Herbs and Spices

Story by silversnake on SoFurry

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#53 of Commissions & Gifts

I still never know what to put in here

Anyway, this is a story I wrote for my friend FA:Kousen because I needed something to wind down between commissions, and we brainstorm a lot about our dragons. This is very emotionally self-indulgent, so I don't blame you if it's not your cup of tea. Just a little date between our guys ending up spicy, I hope you like it!

Thyme © FA:Kousen

Will © me


He walked as if he owned the place, along with every store to each side. Maybe he did, he would have to check that out later. But for now, he was more than comfortable with the looks he was getting from the bystanders around him.

William Stone was a dragon as tall as they came, brimming with muscles that he more often than not flexed over the most inconspicuous of things, just for the sake of looking bigger. He worked like hell for them, no one was about to tell him not to show them. That's why today, instead of the usual tailored suits that covered every inch of his body and left no skin show off, he decided to wear something revealing. The same pants as ever, a purple shirt with rolled up sleeves and the buttons undone all the way to his midsection; if anything, it was maybe only one third done.

In the end, that's why he was getting so many eyes on him. The strong arms covered in shining black scales were a nice side dish, but the main meal was by far the carpet of golden fuzz bursting from his chest, covering every inch of his torso and hiding the plump pecs and defined abs that he wished he could show off more; but there was no way he would give up all that hair. The thought made his hand move on its own, fingers coursing through the short blonde hair on top of his head, unhindered by the horns his species were usually known for, and it went down to trail the trimmed beard that lined his jaw.

In that pose, holding his chin as if deep in thought, he looked around the mall and peered inside every store he walked by. Clothes and more clothes as far as the eye could see, unsurprisingly. Everything was sold online nowadays, leaving this as the only reason for malls to even exist. And that only made him feel disappointed; the one day he feels like walking around and window shop for a while, and this is all he comes across.

"Did you see that guy? God, I'd let him take me."

Will looked over his shoulder curiously, fully aware that those whispered words weren't meant for his ears. A few feet away, he caught a doe copying his pose, and she froze the moment their eyes met. The vixen next to her stopped, and she tried to be discrete, but Will still caught her when she tried to glance his way. It was a long, extended instant, and all he did was wink at them with the usual winning grin, before turning back and keeping his way. The last thing he heard from them were a sigh and a quick giggle, and he couldn't help his own chuckle from coming out. A silver lining to an otherwise disapp-

"Mmm?" he stopped. Mouth slightly agape as everyone walking past him became blurs in the corner of his eyes. He sniffed the air again, and his lungs filled in an instant with that... God, he was out of words. He didn't know what it was, but there was this aroma in the air that filled him with something. A certain nostalgic excitement of sorts; so sweet and alluring.

He turned around, desperate to find the source of that essence. His body already yearned for it, and he came across a small shop, the front a soft, pinkish red, decorated with delicate carvings that brought to mind so many different types of flowers. A sign on top read the name 'Broceliande' in elegant cursive, and the name struck something buried deep in the dragon's memories, but no matter how hard he tried, nothing came to mind. Something to look up later, he thought. Despite being so out of place surrounded by the most vapid of stores, it blended in perfectly in this secluded corner.

Now, call it business curiosity, draconic greed, masculine instinct- Whatever you want, all of them will probably be wrong; what made Will walk over to the entrance was that aroma he couldn't quite name. It practically dragged him to the door, coiling around his body and controlling his every movement like strings on a puppet. The door opened and he was assaulted by a wall of countless smells that made his entire body shiver, shoulders loosening in an instant. But none of those smells was as delectable as the one that had drawn him in.

When did he close his eyes? He didn't know until he opened them back up, admiring the small establishment he had stepped in. The store was filled to the brim with little shelves and glass tables and counters, all of them full of small bottles and containers in every color imaginable. Little labels were lined up with each one of them, listing from the most ordinary to the strangest. Things like 'Apple Cinnamon' unironically stood next to 'Midsummer Night's Dream'- How the hell did they make that into a smell? Genius...

Will stood in the middle of the room and looked around, losing himself in the countless aromas, the shining glasses all around him. He realized that the bustling from the other side of the door was gone, as if this place were its own separate world, uncaring of what went on outside. There was nothing to do here, but lose yourself in your senses...

That's when he heard it. Within the haze of these delicious essences, it was as if his entire body stood in attention, his hearing in particular picking up the groaning and rumbling coming from the back. Things being moved around, along with a slight, almost inaudible sigh. This time it was his curiosity that won him over, and the large dragon walked with careful, silent steps, looking over the shelves covering the back.

It was exactly what he expected, and so different at the same time: A tall man standing on a stool, on his tiptoes, pushing a box back on top of the highest shelf in the entire room; the one thing Will never saw coming was this man being a dragon, and one whose back seemed so delectably big. Broad shoulders and nicely sculpted hips, all covered by a loose white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up just like his own. He In general, he looked really similar to him from what he could tell, except for the teal fuzz covering his elbows, turning into a more yellowish cream for his forearms; that and the long, swaying tail with a long trail of pinkish red fur going all the way to the tip.

An Eastern dragon... When was the last time he saw one? Especially one who's back looked this delicious. A mane of hair in the same tone as his tail's fur covered the back of his head, pierced only by a pair of small, thick antlers pushing out.

And that was it. That was all the gawking Will managed before the dragon tripped on the stool. Everything after that was a blur; the dragon yelped in shock and Will's body moved on its own, rushing with open arms and catching that broad back in his embrace. It was only a second, and then the stool finished falling down with a thud, as if bringing everything back to reality. The black dragon held the clerk tightly, partially for his safety, but also because he was deep down curious about the thick muscles that barely hid under his clothes.

"Hey," he didn't even realize he was turning up his charm; it was something that simply came out on its own, no matter how much he tried to control it. He was getting ready to flash this rather large fellow a smile, make him blush a bit with a few subtle flirts. "Are yo-

And he stopped again, words stuck in his throat, when he saw this dragon's face. He wasn't anything out of the ordinary; he was cute as hell, with soft features, eyes gently closed and his chin framed by a bushy beard in the same peach color as his hair. Thick eyebrows and pointed ears that made his fingers twitch with how badly he wanted to rub them, completed the picture, and those last bits in particular seemed to shake slightly when they noticed the darker dragon holding him. And time remained stopped for Will. He was damn cute, but still not the cutest; and the curve of his pecs, the noticeable bump of his nipples, was hot as fuck, but still not the hottest. So then why...

"A- Abr- Abhgh- Bgb- Ah..." why the fuck was he a blubbering, flushed mess after seeing this man for the first time in his life!? Seriously, what was with the heat on his face!? Why were his lips so adamantly refusing to make comprehensible words!? The dragon looked his way with his eyes still shut, and Will noticed the golden freckles on top of his nose, like shining stars reflected on the teal river that was his fur- Holy shit, where did that come from!?

"Um... Thanks," for fuck's sake, he's British! And what the actual fuck with that voice!? So terse and velvety, like an actual piece of silk caressing his ears. "Excuse me, but can I get up now?"

"Y-Yeah! Sorry, yeah, sure!" he shut up right there, before making an even bigger fool out of himself, and slowly helped the clerk back up, taking a moment to properly check him out. The shirt was open down his chest, just like his own, but exposing a clean cleft with the same creamy short hair as his forearms; anyone else and he would be shamelessly throwing glances at their bare tits, already thinking of ways he could handle them in his hands. But this time, he instantly looked away, the red on his cheeks turning brighter still. "A-Are you ok?" it was an honest question, but he also wanted to change the subject in his own mind as soon as possible.

"Yes. I mean, that could've been a serious fall, now that I think about it. I was really lucky you were here, thank you so much again," the whole situation was only now hitting him, and he got nervous all of a sudden. Even that was damn adorable, making Will blush harder. "I shouldn't push my luck like that again. Need to remember to get a taller stool next time. And well... Welcome!" a bit of a bow, and the smile on his face took a different hint, mixing just enough generic politeness with a certain natural charm that was making Will shiver. "Can I help you with anything?"

"What? No- I mean, maybe? Well, I don't know..." what the hell was happening in his head? This was the part of the scene where he would throw a flirt or two, ask the other guy out, or even to the back for a quick romp if he was feeling particularly daring. But no, he was still the same mess as when he saw his face mere seconds ago- That felt like so long ago...

He sniffed the air again. There it was, that magnificent smell that he had no words for. His nostrils flared and his eyes almost teared up from how exquisite it was. His mouth watered from it, and it felt dry at the same time, as a sudden craving assaulted him. His entire body loosened up with every breath, and he ended up licking his lips, slowly, sensually, without even realizing. It got a blush on the other dragon, he saw it, but he didn't care. He was too focused on that scent.

"Um..." he was still nervous, but that aroma eased his words, at least. "What exactly is this store? I've never seen something like it."

