braced myself as yet another glare of sunlight angled right into my eyes.
"I'm not telling," I muttered, holding up my forearm to shield my face from the assault.
Helion chuckled softly. "I'm commanding you to tell me, as High Lord," he said, the playful light still dancing at his fingertips.
"Why do you care so much?" I grumbled, slamming my book shut with an exaggerated huff.
He leaned back, eyes never leaving mine. "I wish to know what could possibly be more interesting than me." His smirk widened as if the very thought was inconceivable.
I said nothing, my silence was the only answer I was willing to give.
"How about a bet?" he suggested, the gleam in his eyes unmistakable. "If I can make you smile in the next five minutes, you have to tell me what you're reading."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "And if you lose?"
Helion's smirk softened into something more sincere. "I'll leave you alone for the rest of the night."
A tempting offer. I considered it for a moment, imagining a night of uninterrupted reading, free from his constant prattling.
"Deal. Five minutes," I said, returning to my book.
For a while, Helion was silent, the ticking clock in my mind counting down the seconds. But knowing him, he probably believed he didn't need the full-time—that one well-timed sentence would be enough.
"You look adorable with your nose stuffed in a book," he murmured, breaking the silence. His voice was softer now, more intimate, like a confession shared in the quiet of a night.
I rolled my eyes. "That's usually what people do in a library."
Helion's smile widened. "And yet, I find myself much more interested in studying you."
"Why don't you leave me alone and go read your book? Maybe you'll learn how to actually charm me," I shot back, trying to ignore the way his words made my pulse race.
"I could recite poetry and still fall short," he sighed dramatically as if I truly had him beat.
Despite myself, a smile tugged at my lips at the absurdity of it all.
"There it is," he marveled, his voice a soft victory.
My fleeting smile turned into a scowl. "That doesn't count. I was smiling at the thought of you leaving me alone."
Helion laughed. "A smile is a smile." He extended his hand, eyes glinting. "So, show me the book."
I look down to the page I was on—to the very erotic scene playing out that I hadn't even realized was happening, too busy pretending to read when he was talking to me to even realize.
"I—no," I murmur, slamming my book shut.
"We had a deal, so unless you want to have permanent bargain tattoos with me, I suggest you hand it over." He quipped and I frowned at the idea of something so permanent on my body being associated with him.
"Fine," I grumble, holding the book out to him with a string of grumbled curses. He takes the book, his fingers brushing over mine—the touch shooting rays of warmth up my arm. I shake it off and settle back into my chair which smelt so strongly of him.
Helion crosses his ankle over his knee, reclining back in his chair with the casual confidence that seems permanently etched into his being. His long, golden fingers lazily flip over my book, turning it to read the back. I watch as his brow arches and the corner of his mouth tugs upward.
"Reading about me, are we?" His voice breaks the silence, low and teasing, pulling my attention from my own thoughts. His gaze flickers up to mine, gleaming with amusement.
My head tilts in confusion, a frown forming. "It's not about you. How self-centered can you possibly get?" I scoff, reaching for the book with a frustrated hand, but he pulls it just out of reach with an effortless motion.
"A king falling for his emissary?" he continues, ignoring my protest. His fingers tap against the page in emphasis. "Sounds familiar, no?"
His eyes, molten gold in the dim library light, lock with mine, a teasing smile dancing on his lips. My pulse quickens, not from the question itself, but from the look on his face—the playful way he studies me like I'm a puzzle to be solved.
"My book, Helion," I demand, extending my arm towards him, though it feels like a futile gesture. He watches me closely, a cat toying with its prey.
"In a moment." He waves off my request with a casual flick of his hand, settling deeper into the oversized chair that barely manages to hold his broad frame. He opens the book, his eyes landing right on the page marked by my ribbon. My heart stutters in my chest. No, no, no. He's going to read that part. I freeze, eyes wide as I watch his expression for any sign of disgust or, worse, judgment.
But there's nothing. His lips curl into a slow smile, amusement dancing in his gaze. "This is far better than I could have ever imagined," he purrs, a wicked light entering his eyes as he lets the book fall closed and tosses it onto the table between us, entirely unbothered.
"I'm doing a book club with the Valkyries. It wasn't my first choice," I mumble quickly, snatching the book back from the table. My fingers are trembling slightly, and I hope he doesn't notice. The truth is, I was mortified.
Helion, of course, doesn't seem fazed by my embarrassment. "No need to defend yourself. Although," he leans back with a leisurely stretch, his muscles rippling beneath his tunic, "I have an entire shelf of erotica in the back that's much better written. And doesn't use words like 'velvet-wrapped steel.'"
Heat floods my cheeks, a fierce blush creeping up my neck. "Shouldn't you be doing High Lord stuff?" I grumble, trying to deflect, my mortification reaching new heights. "Not pestering me?"
"My court is asleep." He shrugs as if the affairs of his court are a mere inconvenience. "Nothing happens in the Day Court after the sun goes down." He huffs like it's a travesty, though there's a gleam in his eye suggesting he prefers it that way. "Well, nothing for the public eye anyway," he adds with a sultry grin, his eyes darkening, his voice dripping with innuendo.
I roll my eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "You still have land to rule. People to govern. They don't disappear just because they're asleep." I remind him, though I can't help but let my gaze flicker to the strong line of his jaw, the way his dimples deepen when he smiles.
"Delegation, my dear," he responds, his tone infuriatingly smug. "The key to any successful leader."
"If only you could delegate your need for constant attention," I shoot back, offering a sweet smile that hides my annoyance.
His shoulders slump in an exaggerated show of disappointment, his hand dramatically pressed to his chest. "Well, that just wouldn't work. There's only one person I want attention from."
The weight of his words hangs in the air, the meaning unmistakable. My heart skips a beat, my pulse fluttering in my throat as I force myself to remain calm. I can feel his gaze roaming over me like he's waiting for me to react. My eyes flick over his form, all lean muscle and rich, sun-kissed skin that practically glows in the warm library light. Everything about him radiates confidence—dangerous, seductive confidence.
"And I'm sure she's flattered," I say dryly, snapping my gaze away from his broad chest. "Too bad she's not here to distract you." I shift in my seat, trying to appear unbothered by the way his eyes are lingering on me, though I feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
Helion tilts his head, watching me with that same predatory amusement, as though he's enjoying a game only he knows the rules to. His forearms rest on his spread thighs, and gods, those thighs. I can't help but glance, at his muscles thick and defined. His deep chuckle pulls my attention back to his face.
"Oh, she's here," he muses, his voice dropping lower, rougher. "She just needs to stop pretending I'm not the most interesting thing in this library."
