~Dessa~

When Zaire landed gently, he seemed reluctant to let her down, but when he did, Dessa's vertigo was so intense that she clutched his arm to keep from staggering like a baby deer learning how to walk. As the adrenaline wore off from the flight, she blinked at their surroundings. He had taken her to some sort of sprawling village. There were Fae creatures everywhere, and not a single one was feasting on a poor human.

In front of a cabin that was near the well-worn path, a Fae female with reptilian scales and a long, barbed tail was hanging garments on a clothesline. The female flicked a glance toward them, and her sharp yellow eyes widened. Her pupils were snake-like slits and they thinned with apparent shock as she looked at Zaire. She immediately dropped to her knees, and Dessa felt a wave of irritation. She didn't like to see a female brought to her knees for him, she wanted to be the only one doing that. Zaire sighed, not seeming pleased at all by the display of devotion, and gave the female a dismissive wave. But unfortunately, every male, female, and child did the same as they passed, and Dessa's frustration waxed and waned. On one hand, it was clear that the other Dark Fae revered him, and his presence alone humbled them. Could she really be upset that he had the same effect on them that he had on her? But on the other hand, the less ugly the female, the more anger bubbled inside of Dessa. Most were garish and strange-looking, but the more human-like ones were fucking gorgeous, and their cheeks flushed at the sight of her mate. Those particular Fae dropping down for him had her seething. She couldn't help but glare at them, but none of them seemed to pay any mind, with a fallen angel walking beside her.

It was the last straw, when a buxom Fae woman bared her breasts for him, her knees splayed open wide enough in her kneeling position to show him the valley between her shapely legs. Rage flooded through Dessa, and her entire body went hot. She wanted to strangle the life out of that creature, and her gaze snapped toward Zaire. Her anger and jealousy fizzled by a fraction, seeing that he appeared to be sick to his stomach, and he wasn't looking at the lustful female at all. His ill expression softened Dessa immediately, and when she grabbed his hand, the pallid look to his skin eased.

Zaire surprised her, then, by leaning down and brushing a kiss on her lips, as if to say thank you,  and the hand that she wasn't holding caressed the symbol on her forearm, sending pleasurable shivers through her body that banished the rest of her negative feelings. Just that simple action seemed to be a reminder that she  was his mate, and that she had no reason to worry about competition. Still, Dessa worried that he could taste the pride she felt when she looked back at the Fae female, who was now covering her shame and looking embarrassed for making a spectacle of herself. Zaire picked up his pace and tugged Dessa away, leading her toward a massive hut with what looked like tiki-torches on either side of the entrance. The smell of food wafted in Dessa's face as he guided her in.

It was a restaurant, and Dessa couldn't imagine that there would be a place to dine in the world of Faerie. If she ignored the creatures that inhabited it, she could imagine that it was one of those '50's-themed diners in the city. However, the Fae were impossible to ignore, as every one of them turned to look at Zaire, and bowed their heads as he led her to an empty booth. As soon as they sat down, a Fae male with a spiraled narwhal-like horn in the middle of his chest brought them complimentary rolls, butter, and small cups of an amber liquid. 

Looking down at them, Dessa's hunger stirred within her, but she made no move to touch any of it. Was this a date?  What a silly thought, but the concept had her cheeks burning. She had never been on a date. What a strange place to experience her first one. A restaurant in the Dark Realm. And her date was a being that was so powerful that everyone took notice. He was more than a celebrity here, he was like a king, or a god. The whole situation was beyond unnerving. 

"Does this place meet your standards?" Zaire asked, and she struggled to look him in the eyes as he took a sip from his cup.

"I don't have any," Dessa mumbled meekly, feeling the other patrons' stares boring holes through her flesh. 

"We will have to change that," Zaire shook his head, sliding the basket toward her. "What would you like to eat?"

Dessa squirmed, his words niggling at her. "This is enough." 

She reached for one of the rolls and as she sliced it and placed a pad of butter inside, a Fae female approached their table. Before the waitress could ask, without looking away from Dessa, Zaire said,

"Bring her the steak."

There was a finality to the demand, and the Fae scurried away quickly. Dessa bit her lip, and his inhuman gaze trailed down to her mouth.

"You should want more for yourself," Zaire murmured, with an edge to his voice. "If you want something, I will appease you. If you deny your own needs, you will leave me guessing. You will deny me the pleasure of attending to those needs."

A steak sounded sumptuous and filling, but Dessa could think of something that she wanted more, hearing him say that. She wanted to get down on her knees and offer him pleasure with her mouth. The desire was so unlike her. She didn't have the first clue how to perform the act, but the idea of it had her squirming in her seat for a completely different reason. Oh, fuck, he can taste this feeling, too, can't he!? His white eye went flaming hot, and his hard jaw flexed. He definitely could! How embarrassing! 