"Oh, it's an aroma shop," he made it sound so obvious that Will felt embarrassed over not knowing what he meant. Thankfully, he didn't miss a beat in his explanation. "We specialize in bath bombs, soaps, perfumes, essential oils, candles- Really, anything that comes to mind when you think about nice smells. So, no incense. Ever," he felt like there was a story there. "My name's Thyme. I'll be at the counter if you need anything."

"Thyme..." he sighed his name, perhaps louder than he wanted to, as the dragon turned around on his way to the counter. In that exact second, Will panicked over being left speechless yet again. But Anything that came out of his mouth would be better than the awkward silence. Literally anything "L-Like the herb!" anything...

"Exactly like the herb, sir," Thyme's smile was now only polite, but he couldn't get enough of it. On his way to the counter, Will couldn't help but notice the way his tail swayed around, and how badly he wanted to rub that trail of rose fur. "Do you cook with it a lot?"

"Wha- Oh! I don't really cook a lot..." he turned it into a conversation without realizing, but there was no way he would be able to string sentences together while looking at such a lovely face. The only thing he could do was walk around the shop, browsing the several shelves in his way, trying his best to ignore the beautiful man behind him. "I do have a friend that does it for a living. Best food I've had in my life, next to my mom's, but if I told him that, I would never hear the end of it..."

"One of my clients also cooks for a living, so I understand what you mean," Will only half heard him, focused on finding the source of that unique smell that invaded his nostrils. "I did tell him his food was the best, one of the few times I had the chance of trying it, and to this day he still brings it up whenever he comes buy something."

"Wouldn't it be funny if we were talking about the same guy?" Will laughed as he thought about the redhead monkey, and he looked at the counter out of habit. What little calm he managed to get ahold of completely broke apart when his eyes landed on that beautiful dragon, leaning on the counter, head resting on his crossed hands while he looked at him with the warmest of smiles. Why on Earth was giving him that look? Not like he was complaining, but when he ended up looking away with a bashful blush, he realized just how hard it was to keep himself under control. "Uh... I'm not- I'm not really sure, uh... what I'm looking for. I mean, I got here because I smelled something from outside," every word was lower than the last because the more he heard it the more ridiculous it sounded.

"Do we have anything that smells that strong?" Thyme's eyes remained closed, but he still somehow managed to put an adorably curious look that made Will go mad when he glanced over. "Well, feel free to try anything that catches your eye. I'm sure you'll find whatever it is that got you here. Noses have a weird way of leading us, you see."

"R-Really..." he was still stuttering, no matter how hard he tried. Without thinking, he put a candle up his nose and took a whiff, and the overwhelming scent pushed him back coughing. His first reaction was to look at the counter, hoping he didn't make too much of a fool of himself in front of the other dragon, followed by leaving the candle in its place.

It wasn't something he could just put in words. To begin with, how do you put a smell in words? Especially this one in particular. It was hot and sweet, spicy, herbal, so many things at the same time. And it made him loosen up and grow tense at the same time. A few other candles and bottles found their way to his nose, with varying results ranging from giggling to sheer disgust. Some of them reminded him his old house, his family... But none of them inspired the same sensations as he felt when he first stepped, no matter what he tried. How long had he spent in this place that he walked all around the store and ended back on the counter, standing next to the dragon that made him feel all tingly inside, and he had yet to locate that perfect aroma.

"Nothing?" Thyme shyly asked, and all Will did was shake his head. He was sure the clerk was ashamed about his store not having what he looked for, but he somehow felt even worse for bringing the poor guy down like that. Literally down, as Thyme dove under the counter and started looking through who knew how many things. "Might be an old bottle, discontinued essences. Shall we look through them?"

"That... sounds like an idea..." Will's words were coming out in a sluggish tone because he had a perfect view of the dragon's swaying tail, and the plump base from which it came out, gently pressed against his pants, tempting him. It made him lean forward, try to get a closer look...

And that's when it hit him, right in the nostrils. That perfect scent wafting up, stronger than ever before, stronger the more he leaned forward, coming from somewhere behind the counter. It was so pure, so perfect, so delectable and mouthwatering... His heart raced from it, his body growing hotter by the second, his mind going into overdrive. Somehow, he already knew where it came from, just by animal instinct.

Thyme got up, and maybe he would've said something, but his words were forever stuck in his throat. Will made them stay there when he pressed his snout against the dragon's neck, taking a deep breath. His lungs filled with that thick, delicious essence, and a low sigh went along with it. He was gripping the edge of the counter so hard, he thought his claws might sink in, or that he might rip a piece off. And he didn't care. All he wanted was to pull that dragon closer, to really press his face against those beautiful scales and drown in that aroma. To push him to the back and take him right there. The more those thoughts invaded his mind, the more he started looking up, going along the length of his neck, the line of his jaw, until their lips were a mere inch apart and their eyes crossed. It was the first time he saw him opening them...

And just like that, his trance was over, and Will's own eyes widened before he could even detail the other dragon's. Because his immediate reaction was to jump so far back, he ended up falling flat on his ass, his scales turning from black to deep crimson as he crawled his way backwards, until he bumped with one of the shelves. Even then, he couldn't tear his eyes away from him.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..." an apology, an excuse, a flirt, a creepy comment- Say anything, for fuck's sake! "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Ahhhhhhh... Ahhhh... I found it! Yeah! Um, w-w-what are you wearing? I mean, I think it comes from you! Yeah, like, um... That's what I was doing! Y-Yeah! Ahhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"I don't... have anything on," Thyme's reaction was completely different. He was the one being bashful now, a deep crimson set on those cream-colored cheeks. He held to the edge of his shirt, to his chest under it, his breathing slightly rushed. The fluster was strong enough that it reached up to his ears, and his tail swayed behind him in the exact same manner as Will's did just now. His eyebrows were high, and the corners of his lips were scrunched up, as if he tried to hold back a smile. "This is my natural smell..."

"N-Natural, you say..." Will was out of words. Out of thoughts too... "I'm sorry-

"No! D-Don't be," finally, that smile came out. It wasn't the first time Will was so forward with someone else; his charms had always served him well to get any person he wanted, and he had grown confident on them. Some might say too confident. So why was he so relieved, so excited that they worked so well this time around? And why was he so anxiously and expectantly waiting for the dragon's words. "This has occurred before. I don't mind. I'm... flattered, actually. You're attractive as well."

"A-Am I?" this wasn't the time to play hard to get, dammit! It was time to get up and dust himself off, save some face as he stepped up to the counter with the most natural smile possible; one that didn't show the intense nerves plaguing his mind. "Still, I'm sorry. I should've gone about it differently... Let's start again. I'm William; just Will is fine."

"William...?" he was curious. Not exactly the reaction he expected, and it didn't last too long anyway. Thyme let go of his chest and his shoulders finally loosened; but the blush remained. "It's a nice name."

"Thanks..." he had countless follow-up lines after this, and he was sure that all of them would work on pretty much any guy, no matter what. So why wasn't he using them? What kept him from it? "Do you wanna go out sometime?" or that, sure, just blurt it out like a complete loser, you dumbass, what the hell are you doing... was the kind of thing going through his head now.

And to make matters worse, Thyme remained silent. It was a second, maybe even less, but to Will's currently hypersensitive mind, it felt like a million years of complete oblivion during which his entire self was slowly torn apart from the crippling anxiety. Even a rejection would've been way better than just staying still like that, wondering what would happen, or if anything would happen at all. Anything, honestly. Just anything, for the love of god, any excuse to just leave already would-

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Yes, I would like to go on a date with you."

Another second, and this one he didn't feel in the least. Any other person and he would be flashing them a knowing grin, a smug way of telling them he knew that would be their answer from the beginning. But in front of this large reptile and his mind-numbingly delicious aroma, his brain basically shut down. It was like he was floating in the void, and like he was nothing but void himself. Just blank. Just nothing in his head, not even air.

"A date?" his voice came out on his own. He wasn't thinking, he was just talking out of habit or instinct, however you want to call it. "Why are we talking about a date?"

"You just... asked me out," Thyme was a keeper simply because he wasn't freaking out over all this. Quite the opposite, he had to stifle a laugh, and just the tiny bits that reached Will's ears were sweet enough to pull him out of his trance. "Are you nervous? You didn't seem like the type that gets nervous."

"I'm not! I'm really not! You just... smell n-nice..." holy shit, did he really say that!? But as dumb and corny as it may have sounded, it still got a blush out of Thyme. He looked so damn cute with that rosy color on his cheeks; the way it matched his hair was just heavenly. "So... We're going out, then. Cool! Uh..."

"Tonight at 7 sounds nice," Will finger-gunned at him, thankful that someone else was filling in his blank spots. And then he went the extra mile by grabbing a little piece of paper and jotting something down, before offering it to the black dragon. "Here. My address and my number. So, you can call me and we can arrange everything. Or you could just... pick me up."