I open my mouth to respond, to shoot back some biting retort, but I'm momentarily speechless, my heart beating a little too fast. Instead, I huff and bury my nose in the book, determined to ignore him. It's unprofessional. He's the High Lord. And I'm his emissary. Even entertaining the idea of his flirting is toeing a dangerous line. Besides, I know Helion's reputation. I'm not interested in being just another conquest, no matter how much he seems to enjoy teasing me.
But gods, he makes it difficult.
"Stop glaring at that book." His voice breaks into my thoughts again, his tone laced with amusement. "Either you're about to throw it into a fire, or you're thinking about something else entirely."
I glance up at him, eyes narrowing. "I'm thinking about how much quieter it would be in here without you."
"This is a library, you know?" I add, flipping a page in a show of indifference.
"Yes, but this library is only open to the public during the daytime. Except for those permitted access." He reclines even further, his fingers interlacing behind his head as he watches me, that maddening grin still plastered on his face.
"And if someone with clearance is in here with you, disrupting their quiet?" I tilt my head at him, matching his smug expression.
He mirrors the movement. "Everyone with clearance is already here. Not even the librarians can come in after hours."
I blink, my mind catching up with his words. And then it hits me. "I'm the only one with permission, aren't I?" My voice comes out soft, the realization settling in.
"Took you long enough," he grins, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight.
"And how many women did this trick work on?" I grumble, my suspicion growing, even as my pulse quickens under his gaze.
"Just you," he says, and for once, the cocky smile falters into something more sincere.
I snort in disbelief. "It hasn't worked yet," I retort, though my voice sounds weaker than I'd like.
"Yet?" He arches a brow, his gaze flickering over me, daring me to challenge him.
My lips press into a thin line, and I bury myself back in my book, hiding behind the pages. "Go away, Helion." My voice comes out more of a plea than an order, and I curse myself for how breathless it sounds.
"I don't want you to miss me." His tone is snarky, yet something told me he genuinely believed what he was saying. I force myself not to look at him, to not fall for whatever game he's playing.
"Nonsense," I murmur, my cheeks burning. "I'd be too busy enjoying the peace."
Helion sighs dramatically, though there's a glimmer of laughter in his voice. "I'm not sure you're capable of quiet when I'm around. You always have something to say."
He's right, of course, and that's what infuriates me the most. No matter how much I want to ignore him, I can't. There's something about him that pulls the words right out of me.
"It's called defending myself from your constant attempts at flirting," I snap, though I don't dare look up, knowing he's probably biting back another smile.
"And here I was thinking we were bonding." His voice drops, laced with a dark, rich amusement. I glance up just in time to see him run a hand down his thigh, slow and deliberate, as though daring me to watch.
"This is what you call bonding?" I shift uncomfortably in my seat, the tension in the air almost unbearable. "I call it you trying—and failing—to charm me."
"Oh please," he laughs softly, his smile widening. "You've been charmed by me since the day we met. Don't think I haven't noticed the looks you've been sneaking all night."
His words land like a punch to the gut, and I flush, my cheeks heating in embarrassment. I can't tell if I'm mortified because he caught me or because I was staring at all.
"You think too highly of yourself," I mutter, sinking deeper into the chair as if it could swallow me whole. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing how flustered I am.
Helion only leans closer, his voice softening, turning almost serious. "You're the only one who thinks too lowly of me."
The sudden shift in his tone catches me off guard, and for the first time tonight, I meet his gaze fully. There's no teasing, no playful glint. Just him, watching me with an intensity that steals the air from my lungs.
I truly tried to focus on what I was reading, but his lingering gaze on me was going to drive me wild. Somehow that stare spoke louder than any words he could've said. He was offering me the silence I wanted, while simultaneously pushing me to insanity. Surely I couldn't get mad at him for simply observing? Yet here I was, nearly fuming at the way he tracked each of my movements.
Eventually, I grow sick of his ogling, so I snap my book closed and turn to him with narrowed eyes. Stop looking at me like that," I order, pushing myself up from the chair that had all but swallowed me. It's identical to the one Helion has turned into his makeshift throne, yet somehow, he manages to own his space with ease.
"Like what?" He rises with me, and I have to crane my neck just to maintain eye contact. Even that, the way I have to look up at him, feels like some small concession.
I stare at him, his features softened by the glow of the candlelight. His usual smirk is nowhere to be seen, and his golden eyes hold no trace of the lust or amusement I've come to expect from him. Instead, they're filled with something even more dangerous—reverence. He looks at me like I'm more than just a passing amusement, more than just a fleeting fancy. Like I'm something precious.
"Like I'm more than just a game to you," I shake my head, tearing my gaze away. The weight of his stare is too much. I toss the book in my hands onto the coffee table with more force than necessary and stride past him, desperate to escape the suffocating tension of our little alcove. I don't trust myself to stay there, not with him looking at me like that.
"You think this is a game?" His voice follows me as I make my way through the dim, quiet library. It's empty, save for the two of us, but somehow, his presence alone fills every corner.
"Isn't it?" I shoot back, unwilling to turn and face him. The memory of his gaze burns too fresh in my mind. "Your reputation for women precedes you, Helion." The words slip out harsher than I intended. It's a low blow, bringing up his past like this, but I need him to understand why I can't—why I shouldn't.
I expect him to brush it off, but instead, he's beside me in a flash, walking in step as though he belongs at my side. "You think I would chase after a female for three years just for sex?" His voice is surprisingly calm, but there's a thread of frustration woven into it. "I've been rejected before, and I always respect it."
I stop in my tracks, staring up at him with creased brows. "Then what makes me so different?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. It's a question I've been avoiding for months, maybe longer. Because deep down, I'm afraid of the answer. I'm afraid of what it might mean—for both of us.
Helion doesn't hesitate. "Because you feel it too." He steps closer, his movements slow, deliberate. The air between us crackles with unspoken tension, and yet I don't move. "This thing between us, you delight in it just as much as I do."
He takes another step forward, closing the distance, and my back hits the bookshelf behind me. Trapped, my breath hitches, but I refuse to show any sign of retreat.
"I'm not going to be another girl you charm for a night and forget by morning," I whisper, my voice barely holding steady. It's a quiet confession, more to myself than to him.
Helion's hand comes up to cup my jaw, his thumb brushing over my cheek with an unbearable tenderness. "I wouldn't forget you," he murmurs, shaking his head as if the very idea is absurd.
The proximity is overwhelming now. His warmth radiates off him, pulling me in, and my resolve—what little remains—begins to crumble. My body betrays me, my hands itching to touch him, to feel the strength in the muscles I've tried not to think about for so long.
"Helion,” I murmur, his name a warning, or maybe a plea. I don't even know anymore.
His gaze drops to my lips, his thumb never stopping its gentle, maddening caress. "Tell me, what keeps you from me?" he asks softly, his breath mingling with mine.