Suddenly, a crashing sound came from the booth behind her, and before Dessa could turn around to see what had caused the commotion, Zaire's clawed hand shot out and grasped her by the chin, stopping her from looking. But she didn't need to see what was happening, because the loud moans and growls were enough for her to realize that two Fae were having sex on the table. Dessa's lips parted in shock and Zaire's chagrin was evident on his face. 

"They were close enough to taste your . . . " Zaire explained hoarsely, trailing off. 

He didn't need to finish, it was clear what he meant to say. She didn't think that she could be more mortified than she was at that moment. Her dirty thoughts had caused fellow diners to put on a live sex show. Fucking hell!  She had incited that depravity. The Fae female's moans made Dessa cringe, and she didn't dare glance back when Zaire released his hold. As repulsive as it was to hear the sounds of their sex, Dessa hated that it turned her on even more. What is wrong with me?! 

A second later, the waitress brought the sizzling steak. One of Zaire's shadows dropped gold coins in her hands, and he asked for a container which she quickly returned with.

"We need to leave, now," Zaire rasped, knocking back the rest of the amber liquid in his cup and hastily gathering the food. 

Dessa followed suit, finally taking some eager drinks of her own, before helping him with boxing it up. The drink was some kind of mead, and it slid down her throat, blooming into a buzzing warmth inside of her almost immediately. She didn't need to ask why they were rushing out, because it was obvious. In her periphery, she could see the other Fae creatures in the restaurant stripping off each other's clothes. It was like she had sparked a flame that was turning into a wildfire! Wow, what a unique way for her to ruin her first date! 

As Zaire hurried to guide her out, Dessa tried her best not to look at the naked bodies tangled together, tried not to hear the wet, smacking sounds of their barbaric sex. Still, as he whisked her away, taking flight once more, the responding heat between her thighs was insufferable. Without a barrier of panties, her dress clung to her slickness, and she could think of nothing but how good it would feel to have him ravish her in his lovely bed. But he didn't take her home, when he descended, she chanced a look toward the ground. He had taken her to a secluded, scenic pool that was fed by a magnificent waterfall. 

Zaire sat her gently on the grass, and his breathing was uneven. He took off his shirt, baring his sculpted torso, and Dessa was overwhelmed by excitement. Was he about to take her? Her thrill was short-lived, though, because he laid his shirt on the grass like a picnic blanket and opened the box of food, instead of undressing more. How disappointing! Dessa could see that he wasn't immune to the chaos that had just ensued, that he was struggling for composure. But why? Why wouldn't he chase her, when he could taste how badly she wanted him to?

He told her that she should want more for herself, but now that she did, he was trying to ignore it! Frustration surged through her, and she couldn't help but voice her complaint,

"Why aren't you taking me?"

Her resentment of the prospect was sharp in her tone, and Zaire's muscles rippled as he tensed. He looked hungry, guilty, and irritated, but his teeth clenched and he said nothing. 

"Don't you want me to run?" Dessa snapped at him, standing and taking a step back from the makeshift picnic. "You said that you would never get enough of me, but that isn't the case, is it?"

Zaire's anguished expression twisted her heart. "I don't want to break you."

That's what this was? He was afraid that he would break his promise, and almost kill her again?

"Maybe I want to be broken," Dessa challenged him, taking another step back.

Adrenaline started coursing through her veins at the thought of running away. His mismatched eyes narrowed at her, and his fangs glinted in the night. 

"I don't want a broken little doll," Zaire growled, his fists clenching. "I want to keep you safe. I don't want to destroy what is mine."

Dessa scoffed, and her legs twitched, readying to take off. Would he be so composed if she ran? Would he resist the urge to chase her, then?

"I don't want to be safe."

She began to shake from the thrill. She would force him to hunt her. Zaire glared at her menacingly.

"Don't you dare run from me."

The command was laced with that earth-shaking tone, and it burrowed deep into her bones, almost powerful enough to physically tug her toward him. But Dessa refused to listen to it. She refused to let him restrain himself, when they both wanted it. She needed to test that resolve, bend it until it broke. She took two more quick steps back. His piercing eyes were unyielding, and his wings vibrated behind him, the inky shadows trembling violently. 

"Do. Not. Run!"

Dessa mustered every last shred of her own willpower and began her mad dash, opposing him with the speed of a marathon-runner. A hysterical laugh peeled from her throat when she heard his woeful roar. 

"Catch me if you can!"  Dessa squealed breathlessly, her heart racing like a wild stallion.