"Oh! Yeah, that's great, yes!" he walked over to the counter, hoping he wouldn't stumble on his feet the same way he had been doing so with his words. When he reached for the piece of paper, a single whiff reached his nostrils, and he leaned closer in the most inconspicuous manner possible, hoping he wasn't being too obvious as he took one last breath. That indescribable scent... He didn't know what it was about it, whether it was the sweet, the spice, the bitter hint behind it- There were so many layers to it, some that he was still figuring out even now. It was more complex than a smell had any right to be. He wanted to figure out, to understand why something so simple made his body heat up like this. It was only a second, hopefully one Thyme didn't notice, before he pulled back with the piece of paper now between his fingers. "Tonight at 7! I'll pick you up!" he said, far too cheerful, walking backwards without his eyes ever tearing from the other dragon. Bumping against one of the cases with other essences, cursing under his breath and then keeping the same direction. "I'll call you when I'm getting there! Or something! Yeah! So, uh... See you then!"

Thyme didn't stop smiling even once. God, he couldn't get enough of that face.

When the door to the store closed, the biggest sigh in the history of the world left Will's mouth. And then he rushed as far away from the door as he could, fearing that the other dragon might hear or see him making a fool out of himself again. Then again, how much more of a fool could he-

"No, don't ask that, that's tempting fate," he said out loud, not caring about the glances he got. They weren't just from his words, but also the usual ones he always got just for being him. He was used to it, right? Being hot and getting a few glances thrown his way. And yet, for the first time since he remembered, he didn't care for any of those. He ignored them all, completely focused on the small piece of paper in his hands. He read the address a few times, saved the number in his phone, and then the natural thing should've been putting it in his pocket or something. But he was unable to. There was that peculiar scent in the air again, rising to his nose... Without caring about how it might look, he pulled the paper to his nose and took a sniff, drowning himself in what little was left of Thyme's essence on it. "Shit, I'm being creepy..." he said out loud again, before letting out a whine from how exquisite it was.


"God, it smells so damn good," Will had been smelling the same piece of paper for hours now, amazed by the fact that the scent lingered so long. It was electric, and he couldn't get enough of it. It was the only reason why he had spent the whole day anxious and impatient, looking at the time every ten minutes as he waited for the night to arrive.

Now, he was in his car, wearing full black, from the shirt that he chose to button all the way up to the blazer personally tailored for his broad shoulders. And contrary to the impatience that had riddled him all through the day, he was now a nervous wreck as the seconds trickled and he realized just how close it was to the next time he would see that gorgeous man again. Smelling that piece of paper and filling his lungs with his exquisite aroma was the only way he had to calm his nerves and keep from crashing against a tree, even if only for a few seconds.

"Holy shit, I'm such a creep!" better to take all of these yells out of his system now, instead of shouting in the middle of their date out of sheer anxiety. "But seriously, how far away is he? This is really out in the sticks. Oh shit, what if he's a murderer, like in that Perfume movie?" he wanted to believe that those were his nerves talking, but even then they had a point. To both sides of the road there were only a few houses spread unevenly, with massive gardens in front of them. It was such a weird arrangement, even if the city's buildings were still visible in the distance. Part of him thought maybe he was rich in secret, and he wondered if he should be more or less nervous because of that, or if that made him a more attractive prospect. He smelled the paper one last time, trying to get the nerves to calm before rolling it into a ball and tossing it to the back. Clear all evidence, don't appear like the crazy one. Especially in case he really was a murderer.

Those thoughts stopped once he reached the end of his GPS' route, and he couldn't help but drop his jaw from the view in front of his eyes. It was a small cottage, much like the others he had passed by just now, with a little staircase reaching up to the entrance. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the house itself. What truly amazed him was the gigantic garden expanding in front of it. A luscious green that seemed to shine even in the middle of the night, with a few of the plants still clearly visible. Bushes surrounding the whole place like a natural fence, brimming with countless flowers, from roses to tulips and so many other ones he couldn't name no matter how long he tried to think of it. A few trees to the sides, circling to the back; he leaned over the passenger's seat to try and get a glance of the back, sure that there was a small forest on the other side of the house. Did Thyme plant all of these himself? Even up front, hanging from his little porch, there were several little pots with what he assumed were herbs. Deep down, he wanted to step out and take a deep breath, see if the smells in here were as powerful as those in his shop.

But just his luck, the exact second he stepped out of the car to do just that was when the door opened, and Will froze in place as his brain went into overdrive. The smells that did reach his nose were nothing compared with the memory of Thyme's exquisite essence, and now there he was, standing in the middle of his porch with the light from his house framing his wide, beautiful figure. Only for a second, before he turned them off, but that second was enough for the dragon to notice his date's bright purple shirt, hugging tight to his muscles in such a way that not a single curve on his silhouette was left to the imagination. He was in great shape, this beautiful man, and he was aware enough to keep the front still open, showing off the clean cleft to the world.

"Oi!" so British! And all Will did was raise a hand to greet him, before running around his car to open the door for him. "My, what a gentleman."

"T-This is just the bare minimum, you know? For a handsome guy like you," that could've gone more smoothly, but it got Thyme to stop and look away with a smile, so that was more than enough. He closed the door after making sure the dragon's tail wouldn't get caught in the way, and quickly rushed to the other side, not wanting to leave him alone for so long. "It's me again, hey!"

"You're still nervous, I see," was he that transparent!? But Thyme didn't seem to mind. His smile was warm, and he reached with one hand to rub the black dragon's shoulder, making him shiver with his thought alone. A hint of something resembling vanilla, cinnamon, citrus and so many other things at the same time reached Will's nose, and all of a sudden his body felt just a little bit loose. "You look cute. But this is the face of a confident man, I can tell. You have sharp eyes."

"How am I supposed to stay confident when you say things like that? With a British accent to boot," he pouted, and blushed, and probably shook a little from excitement because a handsome guy thought he was cute. He was basically a school girl by this point, and he was painfully aware of the fact. "Um... You have a nice garden, by the way. No, not nice- I mean, it is nice! But I should use a bigger word for it."

"I can give you a tour later tonight. Assuming we both come back to my place," holy shit, he was as smooth as... Well, as everything else about him. That was the kind of thing Will often said to his own dates, was this how it felt to be on the other side? No wonder he got laid so often. Should he be even thinking about that while going out with another guy? No, he shouldn't assume already that things would happen, even though Thyme was so evidently into the idea, and he was definitely aiming for it. And a good looking guy like him, with those pecs... "So, are we leaving any time soon?"

"Yes! Absolutely, sorry, haha!" a fool indeed. He hit the gas, thankful that his focus now had to be on the road instead of the man sitting next to him, and they remained silent for a few minutes. But of course, part of him figured he'd be bored to hell and back if he made him sit in silence during the entire trip. "So... There's this really good restaurant downtown, that's where I'm taking you. The best steak I've had in years- But they also cook vegan! Just in case; are you vegan?"

"No, I do like steak," he admitted with yet another smile, and Will wanted to stare at him for a while just to soak on it. If only he wasn't driving... "It's been a while since I've eaten in the city. In a restaurant, at least. I usually go to fairs and farmer markets."

"I go to one every weekend," and that was it. That was all he had to say, and then he stayed quiet, his mind slowly going blank as he wracked his brain on what to say next. Every second that went on like that felt like three whole days of awkward silence, and he threw occasional glances at Thyme, watching the dragon stare out the window- Was he boring him that much!? What the hell are you doing, William!? Say something, you loser! "So, how does one go around getting an aroma shop? Was that your childhood dream?" that was a terrible joke, dumbass! Stupid!

"It just happened, I suppose. I was decent enough at chemistry back in school," he said with just that little hint of nostalgia every old man has when remembering their youth. "And I've always had a very sensitive nose, so I started making things when I was younger; helped a lot when some of my classmates simply refused to shower."

"Ah," again, that was it. He had classmates like that in college, it was an ideal chance to bond with the guy, and he wasn't taking it because he was overwhelmed by his scent! Ever since he stepped into his car, Will breathed nothing but that sweet, perfect aroma, that essence that he had no way of describing, and it was driving him crazy! He wanted to open the windows, breath some fresh air and see of that cleared out his thoughts, helped him go back to his usual flirty self, but doing that just as they were talking about stinky dudes? Yeah, real clever! Oh fuck, was he looking his way now? Did he think he was worried? It was hard to read him if he never opened his eyes, but that was also so damn cute! Change the subject, asshole! "I forget to shower sometimes."

Oh. My. God.

"Pfft..." was that...? He looked to the side, the first time he took his eyes off the road, even if only for a second, and saw Thyme stifling a laugh again. Thank the lord for his sense of humor, at least. And he looked so handsome trying to keep his composure. "I can't forget it, the smell is always terrible."