My throat tightens, and I remind myself of all the reasons this is a terrible idea. "I would hate myself if I became another one of your conquests." The words come out softer than I intend, laced with the fear I've been trying so hard to suppress.
But Helion doesn't back away. He doesn't laugh or brush it off. Instead, he leans in closer, his voice low and rough. "You're not. And even if you were—with the amount of time I've had to think about you, it'd take months to cross everything I want to do to you off the list." His lips ghost over mine, the barest hint of a touch that sets my skin ablaze.
"Helion," I repeat, the name a broken caution.
"Tell me to stop, I will." He promises, his voice raw with need. He inches closer, only a hairsbreadth away. "Tell me." He whispers, lips ghosting over mine.
I didn't have it in myself to tell him to stop, to even push him away. I wanted this, needed this. I surged upwards and closed the distance between us.
For three years he had been taunting me, teasing me with pretty words and suggestive smiles, and now I was finally giving him what he wanted—and what I have secretly been wanting far longer than he suspects, and it was everything I could've hoped for.
My back pressed harder into the shelf behind me as his chest met mine, while his hands, warm and firm wrapped around my hips, drawing me closer until there was no space between us. My body betrayed my mind, my thoughts warning me to stop, to end this before it was too late, but my hands were running down his muscles chest I've been craving to feel for years, my fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic and pulling him into me, deepening our kiss.
Every touch sent sparks skittering across my skin, and for a moment I allowed myself to drown in him, in the heat of him, his scent, the way he kissed me like he might never get the chance again.
His hands traveled from my hips, beneath my shirt to grip my waist—and the feel of his calloused hands on my bare skin was enough to send me reeling. The kiss grew more frantic, more desperate. His skilled tongue explored every possible inch of my mouth, and I allowed it, reveling in the way he so eagerly tasted me.
When I finally pulled away, breaking our kiss, our breaths coming in ragged gasps I stared up into his dilated pupils, the playful spark I was used to seeing there replaced by something deeper, something that sent both a jolt of fear and excitement through me. He was staring down at me like I was the only thing in the room—hel, like I was the only thing that mattered.
He leans closer, placing an all-too-gentle kiss on the expanse just below my ear. "Helion," I echoed, my fists still clenching his shirt.
"Yeah?" He uttered, his breath hot against my skin as he slowly trailed his lips down my jaw.
"We shouldn't, we can't," I sigh breathlessly, my hand weaving into his hair, tilting my head, allowing him to deepen his kiss.
"Who said?" He murmurs into my skin.
"It isn't professional," I say between breaths, my pulse rapidly fluttering, his tongue flicking over it playfully.
"Do you want to stop?" He asked, pulling away to look me in the eyes and the loss of his contact made something inside me ache.
"I—no, gods no," I profess, my hands wrapping around the back of his neck.
"Then I don't care if it's professional, let me give you what you need," He whispered, his lips brushing mine. "Alright?"
I don't reply, and instead crash his lips onto mine once more, the rest of my defenses crumbling at the action. The kiss was hungrier this time, more demanding. I gave in fully as his tongue found its way into my mouth yet again, my chest arching into his as his hands slipped down to cup the back of my thighs, tapping me twice as a silent command to jump. I did exactly as he wished, wrapping my legs around his torso as he supported me, his touch traveled higher to cradle me by the curve of my ass. He smiled into the kiss, even in the heat of the moment his cocky grin manages to make an appearance.
He pushes off the shelf, blindly guiding us through the shelves and to the center of the empty library, where tables fill the area. He placed me down on the edge of the center table, his hands leaving my backside in favor of exploring new, untouched areas. Heat races through my veins as his hands trailed to the hem of my skirt, slipping beneath it without hesitation, his thumb grazing against the seam of my panties.
"Wait," I pant against his lips and his hand freezes. "Not here," I murmured, pecking his lips softly.
"It's just us in here, remember?" He reassured me when I pulled away, kissing my forehead. "Just us." His lips brush against my skin as he repeats the words and I can feel my resolve slipping. There was no more room for doubt, no more room for fear. All that existed was an overwhelming need to have him, to feel him in every way possible, to lose myself entirely in him until I didn't know where he ended and where I began.
"Just us," I echo, nodding slowly.
"We can stop," He said, despite how clearly he wanted this and was desperate for this.
"No, Helion don't stop," I connect our lips once more, allowing my legs to fall open farther, inviting him.
He forced himself to pull away, to restrain himself from me for just a moment longer. "You're okay with this, then?" He rasped, eyes pure gold.
"Yes," I answered. "Gods, yes." I pulled him into me, his hips meeting mine. His grin turned almost wolfish, primal as he tore through my skirt like it was nothing, discarding the fabric. He pulled me to the very edge of the table, his hands rubbing higher up my thighs, tracing the seam of my panties. I gasped as he pressed two fingers onto my clothed folds, just the right amount of pressure, not enough to get any real gratification from—but gods it still felt good. He smirks against my lips as he feels the damp spot forming on the cloth and I flush in embarrassment.
"I haven't even touched you," He noted aloud, deepening my blush. "Tell me, baby, were you this wet when I was simply talking to you?" He utters between kisses and I fight the urge to sneer at him.
"Do you ever shut up?" I ask, my question genuine. He responds with a searing kiss, which did in fact quiet him.
He couldn't control himself any longer, not with my hands roaming his back, my lips on his. He tore through my undergarments in a similar fashion to my skirt, tossing the wet fabric somewhere unimportant to me. He pulled back from our kiss, and I tugged at his bottom lip to stop him from leaving but he ignored my silent complaint, only to peer down at the apex of my thighs.
He grunted at the sight, his forehead meeting mine as he swiped two fingers through my embarrassingly wet core, his fingers coming back dripping. I throbbed for more, letting out a quiet moan as his thumb came down onto my clit, my head tilted back in ecstasy as he began circling it, his skillful touch setting my skin on fire as his middle finger traced my dripping entrance. I bucked slightly, leaning on my hands behind me as I lifted my hips for more friction.
He chuckled breathlessly, the sound humiliating, while simultaneously making me crave him so much more.
He didn't make me wait long before his own restraint snapped, letting go of that leash he had been gripping so tightly and pushing two of his fingers inside of me.
I moaned at the stretch, louder this time, relishing in the way his calloused fingers scraped against my walls, fitting me around him so perfectly.
He grunted at the sound of my moans, his pace unrelenting as his fingers thrust into me repeatedly, deep and slow. The pressure building inside me had my legs trembling as I spread them wider for him, silently begging for more.
"That's it," he rasped into my open mouth, his voice hoarse with desire. "Doing so well for me." His words were like kindling to the fire already raging in my core, my entire body aching for release. I could barely find the breath to respond, only able to whimper his name.
I bit my lip as he curled his fingers inside me, hitting that sweet spot that had me seeing stars. My eyes squeezed shut, my chest rising and falling with ragged breaths as I tried to hold on, trying not to fall apart too soon, but he didn't seem to like that idea.
His other hand moved up my body, pulling the fabric of my shirt open to expose my breasts. He skillfully unclasped my bra, disposing of it just as he did with the rest of my clothes, leaving me entirely bare. He wasted no time in leaning down and capturing one of my peaked nipples between his teeth. The added sensation had my whole body jerking forward, my fingers tangling in his hair as I gasped.
"Yeah? You like that?" he muttered against my skin, the vibration of his voice sending shivers down my spine. I nodded frantically, unable to form words, as his fingers pumped into me with precision, his thumb pressing down on my clit, moving in tight circles that had me trembling on the edge of oblivion.
I was so close, so damn close, but I didn't want it to end just yet. I tugged on his hair, trying to pull him away from my breast, but he didn't budge. If anything, he seemed encouraged by the way my body was reacting to him, his fingers moving faster, his tongue flicking over my nipple with maddening strokes.
"Gods," I moaned, my head tilting back towards the vaulted ceiling, towards the sky and everything beyond, praying for relief, for that sweet, euphoric high. "Helion—m'close," I confess through a whimper, feeling my body reach its ascent.
"You going to beg for it?" He purred, pulling away from my breast, peering up at me.
"What?" I utter, too lost in my pleasure to even wrap my head around the thought.
"Beg for it." He repeats. "Beg for me to let you come." He reiterates, his voice low, sultry. My arousal increases, I must've been dripping into his hand.
"I'm not—fuck," I hiss as he curves his fingers into that sensitive spot, but not enough pressure to push me over the edge, he was toying with me. "Not g'na beg," I murmur, my body betraying me by trembling under his touch.
"No? Still not ready to admit how needy you are for me?" He tutted, seeming almost disappointed. The tone was degrading in itself, enough to send me reeling—but then his fingers were pulling out of me and he had no intention of thrusting them back in.
I gasped, my resolve shattering as I bucked my hips up desperately. "No—no please," I give in, my body aching for him to fill me again. "Helion, please—"
I stare through low-lidded eyes as a smile slowly spreads across his sensuous lips. "Please what? Tell me what you want."
"Wanna come, please I've needed this for so long," My breath hitched, it was hard to dig the words I've kept buried so deep back up, to confess them not only to him but to myself as well. "I've needed you, for so long."
He leans closer, pecking my lips softly, in such a tender way it made me forget about everything else, about what the court might think, about my fear of being just another game to him. It was only us, connected in every way possible.
"There she is," He pulled back from my lips. "That wasn't so hard, now was it?" He teased between kisses.
"Helion, please, can I?" I whine, the sound so pitiful I barely recognize it as my own.
"Go ahead love, come on my hand." He rasped, and just like that, the world shattered around me. My orgasm tore through me like a storm, my body shaking as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me. I cried out his name, my hands gripping his shoulders, nails digging into the corded muscle there as he coaxed me through every second of it, his fingers never stopping, pushing me higher, deeper into bliss.
When I finally came down, my body limp and trembling, he pulled his fingers from me, his eyes dark with lust as he brought them to his lips. He licked them clean, tasting me with a low, satisfied groan that sent another pulse of heat through me.
"You taste better than I imagined," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, making me shiver despite the warmth still radiating from my core.
But before I could catch my breath, he was already pulling off his clothes, his eyes locked on mine with a hunger that made my heart race all over again.
"You didn't think I was done with you, did you?" he asked, his grin returning as he tugged his pants down, his hardened cock springing free. My eyes widened at the sight, and for a second I debated if he'd even fit.
"Now," he whispered, guiding me off the table so I could plant my feet solidly on the ground. His voice sent a thrill down my spine as he said, "Be a good girl and bend over the table f'me, yeah?"
I slowly turned my back to him, my legs shaky from the intense pleasure still coursing through me, his hands never left my body. They trailed down my sides, strong and possessive, igniting embers of anticipation in their wake. His touch alone had me quivering, but the look in his eyes—dark, feral—made my pulse quicken.
I bent over the table as instructed, the cool wood pressing against my flushed skin. The vulnerable position made my blood heat, but excitement flared deep inside me, mixing with the lingering ache of desire. His breath was hot against my ear as he leaned over me, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my neck.
"That's it, baby," he purred, his fingers trailing teasingly down my spine before settling on my hips, pinning them in place. "So eager to please."
I could hear the sound of his breath hitching, and feel the tension in the air as he lined himself up behind me, his tip nudging at my entrance. I bit my lip, expectancy tightening my body.
He pushed forward slowly, torturously so, letting me feel every inch as he stretched me. A low, guttural groan escaped his lips, and my own whimper joined it, the sensation overwhelming, leaving no room for thought, only the feeling of him filling me completely.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, hands gripping my hips tighter. "So, so tight." His voice sent a wave of need through me, the table was too long for me to find any leverage, I was left stranded between the polished wood and his broad chest, unable to steady myself.
With an impatient, sharp snap of his hips, he pushed into me deeper, granting a gasp from my lips. The suddenness of it sent a shudder through me, pleasure curling through my body in response. He leaned over me again, his mouth grazing my ear. "You feel so good," he rasped, his voice a mixture of lust and satisfaction as he began to move, each thrust deep and slow, drawing out every bit of sensation until I was trembling beneath him.
I couldn't help the moans that slipped past my lips as he built a rhythm, each movement of his hips driving me higher, closer to the edge once again. My back bowed, pressing into his chest and deepening the angle of him, the sensation eliciting a noiseless scream from me.
His hands tightened on my hips, fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me back to meet each of his thrusts. Every movement was deliberate, slow but devastatingly deep, as though he wanted me to feel every inch of him, to memorize the way he stretched me, and filled me so completely. The pressure was maddening, making my body tremble beneath him, a delicious torment that left me teetering on the edge but not quite enough to tip over.
His pace quickened, the drag of him inside me was almost too much to bear, and yet not enough all at once. His hands were gripping me so tightly I was sure there would be bruises by morning, but the thought only made me hotter, the idea of his marks on me driving me wild.
The sound of skin meeting skin filled the air, each slap punctuated by our ragged breaths. My nails dug into the table's edge, desperate for something to anchor myself to, but every time I thought I could catch my breath, he would change the angle just slightly, hitting that spot deep inside me that sent white-hot pleasure shooting through my veins.
"You sound so perfect moaning my name," He murmured beside my ear. "So fucking perfect for me." His words sent a shiver down my spine, a molten heat spreading through my core. My body was caught in the rhythm he set, each thrust rocking me against the wood of the table, it creaked beneath us, but it was his ragged breaths and the low, guttural sounds he made that had my heart racing, my need climbing higher and higher.