"I can't picture you smelling bad, though," he said that out loud again, but that aroma once again eased his nerves, keeping him from his worries. Thyme looked at him now instead of the window, his smile the warmest, and he couldn't help but return the gesture. Then they arrived at the restaurant and he was thrilled he had an excuse to no longer look like a loser in front of him. "Here we are, hope you're hun- What the fuck?"

He parked on the other side of the street, across from a tall building with a large, elegant establishment on the ground floor. Tall windows framed with what seemed like actual gold, tables on the other side draped in silk white mantles, along with the chairs and walls, the lights out and a single waiter outside talking with people in white hazmat suits. He got off the car, rushing towards the shorter dog and ignoring Thyme behind him. He needed answers.

"Excuse me!" the waiter turned around just as he finished talking with the hazmat person, and his face was riddled with the kind of exhaustion Will saw in some of his workers when he had to threaten them to go home early. "I had a reservation for tonight at 7, it was pretty last minute, but I was told-

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. Terribly sorry," he cut him off with equally tired agitation, and it was clear this wasn't the first time today he had to tell this story. "There was a large outbreak- We had to call exterminators and have them rushed in, had to put a lot of people out- One of our diners' child had this science project- So many wiggling legs..."

"Hey... It's fine, man," he put a hand on the poor dog's shoulder. His eyes were hazy, staring at the void, drowning in horror as his mind was clouded with memories. He had seen enough. With a silent agreement between them, the canine bowed slightly and went back inside, just as one of the hazmat suits met with him. All Will could do was sit in front of the restaurant and let out a deep sigh as Thyme finally caught up with him. "They're closed."

"I can see that," and just like he did for the waiter before, the dragon put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. More than his squeeze, though, it was the sweet scent that made Will feel better. It was simply too good, and his instincts slowly took over, making him look up, lean to the side and try to get another whiff at his neck, kiss it, nibble it... "I know where we can go."

"What?" he didn't notice just how close he was to his skin until he spoke up. There was less than an inch between his lips and Thyme's flesh, and from this angle he got a perfect look at his chest, clear through the open shirt, loose enough for him to see further down and catch a glimpse of his abs. He was so delicious, so perfect... And Will was a creep so close to him, he might as well be on top of him. He instantly jumped back, blushing way too hard for a hot night like this, thankful that the dragon had been looking in the other direction.

Thyme took his hand, squeezing it once before pulling gently, getting him to follow. For the next few seconds, William had no idea where they were headed, nor did he pay attention to the things around them. It all became tall spires and blurry lights, his mind high from how soft that hand was. He could've lost himself in it, and he wanted to hold it up, press it against his face and take a deep breath, drown in his scent as he kissed his wrist, going down his thick forearms and making him tremble in response. Tremble as much as he made him shiver. He was barely aware of the fact that he was even walking because he was so enthralled by those thoughts, until the perfect aroma mixed seamlessly with so many other things. Sweet, sour, powerful scents, all of them familiar and making his mouth water...

He opened his eyes, and the exact image he expected to see was precisely what he met with. A large park, a road going down the middle, lit by countless lights hanging from threads on the air. To each side of the road, there were several stands standing in place, each one crowded with people attracted by the exact thing that the dragon picked his interest on: The delectable smells that came from them all, the sizzling of who knew what kind of things being fried and offered, the taste that lingered in his mouth just from standing too close to them. It was all exquisite. And familiar.

"Ah... This is the same market I was talking about," he realized, before looking back at Thyme, curious for answers. The dragon scratched his chest with a bashful smile, looking at the ground without letting go of his hand.

"They set shop here on weekends, and stay until late at night. I knew I'd been in this street before. Anyway," he let go of his hand, and Will looked at it for a moment, fingers flexing as he tried to fight the sudden emptiness he was left with. He wanted to hold him so bad, dammit. But when he looked up, he saw the dragon walk over to one of the stands, one with a small taco drawn on a sign hanging above. Thyme pointed at it with his thumb, keeping his smile for him. "Since you're Latino, we might as well get something from here. I'm not that good with stuffy restaurants to begin with."

It took the black dragon a moment to process all he said, and as he walked up to the stand, the scents that surrounded him made it all even harder. It was one thing to smell Thyme, his aroma so delectably impossible, it made him dizzy with desire. But the meat and spices coming from the other side of the stand, the beans- God, this was the life! Americans can't make good beans to save their lives. This was a true tac-

"Wait, how did you know I'm Latino!?" he jumped back, surprising the bird behind the stand and making her take a step back, focus on other clients. As if Will needed even more shame tonight.

"Hmm? How did I know?" it was such an otherworldly show after that; the way Thyme moved around him, his tail swaying as if he swam in the air... He was way too fluid for any of that to be normal, and he wasn't sure if it looked like cheap or expensive CGI. Whatever it was, the distance between them vanished in a second, and this hunk of a man was now standing in front of him, nose so close to his neck, he almost felt the tickle of his beard against his skin. "You have this peculiar scent around you... Spicy, hot and humid. Masculine... The essence of a skilled lover from the south," and he took a deep breath, nose pressing against the black neck and his lips dangerously brushing the scales.

"D-Do I?" Will was about to pass out. His body heat went off the charts and he felt his knees going weak. Any second now, he would just fall forward, in the dragon's arm, and he would kiss him just as much as he threatened to do. He didn't care for the people watching, he was more than willing to tear his clothes away from him and take him right there. But just as his willpower started failing, Thyme stepped back, leaving him dumbfounded as he stifled another laugh.

"I'm pulling your leg. Your accent slips when you get flustered," the only appropriate reaction to that was for Will to turn around and cover his face in shame, muffling the loud scream that came out after. "And I also needed to get back at you after your stunt earlier today," more screaming.

"Fine..." Will whimpered from within his hands. It took him a few seconds to let go, and the blush was still strong enough that you could see it through the dark scales. And yet, the moment he saw thyme smiling at him, his tail started swaying and thumping the ground. "Y-You got it wrong, though! I'm Peruvian, not Mexican."

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't-

He didn't finish the sentence, that's what. Will held his hand in the exact same manner his own had been a few seconds ago, and pulled him with the same tender gentleness, guiding him through the stands. The only difference was that he was huffing, pouting and looking for a specific one, trying to hide the blush. This wasn't normal, he thought; he wasn't like this, he thought. He was supposed to be the charming one, the one making the other guy blush. Yet, Thyme squeezed his hand, and he had to clench his jaw to keep the whimper from coming out.

"Here we go, finally," he let go of Thyme's hand and rushed over to another stand, this one without any particular sign.

If, for a single moment, we were to focus on Thyme, much like Will did over his shoulder, we'd be able to tell that he wasn't sure how to react. Will's reactions were sudden, and even though he was flustered this bad, his instinct still made him take charge. He just didn't realize it. But from a distance, the dragon he was seeing changed completely. He talked with the man on the other side of the counter, and he only caught enough words t tell it was in Spanish; his voice had a different tone in Spanish, not quite as deep.

But most of all, he was laughing. Everything, from the way he stood up and handled himself to even how he reached for his pockets was completely different. He was another man when he had his confidence back; confidence that Thyme knew he always had, and that seemed to drain around him, out of nerves and arousal. He felt a bit smug about that; about being pretty enough to mess like that with a guy he just met. And yet here he was, standing still and watching him, trapped in his thrall as well.

When Will came back, it was with his hands full with his orders, struggling to keep it all in place. Thyme rushed over, barely out of his own trance, and grabbed his own half, taking the chance to look inside. He recognized the multiple garnishes and the mix of citrus and fish typical of a plate of ceviche, and it made perfect sense when he thought about it. Was that why he had been so intent on pulling him here? To brag about his country's food?

But the first real shock of the night was seeing at the cup in his other hand, watching the dark purple liquid inside, perfectly fluid and smooth. Some sort of wine, he thought, but it didn't smell like it. His curiosity piqued, he looked at the dragon, catching him just in time to see him take a sip of his own drink and sigh in relief.

"God, I needed that. Let's sit somewhere," at least he wasn't as nervous anymore, perhaps because he found someone he knew. He quickly made his way to a nearby bench, Thyme following close by, and the two sat in silence, cups next to them, watching people walk by in front of them as he dug through his food to take the first large bite. "What is it? Don't you like fish? Oh shit, you don't like fish, I should've asked beforehand, I'm sorry, I'll go get you something else-

"I like fish, it's fine. I've had this ceviche before," and he took a bite, just like he said, his head curling against his shoulder from the shivers the juices caused. Will watched all of this from the side, his own jaw frozen at such an adorable show, and his brain shutting down over the overload and the fact that he pronounced the name perfectly. More than anything tonight, that made his dick the hardest. But the next thing he did was grab the cup and look at it for a few more seconds, his smile unwavering but his hand remaining in place. "What's this?"