He shifted his grip, one hand moving from my hip to slide up my spine, tracing a line of fire until it fisted into my hair, pulling my head back just enough for his lips to make contact with the most sensitive spot on my neck, sucking on the area hard. "I want to hear you," he demanded, voice low and rough against my throat. "I want to hear you fall apart for me."
I moaned loudly in response, the sound raw, desperate, as his hand tugged harder, pulling my back into a deeper arch. My entire body was taut, every nerve lit up under his command. His other hand slid around to my front, fingers finding the aching bundle of nerves between my legs, circling it with relentless precision.
The duel stimulation nearly broke me. My body jerked beneath him, every muscle tightening as I fought to hold back, but it was a losing battle. The pressure was building again, faster this time, harder, threatening to unravel me completely.
"That's it," he murmured, his fingers speeding up in sync with his thrusts. "I can feel you, baby. You're close, aren't you? So close to coming all over my cock."
I was. I was so desperate, I could hardly think, my mind a haze of nothing but him—his voice, his hands, his cock twitching inside me. My breaths came out in shallow gasps, each one forced from me by the sensation of his fingers working me toward the brink.
"Come for me," he commanded, his voice like gravel, rough and impatient. "Let go."
I shattered around him. My body tensed as the orgasm ripped through me, pleasure crashing down in waves so intense it left me trembling and breathless. I cried out, the sound broken and uninhibited, my walls clenching tightly around him as I came harder than I thought possible.
He groaned in response, feeling my pulse around him, his hips stuttering as he chased his own release. His thrusts grew erratic, rougher, until finally, with a deep, guttural moan, he followed me over the edge, spilling into me with a few last powerful thrusts that left us both gasping for breath.
For a moment, we stayed like that, bodies entwined, both of us panting and spent. His hands, once gripping me with unrelenting force, now softened, running soothingly over my hips and sides. He pressed a soft kiss to the back of my neck, and I shivered, still coming down from the high, my legs weak and trembling.
Ever so slowly he pulled out of me, his warm hands guiding me upright. I trembled, my arms shaking as I used them to hold myself up. I leaned against the table as I turned around to face him, my cheeks flushed with exertion, my entire body heated with stimulation.
"Feeling alright?" He asks, his voice so gentle in contrast to his earlier roughness. I nod slowly, gripping the edge of the table behind me for support.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, nearly lovingly, then cups my cheek. I allow myself to lean into the touch, turning my head to place a soft kiss on his palm.
Something in his eyes changed then, something deeper than lust or need, and before I could stop myself I was wrapping my arms around the nape of his neck and slotting my mouth over his yet again.
My legs trembled as he kissed me, savored me so thoroughly like he'd never get sick of the taste. He noticed my unsteady stance and hoisted me back up onto the table, guiding me to lay down, sprawled for him.
The table creaked when he leaned on it and I grabbed his wrist, halting him. "The table won't hold both of us," I say breathlessly, especially not if he was going to push into me as rough as he was earlier.
"Then we'll move to the floor when it snaps." He smirks, crawling over me despite my warning, and I can't help but allow a feeling of excitement and arousal to flicker through me at the promise of his words.
He hovers over me, his hands beside my head as he hardens again, at just the sight of me, the thought of me bare beneath him, legs spread for his entrance. His sultry smirk widens as his tip brushes against my core. "Helion," I whimper, his name on my lips a prayer on its own. "Need you," I beg, my words no longer my own as eagerness for pleasure consumed me.
His gaze darkened, the hunger in his eyes sending a shiver down my spine. He lowered his mouth to my neck, his lips grazing my skin in a teasingly slow path. "Say it again," he murmured, voice hoarse with need, the warmth of his breath making my pulse race beneath him.
I swallowed, my hands gripping his biceps as my chest rose and fell in shallow, desperate breaths. "Please," I whispered, tilting my head to give him better access, my body trembling with anticipation. "Please, Helion. I need you."
A groan escaped his throat, primal and possessive. He didn't make me wait any longer. With one swift, powerful thrust, he pushed into me, the sound of my gasp mingling with his low growl as he filled me completely. The table creaked louder beneath us, and I could feel its instability, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Helion moved with a steady, deep rhythm at first, his hips rolling as he gripped my waist with one hand, the other bracing himself beside my head. "You're perfect like this," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. "Desperate and moaning my name."
I could only whine in response, the delicious friction building inside me, pushing me closer to the edge with every thrust. He quickened his pace, the intensity rising, and I arched into him, wrapping my legs around his hips, desperate for more of him, all of him. The tension coiled tighter within me, the sound of our bodies colliding and the ragged breaths filling the room.
"Helion," My voice was barely a whisper, swallowed by the pleasure that rippled through me. His name left my lips again in a breathy plea, barely heard below the splintering of the table, and with another powerful thrust, one leg of the table snapped. He gathered me in his arms before we could go crashing, High Lord strength holding me upright, all while still nestled inside of me.
I was too focused on how good he was making me feel to think about the change of positions, too focused on how he was lifting me up and down on his cock, the quick pace making me release a string of needs.
He dropped to his knees, kneeling down and placing me on the carpeted floor, just as he promised.
He didn't relent in his thrusting despite the altering of position, he fucked me right through it, overwhelmed me with intense pleasure so I barely noticed it as well.
"So perfect, like you were made for me," he breathed, his voice thick with lust as he thrust deeper, each stroke igniting another wave of pleasure that threatened to drown me. I could feel every muscle in my body tensing, arching to meet him, lost in the rhythm he set.
I whimpered, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer as if I could merge our bodies even more completely. "Helion, please," I begged, the words spilling from my lips unbidden. "Don't stop. I'm so close."
His response was a low growl, and he quickened his pace, driving deeper, harder, as he captured my mouth in a heated kiss. His tongue tangled with mine, his lips moving against mine as if he were trying to devour me whole. I could feel the way he was losing himself too, the need in his movements matching the frantic beating of my heart.
The carpet shifted beneath us— and I realized we no longer lay against the floor, but a soft mattress. Somewhere during our heated kiss he had winnowed us into what I assume was his bedroom, the sounds of our bodies slapping together echoing off the walls. Helion's hands gripped my hips, guiding me as he thrust up into me, his movements unrelenting. Each thrust built until I was teetering on the edge of release.
"Just a little more," he encouraged, his breath hot against my ear. "I can feel you tightening around me. Let go, love." The endearment sent a thrill through me, urging me closer to the precipice.
"Helion!" I gasped, feeling the coil within me tighten to its breaking point. I surrendered completely, my body instinctively arching and clenching around him as I felt the wave crash over me. My orgasm hit with blinding force, washing over me in intense ripples of pleasure as I cried out, my body trembling in response.
He followed me over the edge, his own release spilling forth as he growled my name, the sound mingling with the rush of my own pleasure. Helion thrust a few more times, riding out both our climaxes, our bodies perfectly attuned to one another.
He finally pulled out of me, flipping down onto the mattress beside me. I rested my head against his shoulder, his hand slipped into mine, our fingers intertwining, feeling blissfully content, the world around us fading into the background as I savored the afterglow.
After a few moments, I giggled softly, breaking the comfortable silence. "I can't believe we broke a table."
He chucked breathlessly, the warm sound making a feeling bloom in my chest. "It never stood a chance," He replied.
"Literally," I added, eliciting another quiet laugh from him.
I turned onto my side, wrapping an arm around his bare torso, furrowing into his warmth.
I lay still, the warmth of his body fading as he pulled away, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable. My heart raced with a mix of confusion and irritation as I watched him slip into his pants. "I thought I wasn't another conquest?" I muttered, my voice laced with hurt as I searched his eyes for the truth.
Helion paused, his expression shifting to one of genuine confusion. "You're not," he said, the sincerity in his tone softening the edges of my anger. But then I narrowed my eyes, my glare unwavering.
"Then where are you going?" I pressed, the question heavy on my heart.
A playful smile tugged at his lips, clearly amused by my reaction. "Would you have a little faith in me? I'm getting a cloth to clean you up," he reassured, turning toward the basin beside the window. I watched him wet a cloth, wringing it out with careful precision before making his way back to the bed.
My glare faltered, replaced by a rush of embarrassment as he returned to my side, settling beside me, I could feel the warmth radiating from his body, and my breath hitched slightly at the intimacy of the moment. Helion gently dragged the damp cloth between my legs, his movements deliberate and tender, and I couldn't help but squirm under his touch.
"Helion," I murmured, feeling a rush of warmth flood my cheeks as he meticulously cleaned me. The sensation was both intimate and oddly soothing, and I found it hard to maintain my earlier annoyance. His focus was unwavering, his eyes intent on his task, and I couldn't help but appreciate how he handled me with such care.
"Relax," he said softly, glancing up at me as he continued his work. "I promise I'm not going anywhere." His gaze held mine, and I could see the genuine warmth and affection there, a stark contrast to the teasing persona he often wore.
I took a deep breath, the tension in my body slowly dissipating as I let his calm wash over me. "Okay," I finally replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I settled back against the pillows, allowing myself to enjoy this unexpected moment of intimacy. Helion finished cleaning me, his touch lingering just a bit longer than necessary, sending shivers of pleasure through me.
"There," he said, a satisfied smile gracing his lips as he tossed the cloth aside. "All clean."
I watch him discard the cloth in the laundry bin with casual grace as if he didn't just alter my entire perception of him. He moved into bed beside me, the mattress dipping with his weight. "You okay, love?" He murmured, tucking me into his carved chest. Again, with that nickname that sent a flutter through me, an endearing sensation I couldn't quite put into words.
I swallowed thickly, nodding as I sunk into his warmth, the kind comparable to the rays of the sun. "Mhm, just tired," I uttered.
"Rest, I'll be here in the morning," He murmured, his hand running down the length of my arm, tracing delicate patterns on my skin. I felt every gentle stroke like a whisper, a promise that anchored me to this newfound connection.
As I settled deeper into his embrace, the world outside faded away, and the quiet rhythm of his heartbeat became the lullaby that lulled me into sleep, a well-earned and deep one, his warmth cradling me into a blissful slumber.
I awoke at first light, my eyes fluttering open to the uncovered windows—the day court being worshippers of the sun, curtains were unheard of here, which made for a rough morning. But something about this morning, with the sun kissing my skin the way Helion had last night, it wasn't so bad.
I flip over, my back to the sun and my front to, perhaps something warmer.
He was awake, already staring at me with a slight smile on his lips. "Good morning," He whispered, his voice deepened by sleep.
"I suppose this is when I take my leave?" I murmur, but don't make any movement to leave. I didn't want to, I wanted to bathe in his sunlight for a little while longer.
He reaches over, his large hand spanning my waist and pulling me closer, encasing me into his broad shoulders and carved chest. "No, my dear, you're not going anywhere." He reassures, looking down at me with a darkened gaze, our foreheads pressed together and his nose brushing mine.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I feign annoyance, rolling my eyes.
He lets out a breathless laugh, leaning down into my neck and pressing his lips into the collection of marks he had left only last night. "You've no idea." He mumbled and I groaned playfully, grumbling a curse.
"Still pretending like you haven't completely fallen for me?" He prodded, the tip of his nose running up my neck.
"I didn't say that," I murmur, running a hand through his hair.
"So you have, fallen for me?" He teased, pulling away from my throat to peer up at me.
"Helion," I whine, my bottom lip protruding as I meet his gaze. "I can't stay here all day, now can I?"
"Who says you can't? The Day Court has no rules against me lounging in bed with beautiful women," He purred. "I've made sure of it." He added with a wink and I rolled my eyes.
"That doesn't sound like a very productive court," I remark, a smile pulling at my lips as I feel our usual banter slide back into place.
He hummed in thought, adjusting out position so his hips were between my legs, his arms wrapped around my waist, and his head on my chest. "Depends on what you consider productive." He mumbled into the cleavage of my breasts.
I scoffed, pulling at his hair and guiding him away from my chest. "You're insatiable," I grumble.
"You love it." He says with an all too confident wink.
"Maybe." I sigh, gripping his shoulder and flipping us over. "But what would your court say if they found out you were bedding your emissary?" I frown at the thought alone.
"I'm their High Lord, they can't say anything unless they wanted their tongues taken—" He suggests, while helping me into a more comfortable position, my head beside his on the pillow, our legs intertwined, my chest pressed against his. "Though I doubt any of them would say a word about you." He reassures, his hand coming to my jaw. "That is unless you wanted them to talk? If so I'd be happy to tell them the events of last night." He smirks and my cheeks glow red, heated beneath his touch.
"Modesty is one of your many virtues I see," I murmur, attempting to ignore my fluttering heartbeat.
"Of course." He gives me a look as if it was a well-known fact. "I'm the very picture of restraint and humility." He quips and I giggle, the sound making his breathing stall for a moment.
His gaze flickers down to mine, his brows slightly creased in conflict. "Stay." He whispered, leaning closer and pecking a kiss on my forehead. "Just a little longer." He added, his lips brushing about my skin.
I sighed, any lingering resolve melting away under his touch. "Just a little longer," I agreed, closing the distance between us as his lips met mine, slow and unhurried, as if the rest of the world could wait.