"Chicha morada," he said before swallowing, quickly taking another bite. He was suddenly excited about seeing him try it.

"Never had it before. It's purple."

"Yeah, it's right on the name," Thyme frowned a bit at him, and Will was now embarrassed about his bad joke, hiding behind his food. "It's all natural, it's made from purple corn. Give it a shot, it's sweet."

"You went from fancy steak to street ceviche real fast, don't you think?" he took a sip and the smile that formed on his lips was all the answer Will needed. But he still wanted to hear it out of him, and he stared some more, getting the other dragon to look his way while licking his lips. Even his tongue was tempting... "It's good- Ok, it's great! All Peru produces seems to be great, actually."

Was that flirting? Was he flirting with him? It felt like flirting, but he was eating ceviche right now, so maybe he was talking about that? Whatever he meant, Will still blushed hard at the words, looking away and eating faster than before. That was the exact sentence he would've used in this situation to make himself look better, and it was being thrown his way, what the hell?

"So," Thyme's voice didn't clear the worries in his head, just drowned them enough to keep them as background noise, "it actually surprised me when you told me your name. I suppose it's not impossible, but why is a Peruvian man called William?"

"Oh! It's not my real name," and he took the last bite from his food, reaching for his cup before swallowing. He just held it by his leg, his eyes going from it to the dragon next to him. His smell still permeated the air around them, filling his nostrils, making his body grow loose with every second. "I changed it when I started working, because it's hard to climb the corporate ladder with all the... you know, racism. So, my legal name is William Stone, but it's more of a pseudonym, really. My family still uses my birth name, and I don't want them to stop."

"Oh, that's really sweet," and he took another sip, which Will copied. Silence fell between them again, but it was far more comfortable than the last, like they had reached an agreement and were just content with each other's company. "So, what is your birth name?"

He spat his chicha out. Like in those old cartoons, in those stories from when you were a kid in school, a little bit running up his nose and all. It was the worst thing Will felt in his life, followed up by a few coughs and gags. He bent over on his knees, spitting at the ground and gasping for air, and when he looked up, Thyme was still next to him, sipping in silence. His expression was neutral, unlike everyone else around them that stopped for a second at the sight of a grown man shooting his drink like that. It was mortifying even after they kept walking, and the other dragon didn't move an inch, waiting for his answer.

"G..." it was easy, right? Just say your name and be done with it, no big deal. And yet, here he was, stretching it out as far as possible. He didn't even have a precedent for this one; anyone else and he might have reacted the same way. It just so happened that the first guy to ask was the one that made him feel like this all the way. "Guillermo..."

"There's that accent again. Cute," he said, and of course Will had to look away and cover his face. "Guillermo. I like it," he pronounced that perfectly! For fuck's sake, this man...

"Ok, enough about me," he tried to keep drinking, but his cup was already empty. What he had left to drink was now all over the ground; it was nothing short of a miracle that none of it fell on his clothes. He looked at the other dragon just as he took the last bite of his meal, and never before did he want to lean on someone's shoulder so bad... "S-Since we're on the topic of names... Thyme is a pretty one, but it's also an herb."

"You think my name is pretty?" another blush. But this time, Will tried to play it off instead. "It's just a theme my parents started with my siblings, and they were lucky it worked the way it did. I have two older brothers, Parsley and Sage, and an older sister called Rosemary. Let's see if you get that reference."

"Scarborough Fair."

"Oh! Yeah..." he seemed surprised he knew that. Will didn't pay it much mind beyond being the first time in the night he got the upper hand. "You're familiar with the song, then?"

"I mean..." the feeling vanished pretty fast, and he was left with nothing but the burning shame and the blush that started creeping up his cheeks. It would be easy to lie, to say that he knew the song, and then he'd ask him to sing it with him, knowing his luck. Might as well be honest if he'd make a fool out of himself either way. "I played Bayonetta, like everyone..."

"Like everyone indeed. That's the answer I get every time I ask about the song," color him surprised... A relieved sigh escaped Will, hopefully not too loud, followed by the realization that this guy might be just enough of a geek. "you'd think I'd feel knackered about it, but it's such a good game," he is a geek! "I haven't talked to my siblings in a while. I should call them later this week. What about you? Is all your family back in Peru?"

"My nephew moved here when he was 14 and he lives with his boyfriend now. That was ten years ago," he leaned back on the bench, looking up at the night sky, and felt old all of a sudden. "I actually started playing games to bond with him, but then I got hooked myself. We still play together when we have time, but I beat Bayonetta before him and he got mad at me."

"That's sweet," and Will's heart skipped a beat after that. Not because of Thyme's words, but because he held his hand, squeezing it and trailing his wrist with his fingertips. Something as simple as that was enough to make his breathing slow down almost to a full stop, eyes wide. The hand never left... Not even as Thyme stood up, thumb gently rubbing his knuckles as he gestured to the side of the road.

The blush was out of this world. But he still stood up, squeezing the dragon's hand back and walking besides him down the road. During those few minutes, every single one of his senses was hyperactive, and his mind was overwhelmed. The lights seemed brighter, the laughter and words around him were clearer, the smells were more delicious, more mouth-watering, ranging from fries and churros on one side to fresh fruits on the other. Those two being so close didn't even make sense, but he didn't care. Out of every single impulse, the one he picked up on the most was by far that aroma, that impossible scent coming off from the man next to him.

What was it? He kept asking himself the same question over and over. It was nostalgic and exotic; sweet and bitter, yet not bittersweet; spicy and alluring, the kind of smell that made you fall to your knees with hunger and need. A secret formula he reserved only for himself, mixing countless herbs and essences? A soap or a bath salt- No, a body wash? It had to be; it came from every inch in his body. He wanted to hold his hand up and sniff it, press his hand against his wrist and kiss it, pull him into his arms and just press himself against all of that scent. Or was he to believe it was truly his natural scent? Some sort of pheromone?

"Say, do you mind if I make a quick assumption about you?" Thyme's words felt random, and Will realized he was being led away from the road, towards the innermost parts of the park. No lights above them, or people around them; nothing but the night, the grass and the breeze around them. But he felt no malice in the dragon's words either. And then he pulled him closer, their chests pressed together and their entwined hands stretched out as if they were dancing. It was so out of nowhere, Will had no defense against it. Nor did he want to defend himself against it. He wanted to pull him closer still... To hear that velvety voice of his. "I feel... like you're the kind of guy that gets other guys in his bed after the first date."

"Ah!" he read him like an open book. Forget the night, he was enough of a lava lamp right now. In his desperate search for anything to hold on to, he ended up tightening his grasp around Thyme's hand, and the dragon copied his action, fingers entwined as well. "I... W-Well... I don't..."

"Don't get me wrong," even closer, their lips a mere inch apart... An inch neither of them dared cross just yet. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"I..." he was so close, every breath came with that magnificent scent. Will's heartbeat eased out a bit, his worries nothing more than background noise now. Every intake of air, his chest pressed against Thyme's, making him bite his lower lip for a second. Say something, he thought, push the words out if you have to. "I'm not... the relationship type, really. I just like flirting, and meeting new people, and... getting close to them. And sex helps that. It deepens the bonds between people, and helps you get closer to your friends. Or... at least that's how I see it."

"Hmmm... I didn't expect you to be just a player, but that's a lot deeper than I thought," and he let go. Not at once, but softly, stepping away and simply letting their hands slide off one another, his fingertips brushing against Will's palm. He didn't want to admit how his heart jumped when they no longer held one another. His focus was entirely on Thyme, watching him kneel in front of a bush, his hands digging into it, holding himself in place with a nearby tree. "Am I the type of guy you would take to bed after your first date?"

"You're the type of guy I'd call the next day," he said that without thinking, and instantly covered his mouth, hoping the dragon didn't hear him. The way his fluffy ears twitched, however...

"I'm afraid that doesn't work for me. I'm the type to bring you breakfast to bed the next morning," Will had to bite his knuckle to keep his moan down. And then Thyme stood up, holding something in his hand as he turned around. Every movement after that was just as fluid as before, as if he moved underwater, like an actual dragon dancing across the sky, barely touching the grass in a single step, his arm extending towards him in a simple flourish. "Here."

"Oh..." yet again, he had no idea how to react. He just kept shocking him at every turn, this time with single flower, shining white in the moonlight, petals open and spreading down. With what little knowledge Will had about flowers, he knew it was a lily, somehow still wide open in the middle of the night. Not a big sleeper, this little girl. When he reached for it, his fingers brushed against his for a second, during which he lost his breath. Even though they had already held hands. Just holding hands made him get like this, what was it with this man? He pulled back right away and held the lily softly, staring at it. "I... think this is the first time anyone's given me a flower."

"Seriously!?" he was close again. So close, he got another hint of that perfect aroma coming off his body. It made him shiver. Everything did: His scent, his looks, his voice. "That's just criminal. Beautiful things belong together."