I already made a list for azriel which was actually meant as a list for all the characters I read for but I read a lot more of azriel fics because he's my baby and the list was getting too long. So here are the rest of the characters and I also added some more azzy drabbles sorry
Rhysand
@azsazz
dioxazine part 2 - fluff, smut, modern au, art school au
the lord's work - smut
if you should die before you wake - smut, rhys x cass x azriel x reader
just hold on - smut
a court of four horsemen - smut, part of a series
double duty - smut, rhys x reader x cass
what's mine - smut, rhys x eris x reader
lavender haze - fluff, suggestive
@tadpolesonalgae
mine - smut, check warnings!
knocked up - smut
vampire!rhysand drabble - smut
professor!rhys headcanons part 2 - smut
soothing - fluff, aftercare
@leafsandstarlight
easy like sunday morning - fluff, smut
@azrielbrainrot
my body keeps saying it's yours - smut
all over my skin - smut, rhys x reader x azriel
@writingsbychlo
home to us - fluff
rhys as a pleasure dom - smut - technically a drabble? blurb?
@azrielscrown
mirror mirror - smut
daylight - fluff
@acourtofwhatthefuck
shrinking violet - smut
@shadowdaddies
if i catch you i fuck you - smut
@fieldofdaisiies
rhysand... - drabble, smut
Cassian
@azsazz
mirror mirror - smut
take it - smut
a court of four horsemen - smut, part of a series
@tadpolesonalgae
on the strategy board - smut
pools of sunlight - fluff
@leafsandstarlight
halley's comet - angst, smut
@princess-tulip-writes
drabble - smut - az x cass x reader
@fieldofdaisiies
cassian... - drabble
@illyrianbitch
words of affirmation - fluff
Eris
@acourtofmenandthirst
runaway - angst, smut
fox hunting - smut
closed until further notice - fluff, smut, coffee shop au
smut blurb
smut blurb II
@leafsandstarlight
destiny's battleground - angst, smut
my lovely throne - smut
despite our differences - angst, smut, series
the prince of blood part 2 part 3 - vampire!eris
@tadpolesonalgae
servitude - smut
thumb prints - smut
@serpentandlily
sly fox, dumb bunny - series
@azsazz
the burning of the autumn leaves and the roaring of my yearning heart - angst, smut
soul on fire - smut
a court of four horsemen - smut, part of a series
@azrielbrainrot
fire on fire - angst?
mind over matter - angst?
@gothicbabydollz
riding eris' face - smut, drabble
riding eris' thigh - smut, drabble
@honeybeefae
cauldron fated - angst, smut
@princess-tulip-writes
making out with eris while giving him a handjob - smut, drabble
A/N: Y'all... I swear to the Gods that I used a randomizer to assign characters for this. Apparently, the Wheel is just as much of a slut for Dorian and Flynn as I am. Also, I have midterms right in the middle of October, so the posting schedule is more of a suggestion, at best.
Day 1: Thigh Riding - Helion x Reader
Day 2: Vampire - Eris Vanserra x Reader
Day 3: Keep Quiet - Ithan Holstrom x Reader
Day 4: Monsterfucking - Eris Vanserra x Reader
Day 5: Double Penetration - Azriel x Reader x Eris Vanserra
Day 6: Hank Kink - Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 7: Reverse Harem - Frat Pack x Reader
Day 8: Massage - Tarquin x Reader
Day 9: Squiring - Cresseida x Reader
Day 10: Being Recorded - Tristan Flynn x Reader
Day 11: Temperature Play - Rowan Whitethorn x Reader x Aelin Ashryver Galathynius
Day 12: Breath Play - Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 13: Finishing Untouched - Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 14: Throat Training - Rhysand x Reader
Day 15: Breeding - Ithan Holstrom x Reader
Day 16: Size Kink - Fenrys Moonbeam x Reader
Day 17: Pirate/Mermaid - Tarquin x Reader
Day 18: Public Sex - Valg!Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 19: Daddy Kink - Einar Danaan x Reader
Day 20: Mirror Sex - Azriel x Reader
Day 21: Huddle for Warmth - Ruhn Danaan x Reader
Day 22: Hate Sex - Tristan Flynn x Reader
Day 23: Sex Pollen - Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 24: Dubcon/Drugging - Demon!Eris Vanserra x Reader
Day 25: Impact Play - Tristan Flynn x Reader
Day 26: Mutual Masturbation - Dorian Havilliard x Reader
Day 27: Overstimulation - Ithan Holstrom x Reader x Tristan Flynn
Day 28: Under the Influence - Tristan Flynn x Reader
you shifted in your seat for what felt like the fourth time tonight. And suddenly you can feel all eyes on you at the family dinner. You clear your throat and look up from your plate, sure enough you are right.
Mor, Feyre, Rhys, Nesta, Cassian, Azriel, Elaine and Amren are all looking at you. You look away for a split second. But it's enough. Its enough for Amren to put the pieces together because out of everyone you talk the most to her.
That's how your friendship goes. You talk she listens. On the off chance that she does talk you listen. It doesn't happen often. But when it does you don't feel like such a burden. The thing between you feels like a true friendship.
"Cauldron! You are glowing!" she shouts.
"What?" you ask, but you know exactly what she means.
She places her glass of wine down on the table. With a smirk she looks right at you, leans in on her elbows and props her face in her hands.
"You've been fucked." she puts simply.
You screw your eyes shut, "That''s so-"
"Woah? By who?" Mor asks.
"Is it that one fae that looks at you when we go out to the apothecary?" Nesta asks.
Your eyes fly open at that, "No!"
"But someone did...deflower you." Elaine says with that monotone voice.
You place your hands up in surrender.
"Okay I am only going to say this once. Then we can stop talking about the details of my sex life." you announce.
"Didn't know you had one." Cassian jokes.
Azriel hits him over the shoulder. It makes him drop his fork on the floor. You silently thank Azriel for the subtle move. He nods his head in your direction.
"After many failed attempts, I have taken a sexual partner who knows how to satisfy my needs. That's it." you answer vaguely.
There's silence around the table. Then someone drops another fork. And someone places down their drink. Amren laughs at that. She points to you with a thumbs up.
"Wait that's all we get?!" Mor asks.
"If you knew who it was all of you would lose your heads so yes. That's all you get." you respond.
Mor's eyes go wide, "It's not Eris right?"
"No! Please, I would not go there." you wave that off.
"Okay so let's all respect boundaries." Feyre says.
You thank her and try to go back to your dinner. But you can't help feeling about lighter that it's out in the open. You knew if you told them that it was Helion they would lose their minds. So you'll keep that information to yourself for now.
a/n: sorry this one took so long! i was overthinking my characterization of Helion but i hope you like it!!
Bingo 500 Masterlist
taglist: @nocasdatsgay
You squint as you push your cart full of books around the library within the palace of the Day Court. It is too bright. It’s the first thing you think every morning when you wake to golden sunlight streaming through curtains that are more ornamental than functional.
It’s so different here than where you come from. In the Night Court, the city is most alive at night under the glow of the stars and the light of the moon. It’s peaceful—and less harsh on your retinas.
You’ve wondered how long it will take you to adjust to the harsh, golden light that practically radiates around the palace. In your room, you’ve taken to hanging blankets over your windows to shield your room from the rays. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything like that in the library.
You transferred here a few weeks ago, unable to deny the opportunity of exploring the thousand libraries within the court. It is every scholar’s dream. In the days leading up to the move, you imagined yourself practically drowning in parchment and ink, books upon books scattered around you, never running out of something to read.
But you hadn’t expected him.
Helion Spell-Cleaver, High Lord of the Day Court, sunshine incarnate.
He noticed you the first day you arrived. You'd barely set your satchel down before he appeared in the library like he owned the place—which, irritatingly, he did. He smiled like he’d known you forever, all teeth and warmth, and leaned against the doorway like he was posing for a painting.
“You must be the Night Court transplant,” he’d said, amber eyes sparking with interest. “Tell me, have you had a chance to explore my Court yet?”
You hadn’t even looked up from the ledger you were unpacking. “No, my lord.”
Every day since, he’s asked again. Every day, the answer is the same.
You’ve just stepped out into the courtyard—your first true day off since arriving weeks ago—when you see him waiting.
Helion leans against a column like lounging in the sun is an art form. He’s dressed casually for once, a loose white shirt open enough to reveal the dark brown skin of his chest, his gold jewelry catching the sunlight. His smile is already troublesome.
“There you are, little shadow,” he says, like he’s been searching for you all morning.
You glare at him for the nickname. “Stop calling me that,” you snap.
“I will when you stop scowling like the Night Court sent you here as punishment,” he teases, pushing off the column. “Have you managed to do any exploring yet?”
Your mouth opens, ready to repeat the word you always do, but he cuts in, a sly grin playing on his lips.
“No? I didn’t think so.” He steps closer, and you suddenly become aware of how much taller he is, how his presence takes up space like the sun swallowing the sky. “Lucky for you, today I’ve decided to correct that.”
“Helion—”
“High Lord,” he corrects smoothly, though the gleam in his eye says he enjoys you ignoring the title.
You cross your arms. “I was planning on reading.”
He looks appalled. “On your day off?”
“I like reading.”
“And I like sunshine. I like warmth. I like living,” Helion says, leaning in until his black hair catches the light like threads of fire. “And you, little shadow, clearly need a tour.”
“It’s not part of my job.”
“It is,” he says, entirely too smug. “How can you work in my court if you don’t understand its history, its culture? Consider this…field research.”
You narrow your eyes. “That’s the flimsiest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
“And yet,” he says, offering his arm with mock formality, “you’re going to accept.”
You don’t take his arm. “You’re my boss,” you mutter and brush past him.
“That’s not a no,” he says cheerfully, falling into step beside you.
You can’t explain why you finally caved. Maybe because he’s annoyingly persistent. Maybe because he’s the High Lord and you can’t really say no. Or maybe, though you won’t admit it out loud, because there’s something magnetic about him.
Helion’s version of a “tour” is less educational and more…indulgent.
He takes you to a market first. Not the pristine marble markets near the palace, but a bustling, chaotic one in the lower streets where merchants shout over one another and spices scent the air.
“You can’t just sit in a library all day and not taste the heart of the court,” he says, pressing a slice of mango into your hand before you can refuse.
You grumble, but you eat it. It’s sweeter than you expect, juice dripping down your fingers. He catches your wrist before you can wipe it on your skirt, and with a grin, swipes the juice away with his thumb.
You pull back, scowling hard enough to cover the way your pulse jumps. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t look at me like that,” he counters easily. “You’re going to fall in love if you keep looking at me like that.”
You sputter. “I’m not—”
“Yet,” he adds, and his smile is infuriatingly confident.
The day is filled with replays of that exact scenario. Him teasing, you deflecting, and yet somehow, you’re still following him from one stop to the next.
He takes you to a cliffside where the sea crashes below, his hair whipping in the wind.
“Tell me you’ve ever seen anything this beautiful,” he says, arms spread like he’s welcoming the world.
“I work in a library,” you deadpan. “My standards are different.”
He just laughs, rich and warm, and you hate that it makes your chest feel lighter.
By afternoon, you’re tired of pretending you’re not enjoying yourself.
You still scowl when he calls you little shadow, still mutter complaints when he insists you try the pastries from a street vendor, or listen to the musicians playing in the plaza. But the sun isn’t quite so harsh anymore, and you’re starting to see why people talk about Helion like he’s sunlight personified.
Eventually, Helion leads you to the stables near the palace—not for horses, but for creatures you’ve only ever read about.
Pegasi.
The sight steals your breath. Black, white, and gray wings folded gracefully, feathers gleaming in the fading light, the creatures snort softly as Helion enters.
He approaches a black pegasus, its dark eyes shimmering as it stares at you. “This is Meallan,” he says as he pets the pegasus’s snout. “You’ve read about them, but have you flown on one?”
Your heart jumps. “No.”
His smile turns wicked. “Then today is your lucky day.”
“I am not getting on that thing,” you argue.
Helion smiles. “You absolutely are.”
“I’ll fall off.”
“You won’t. I’ll be behind you.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
He laughs again—that warm, full sound that cracks through your irritation like sunlight through clouds—and before you can protest further, he’s helping you up, his hands firm at your waist.
You try not to think about the heat of his touch, the way it lingers even after you’re seated in front of him.
“Hold on,” he murmurs, and when the pegasus launches into the air, you grab at the bridle, his arms holding the reins, anything to steady yourself.
The wind whips your hair, the ground falls away, and suddenly, you’re not annoyed that he’s dragged you away on your day off—you’re laughing. It bursts out of you, startled and uncontained, as Meallan soars higher, black wings slicing through the air. Helion’s laugh joins yours, softer this time, like he’s savoring the sound.
“There it is,” he says against your ear, voice low and pleased. “I knew you had sunshine in you somewhere.”
You don’t bother glaring. You’re too busy gripping him, too busy squealing when Meallan dips and arcs, too busy feeling something you haven’t in a long time. Joy.
By the time you land, the sun has dipped low, the sky painted in gold and rose.
You’re breathless, cheeks aching from smiling.
Helion helps you down, his hands gentle, steadying you when your legs wobble from being in the saddle for so long.
“See?” he says softly, still close enough that you feel the warmth of him. “You just needed someone to show you how bright the Day Court can be.”
You roll your eyes—a weak, tired little gesture—but you don’t step back.
“You’re insufferable,” you mutter.
“And you,” he says, brushing a loose strand of hair from your face with surprising tenderness, “are lovely when you smile, little shadow.”
You should grumble at the nickname again. You should snap, or scowl, or say something sharp.
Instead, you just look at him, the fading sunlight catching in his eyes, and you realize maybe change isn’t so bad after all.