"B- Wha-

"If I already have such a high chance of getting into your bed, might as well turn up the old charms," and he cupped his chin, fingers sinking into the blonde beard, thumb trailing his jawline. They were the same height, and yet Will felt as if he was made to look up to such a gorgeous man. "That reminds me that I never told you what you smelled like."

He was a beast. He just never stopped. The same hands that tenderly held his own now pulled him closer, and in his shock Will held out to keep the lily away from their mushing bodies. Chest pressed against chest so tightly, every breath felt tight. And Thyme's snout dove on his neck, his nose trailing up his neck, taking a single deep whiff, his lips following the same line, before the first kiss left them, followed by the first nibble. That's when William felt his knees shaking and a gasp came out of him, slow and dragged out, making his entire body go limp.

"It smells like earth," he said with a long lick, going all the way up from his collarbone. Will's eyes widened as a shiver ran up his spine, until those lips met with his ears and whispered. "Like soil in a spring morning, after the rainy night. Charming, calming... The prelude to a symphony from nature. There's a word for it, what is it?" he inched back, looking at the sky, giving the black dragon a clear view of his neck, the cleft exposed in his open cleavage. Maybe it was because of his low tone, or the poetic rhythm to his words, but Will started noticing that thick accent again, mixed so well with his velvety noise. Music to his ears, just like that aroma was heaven to his nostrils. "Petrichor. That's the word, yes. After ichor, the blood of the ancient Greek gods. Fitting for such an Adonis as yourself."

"That's... That's so... so damn corny..." and he couldn't hold himself back any longer. He just buried his face on the dragon's chest, perfectly fitting against his cleft and letting out the loudest squeal of his life, hoping that the muscles and flesh around him were enough to muffle his voice. The rumble on those prominent pecs told him that Thyme chuckled, and his hands reached for his hair, fingers seeping through the golden locks, petting him. Whatever force made Will blush all this time took over, and his arms closed around his date's waist, pulling him closer.

"Now, this might be a tad preposterous of me, but..." the way his thumb rubbed Will's nape sent even more shivers down his spine. He was just a perfect man. "Your place or mine?"

"Mine!" he looked up from his chest so fast, he actually got a bit dizzy, and immediately missed the sensation of those muscles around his head. Then he saw Thyme's eyebrows- those big, bushy pink eyebrows that looked as fluffy as every other bit of hair in his body -rising. "I mean... My place is closer. And I already know where you live, so it's only fair. And I... want to brag about how big it is."

"Are we still talking about your place?" cheeky bastard was still throwing him flirts like that. Lines that he was supposed to be using on him instead. He wanted the upper hand at least once, and he grabbed one of his hands, guiding it down to his-

"Why don't we go find out."

"Oh! Oh bollocks, yes..."


It was all like he imagined it. Thyme's lips were as soft as they looked, as meaty as he hoped them to be, and his taste was so close to the smell, it drove him mad. His hair slipping through his fingers was too soft to be real, and he refused to pull it and harm such a beautiful man. When they fell on his bed, Will's body pinning him down, their lips had yet to part, and their breathing started to rush. His hands were restless, going inside his blazer, invading his back, clawing at the shirt for being in the way. He liked that shirt, but he would be more than happy to let this man rip it off him.

He only let go of his lips to kiss his chin, losing himself on that soft beard, letting it scratch against his own. A long trail left, before he reached his neck and gave it a bite harder than necessary. The moan and Thyme's back arching showed him his approval. It was only natural for Will to nuzzle him afterwards, his nose rubbing the length of his neck, sinking against his flesh and taking a deep breath. That scent... there it was, always, calming him like a field of flowers, making him hunger like the sweetest of treats, exciting him like the most masculine musk- So many different things, such a spectrum of emotions in one single sense, and he couldn't get enough out of him. He wanted more.

His hands reached for Thyme's shirt, holding both sides of his open cleavage and forcing it open. A button may have flown out, but neither cared. Thyme himself just let out a groan and rose off the bed just enough to get the shirt off his body, tossing it to the side as Will held both of his wrists up, exposing his torso. He finally stopped, and they were both panting heavily, chests rising and growing with every intake. The same golden spots from his nose sprinkled his shoulders, and the cream fur covered his entire chest and stomach, before giving into teal to the sides. The prominent curves of his pecs, hanging heavier than he expected, his perky nipples pointing slightly downwards, made him take a sharp breath and lick his lips.

But he couldn't keep his mind away from that aroma. Of all things, that's what his body craved the most, what the heat told him to go for. He went back to the dragon's neck, breathing in, soaking in his essence, going down to his cleft and simply letting his nose guide him. It was like the most insidious cologne ever, coming off every single inch of his body, stronger as he went further down. To the side. Well beyond his chest, Will ended up pressing his face against the exposed pits, his nose fitting perfectly around the raised ident, and he took the deepest whiff. It was heaven. His brain shut down for a second with no other way of describing it.

"W-Wait, Will..." Thyme's shaky voice didn't reach him. The moans interceded between them didn't help in the least. He just took another whiff, his nose rubbing against the smooth skin, brushing against the short fur of his pit. Will's lips parted slightly, his tongue daring to go out, and a single lick was all it took to drive him mad. "W-Will, stop...! Fuck..." long licks and his nose rubbing against him; that was all it took to get a chuckle out of Thyme.

Will sat back up, with only the lingering scent left in his nose, and his eyes now staring down at a blushing Thyme. He was only now noticing how the red made those golden freckles stand out.

"What do we have here?" his hands went up the dragon's sides, and Thyme's reaction was immediate. But not even that was fast enough to stop Will, and his hands reached the exposed pits, fingers poking at the, trailing them slowly, making Thyme's entire body shake and thrash under his weight.

"Will!" he got between chuckles, swatting at Will's hands, trying to push them away. "Stop that!" he finally got them down to his waist, but those few seconds were all it took for him to lose his breath, and Will joined him with a smile of his own, stifling the chuckles. Thyme's smile was the warmest thing he'd seen all day...

Slowly, Will's lips curled down, his eyebrows settling in a slight frown. He was thrilled, but more than anything, he was focused. Focused on Thyme's body, on his defined torso, on those hips, those strong abs, the chest... His hands moved up almost on their own, fingers spread wide, taking up as much of his body as he could on his way up. His thumbs brushed past his nipples, flickering at them just once to see how he would react, if he could make him whimper as he pushed them up. His right hand was the only one that kept going, up his collarbone, reaching his neck. Thyme's head sank down further on the bed, leaning back and exposing the tender flesh of his throat for Will to touch on his way up. He was the one shivering from that, oddly enough.

His fingers sank into the rose beard, the ends gently scratching his palm on his way up, until he reached Thyme's lips. He trailed the lower one with his thumb, and the jolt that traveled from the tip to his entire body from that was just exquisite. Pushing slightly, the dragon parted, and a second later Will found his way into his mouth, the tip of his thumb poked by that long, dexterous tongue of his. Coiling around him, lapping at his claw, a single second before he pulled out, with only a trail of saliva linking them together. The rest of his hand caressed his cheek, playfully pinching the lower half of his ear.

Thyme's hands climbed up his back again, slipping under his blazer and pushing it off his body. It fell off Will's shoulders smoothly, right into his hands, and he tossed it out of the bed right away, as the dragon's hands roamed his back and front, sinking against the fabric of his shirt, looking for the buttons.

"Wait," Will held his wrists in place, just an inch away from the buttons. The claws pushed slightly, and he felt the prickle through his clothes, his scales screaming at him for it. "I should warn you, I'm really hairy."

"I know?" even confused, Thyme was so damn cute. "I saw already, back at my shop. You had your shirt wide open, showing off your tits to anyone who looked."

"You really want to talk about showing off your tits in public?" and he trailed his cleft with a single claw that Thyme was quick to push away with a chuckle. His hands went back to the shirt, but Will still kept him away. "I mean it, there's a lot more hair. It goes all the way down; it's a forest in here."

"That sounds attractive," there was no way Will could fight against him after hearing that. His shoulders went loose and he allowed those skilled hands to explore his torso, slowly reaching for his buttons and undoing them one by one. The fabric slowly peeled off his scales, and inch by inch his muscles were exposed, from the broad shoulders to the plump pecs, and the forest of golden hair sprouting from the very middle. It was just as Thyme remembered it from earlier, but the more he spready his shirt open, the longer that trail went down, covering the entirety of his belly, further still, until it lost itself deep inside his pants, where it surely continued. "Wow..."

"I told you," Will sighed, followed by a whimper as his date's hands dove inside the fuzz. His fingers were warm and tender, and their touch made him tremble. Light tickles, nowhere near as sensitive as Thyme himself, but he still shivered from the very fact that he touched him. He went as deep as he could, his hands practically sinking as he rubbed his stomach underneath, his palms and digits following every single line he came across.

"Abs as well. Quite defined, if I say so myself," his voice was low, riddled with subdued arousal. A sharp gasp left Will whenever his claws prickled the scales, before he found the lines again and kept trailing them. He wanted to press each one separately, let his thumb find and poke his belly button, and just tease him in general. The biggest surprise came when he leaned forward, his nose sinking into the hair, followed by the rest of his snout, his lips, until they came in contact with the black scales hiding underneath. The first kiss alone sent shivers up Will's spine. But the more Thyme moved, the more he huffed, and he ended up pulling out with a bit of a sneeze, and a shy smile on his face. "It tickles a bit."

"You're just ticklish all over, eh?" Will caressed his cheek again, and the dragon leaned on his hand this time, nuzzling it back. The softness of his beard was unlike anything else... And he held the black hand in place, kissing Will's wrist, going down his forearm. He was good, dammit. "You like them?"

"I like everything about you," he was too good for his own sake. Will poked his ears again, watching the way they twitched at his touch; even that was too much cuteness for him to take. His fingers slowly went up, rubbing the short, elegant horns crowning those gorgeous features. Should he call them antlers? It was something in-between, beautiful precisely for that. How can anyone hold back in front of that?

They went back to the bed, Will's arms pinning him down as the shirt was now finally off his body. Their naked chests pressed together, rising and pushing with every breath, sharing the heat and sweat that started covering them. The brush of his hair against Thyme's body got a chuckle out of him, and that was the dragon's chance to lean down and pull him into another kiss. Softer this time, more tender, more delicate. His tongue coiled around Thyme's, pulling him, feeling his chest rumble and his moans go through his mouth and all over his body. His arms were still held above his head, fingers trailing his veins, the lines on his forearms, his biceps, playing with his pits and getting him to laugh in their kiss.

Will broke away after a few more seconds, leaving him gasping for air, not giving him any chance as his lips now left a trail down his neck, nibbling his collarbone, his cleft, his nipples... Perky nubs of flesh those things, sensitive enough that he just had to lick them to get Thyme to whimper. When he bit and sucked on them, his entire body writhed in pure bliss, teeth clenched and his yells bouncing off the walls already.

All through that, Will's hands went down, feeling the curves of his hips, the subtle lines of his abs hiding under the fur and scales. His fingers refused to stay still until he came across the hem of his pants, his one true objective, and it took mere seconds to unbuckle Thyme's belt and pull his zipper down. Claws sank into the sheets and a single gasp left his lips, and Will went further down, taking the freedom of tickling him with the tip of his beard, until he reached his underwear. A black pair with rose patterns, so damn adorable, so much like him. He had to hold back from squealing at the sight, and the best way to do it was by biting on it, pulling it down with his teeth to have his mouth do anything else.

And that's when it hit him. With every inch he revealed off his crotch, that aroma blasted him right on the face, far more powerful than ever. His body moved in autopilot, but his mind was no longer in control. He was in a deep trance, literally drowning on that essence, so deep that he had no words. It wasn't even sweet or delicious anymore, it was literal bliss. Abstract, otherworldly, just perfect. It coiled all around him, making his pants go tight, his mind go numb, everything... He kept pulling his underwear down, and his hands reached for it, pulling his pants on the way, exposing his powerful thighs, and the crotch that emanated that impossible scent.

Will's lips pressed against it, and his nose took another deep whiff. It was just too much for him to refuse, no matter what. Thyme's smell was easily the best thing he'd sensed in his entire life, and he wanted it all. His mind was so in peace, he didn't even blink when he noticed the single line going from the top of his crotch, all the way down to his taint. All he did was lick the slit up, the tip of his tongue barely pushing against those sensitive folds, making the dragon's toes curl and his back arch from delight. When he sat back up, Will trailed that thin line up and down with a thumb, slowly, barely pushing in and making him tremble, teasing him, wanting him to beg for him to go all the way in.

"Do you..." Thyme's shaky words got him to look. The once charming dragon looked at him with a deep blush, a trembling smile that threatened to crumble down any second, and those lovely bushy eyebrows making wrinkles on his forehead. It had taken this long to finally get the upper hand over him, to get back to the smug pedestal he was used to standing on, and even from up there, Will was sure he would break apart just from the way this man looked at him. "Do you want it in... or out?"

"You're just perfect, aren't you?" and he didn't wait for an answer. Will leaned down, his hands landing on his date's thighs, claws sinking through the short fur and grabbing them tight, fingers, squeezing his muscles and flesh. He went for his crotch again, face pressed against it, and a deep whiff filled his lungs with the dragon's impossible essence. He couldn't get enough of it, no matter what, and his own arousal started hitting harder by the second. His tongue pushed out, first lapping at the folds, before pushing all the way in, deeper, harder, until Thyme started screaming and squirming in his hold. He didn't let any of that stop him; he wanted to reach even further down, until the tip of his tongue came across that long, thick member hidden inside him. A single lick and he sent Thyme into overdrive, his voice going an octave higher. Will was probably delusional, but he swore that even his moans had an accent, and it was the most beautiful, most sensual sound his ears had ever heard. And the flavor, good lord... It couldn't compare to the smell, the aroma that still overwhelmed his senses at this point, but it made his tongue tingle and his lips go numb. Deeper; he had to go deeper, lick from the base of his dick and as far up as he could. But no matter how far he went, he never reached the end. This damn dragon wasn't just beautiful, he was hung as hell as well. Just perfect, fuck dammit.

Will pulled out roughly, with a deep breath and a trail of drool linking them again. Hid body screamed at him, chest rising as he breathed hard. But he didn't waste a second, and his hand went for the slit again, fingers digging inside, his index trailing and rubbing the inner walls, making Thyme thrash from his touch. He kicked and screamed, until he had to cover his face while his back arched, but none of that made Will stop. His fingers spread, the slit opening in the process, and he shivered at the moan that came out of the dragon.

"In it is..." he breathed out, unsure if Thyme had even heard him. When he pulled out, he got a whimper in return, and he almost squealed from how cute Thyme sounded. He rubbed his inner thigh in return, never breaking eye contact. "Get on all fours for me."

No words. Thyme just grinned at him and started sitting up, surprised when Will met him halfway for a quick kiss. But the wicked look in those amber eyes told him that he still had an order to follow, and he turned around, holding himself up with all limbs, tail raising and exposing every inch to the black dragon. From the wet slit to the tight hole under his tail, Will saw it all and sighed in delight, rubbing the tent that grew more and more uncomfortable with every second. He wanted to reach and touch it, finger it all a bit, but every second he stopped to think about it was another throb commanding him.

The sound of his zipper got Thyme's attention and he tried looking over his shoulder. Will's dominance finally kicked in, and he grabbed his chin to make him face forward again. It took the dragon by surprise, but his swaying tail was all confirmation they both needed. A few seconds later, Will's pants were on the ground and he started stroking himself, taking only a moment to watch the ebony spire jutting from between his legs. He bit his lower lip to keep the moans down, each one threatening to push out of his throat with every motion. It was so hard it was painful, and the bright red head oozed pre like mad, which he used to lube himself right away.

"Seems like a tight fit," he whispered as his slick fingers went back into Thyme's slit, slower this time, tender. He scrubbed the inner folds, making sure to get some of his pre in them, feeling the dragon's own mixing in. Thyme whimpered at his touch and that only made him dig in deeper, seeing him grasp at the sheets. That only made Will's dick jump again and he couldn't hold back any longer. He just climbed on top of the dragon, chest against back, his lips less than an inch away from Thyme's ear and the tip of his member rubbing his slit. "Shhh... You'll let me know if it hurts, right?"

"I know you would never hurt me," that made him smile, and he kissed his ear, nibbled it a bit, before going to his cheek. His hands landed on top of Thyme's, fingers entwined, and his hips moved on their own, pushing slowly, getting a grunt and a gasp out of him.

It was slow, but he was pleasantly surprised when Thyme put no resistance against him. His slit opened up softly, and whereas Will thought he would struggle just to get halfway through, by the time he realized he was already rubbing against his dick inside. A moan escaped his throat this time, his hand squeezing Thyme's harder, and he left a trail of kisses on his back as his hips pushed harder against the last bit of opposition in his body. In a single, tender thrust, his dick was already all the way inside the dragon, their tips pressed against one another, swimming in a small puddle of their mixed pre.

A sigh, and then he kissed Thyme's ear again, before nibbling his neck, going down with his bites getting progressively harder. His teeth sank deep into his shoulder, getting a sharp moan out of the dragon before pulling back, aiming at the right angle to ensure his member pressed against his all the way through. A powerful thrust followed, using every bit of strength his powerful hips had on them, every thrust harder, forceful, pushing the gasps out of Thyme. He only let go of his shoulder to nuzzle against his neck, his nose brushing against his beard, and Thyme responded by clenching his dick harder, making him moan in his ear and push with more power.

They set a pace in no time, Thyme pushing back against his member, his hips in synch with the black dragon's. Will felt his member jump inside him, both of them throbbing together every time he went all the way in. The heat coming off Thyme's dick deep inside drove him nuts, and he held his hand even harder, his own member a blur. Their voices mixed in a concert of moans as he slammed inside him, drops of pre already jumping out of the slit from how hard he fucked it. Their screams bounced off the walls, but they weren't enough to drown the sound of Will's balls slapping against his rump, the squelching his dick made every time it pulled out of his pussy, or the creaking of the bed under their weight.

Will's hands reached for the chest next, and he got an even louder yelp from Thyme as he pulled him up, making him kneel and lean back. His dick pushed even deeper, and both clenched their teeth at the sudden intensity traveling through their bodies. The jolts, the heat coming off Thyme's crotch, was simply too much for him to resist. It was exquisite, outstanding. And with every bit of power he still had, he thrust and fucked that slit the hardest, making sure he got the screams out of the dragon's system. His entire body jumped with every thrust, and even while holding them roughly like that, Will felt the hefty pair of tits jump in his hold. He nuzzled his neck again, breathing in that powerful aroma, feeling his body tremble and shiver, every cell on it heating up at the taste it left in his mouth. Perfection, that's the only word he had to describe such an aroma. He held his pecs even harder, flesh seeping through the cracks between his fingers, nipples rubbing against his open palms, and one of Thyme's hands reached back, holding his head in place. He had no choice but to keep drowning in his pheromones, in that perfect scent that just made him go crazy.

Something sparked in his head. He didn't know what it was, nor why it just appeared in his mind, but it made Will pull back, free himself off the dragon's hold and push him back on the bed. He was being rough now, his hands grabbing his shoulder and making him turn around, until they were face to face again. Literally face to face, as Will slammed both hands to each side of Thyme's head, his head less than an inch away, their breathing rushed and heavy. He was an animal. That smell awoke something primal in him, something basic and instinctive that made his eyes shine with hunger. And yet, through that hunger, Thyme still saw the softness... The blushing gentleman that asked him out in such an embarrassing way.

"You are... really beautiful, you know?"

Will's eyes widened. That animal need was still there, but he bashfully looked away, mouth half open as he tried to look for the right words to say. But he came short. He always came short around him. Why was that, he wondered. All he could do was lean down and pull him into another kiss, rough, aggressive, passionate. His hands squeezed under his head, fingers swimming through the forest of soft hair and pulling him closer, making him give in further into the kiss.

They didn't stop even as Will pushed into his slit again. The moan traveled in his mouth and down his throat, and Thyme's hands immediately went for his back, clawing at the hard scales and feeling up his muscles, desperately looking for anything to hold on to. Will's thrusts got harder and faster with every passing second, his member pulsing hard against the dragon's, his slit clenching around them both, making every push harder. The frotting, the rough milking, everything made him shake excitedly, and yet their lips refused to break apart. Tongues fought one another almost as hard as his hips slammed against that crotch.

He was close. He knew it. Anyone watching would've been able to tell. Logic and reason were long gone from his brain, and he pulled at Thyme's hair, sinking deeper into the kiss as he did, all to try and hold himself in place. Both of their dicks shook from the excessive sensations, and he felt the rush rising from the base and all through his length, inch by inch, at long last. One more thrust, he thought, but that was never enough. He kept thinking, one more thrust, and kept going in, kept getting milked by Thyme's insides, but it was never enough. His brain was overwhelmed with everything, from the jolts coursing from his member to that exquisite smell...

One last thrust, and this time it really was the last. Their moans and screams mixed in their kiss as both dragons' loads burst out simultaneously, coating Thyme's insides white. Will felt it all, from his own furious, powerful shots to the way it crawled and moved inside Thyme's member, pressed against him as tight as it was. They splashed inside him together, his inner walls painted white as their balls emptied themselves inside him. It went on and on, shots hitting his insides only to fall and puddle around their dicks. In no time, he started overflowing, and Will's furious thrusts meant that more of their mixed cum oozed out of him. It went down his taint in trails, staining the sheets and clinging to both, scales and fur. Their orgasm went on like that for a while longer, and not even Will was able to hold his screams back like that. He broke the kiss to face forward, moaning the hardest he'd ever done so, while Thyme gasped and whimpered, kissing and biting the stretched out neck above him.

After a few more seconds, it was over. Will felt weird when it happened. Confused at first, unsure of where he was or what happened; that only lasted an instant, before the heavy breathing took over. In a way, he was disappointed that it was done, but the afterglow that washed over him immediately after that, the sheer happiness, was more than worth it. His breathing eased out slowly, his chest pushing almost as much as Thyme's did under him. The dragon's hands were still clinging to his back, hooked around his shoulders and just holding him in place, and there was a certain warmth from a fact as simple as that.

But more than anything, he stared at Thyme's face. He swallowed once before breathing, and his eyes opened for the first time, merely a crack, something minimal. His irises were small, and a deep cherry red that seemed to glow on its own. Like one of those cocktail cherries- Ah... Cocktail cherries, that was it. That's the kind of sweetness his smell reminded him of. That was one piece of the puzzle done. One he got by looking just at the right time, when he opened his eyes and showed him that deep, bright, breathtaking color.

"You..." he leaned further down, until their chests pressed. His hair brushed against Thyme, and he wondered if he felt any tickling from it. If he wasn't so out of breath, he might have heard him laugh while staring at those bright orbs. "You have pretty eyes..." this was enough. A kiss was enough.

Then he pulled out, strands of cum hanging from his crotch and Thyme's slit, and he fell on the bed, next to the dragon. A loud sigh left him, chest rising while he watched his date next to him, still gasping for air.

"Bloody hell..." he was so British, just hearing his voice made Will's dick jump again. Then he winced and his instincts instantly shot up. "Hurts a bit."

"Did I hurt you? Do you need ice or something?"

"No? No! Of course not, dear," a single word was enough to make him blush, and he hoped the darkness managed to hide that. Thyme reaching and caressing his cheek didn't help matters, but he still leaned into it. "My dick's still throbbing a bit, that's all. Been a while since I came this hard, but I'm far from done. Could use another few shots."

"You just let me know. I'm good to go whenever you want," and he spread his legs just a bit to let the dragon see the still erect member, coated in seed from head to base. Truth be told, it did hurt a bit after such an intense pounding, but there was no way he would admit that.

"Lovely..." was that yearning he heard in his voice? "But I'm in my 30s, dear. I need ten minutes, at least. Not all of us have the gift of youth."

"What youth? I'm 42," it was the second time he saw Thyme's eyes, as they bulged out in shock. Will had to hold back his laughter. "Ok, now I'm flattered... Wasn't the 24 year old nephew enough of a clue?"

"It didn't click," of course, his voice was distracted as he looked up and down at the dragon. "How do you do it? You look amazing."

"Exercise, good diet, all the classics. I need to keep in shape to meet guys like you," he leaned forward, letting Thyme lie still as his lips went down to meet him. A short kiss, only a second of their lips touching one another. Still more than enough, and yet not nearly. "You said it yourself, beautiful things belong together."

"What...?" he got a blush out of him. And made him look away for a second. Finally. "Is this how you usually are? These are the legendary charms I've heard of earlier tonight?"

"Perhaps they are."

"Because, you know, all you did was steal my line."

"Perhaps I did," and he reached around Thyme's chest, pulling him closer and scrubbing his beard against his neck. He tried to push him away, laughing all through, but Will proved stronger and held him in place for at least a minute, before ending his assault with a kiss to his cheek. "Let me know when you're ready to keep going."

"I'm always ready for a handsome guy."

"Trying to get the charm back?" and he scrubbed his beard against him again, getting more laughter in response.

On the lower end of the bed, hanging from the edge, their tails swayed next to one another almost in synch, before coiling a few times. The black tip curved around slightly, poking at the other one, trying to-

"William, what are you doing?"

"You know those comics where the guys sleep and the last shot is of their tails coiling and the tips making a heart shape?"

"You're such a dork."

Birthday More

It was a chilly night, with no breeze and no clouds on the sky. Countless streetlights kept the city illuminated, for those late night wanderers that went from one party to another, bar hopping hand in hand. But that wasn't what the massive canine was...

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Beastars Alternate - Chapter 1

When did it start. This craving. This hunger. This heat that started in the pit of his stomach and spread through his every cell, burning, aching, until it became a growl next to his ear constantly telling him to cave in. "Hey, old man! Will you...

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Remembering

It was a small bedroom: Sky blue walls illuminated by the orange tone of the setting sun, light filtering through the single large window; a messy bed and a set of clothes on the floor next to it, where their owner had forgotten them the night before;...

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