Chapter 14

The Grand Bath, Hall of Flames

The sun had barely crept over the horizon when Delmira decided to head directly to the Grand Bath from the mountains. While it was true that Spike’s home had a perfectly decent bath of its own, she wanted some time alone in order to sort out her thoughts from what had happened during the Gauntlet of Fire. More specifically, she needed to reflect upon Spike’s confession and her own feelings towards the young man.

When Spike had first arrived in Brimstone, she agreed to look after him and attend to his basic needs. Cooking, cleaning, and the general upkeep of his home were activities that she didn’t mind performing. If nothing else, it was something to keep an ageless goddess such as herself occupied. Plus, she vigorously agreed with Lord Torch that Spike deserved a warm reception from his own people.

The occasional bouts of casual sex with him had been an idea that she and Torch concocted together. It was something that they felt would help ease Spike’s stress. That and despite being a goddess, she enjoyed the pleasures of sex just as much as any mortal. It truly was a win-win situation for the both of them, in her opinion. However, as time wore on, their love-making became less casual and increasingly more… intimate.

Delmira really tired her best to separate her feelings from the act. She knew just how much Spike cared for Ember, so she focused her efforts on helping him become a more adept lover. At first, they simply fucked because it felt good and Delmira gladly taught Spike everything she knew about turning a woman into a quivering ball of ecstasy.

She wasn’t sure exactly when it happened. But their relationship started to change as they became more familiar with one another. The two of them would still fuck just as frequently as before, yet… there was far more intimacy behind the act and immediately thereafter. One of the things she cherished the most was when they would simply lay in bed and snuggle after they were done making love.

There was nothing inherently erotic about it. The mere sensation of having your bare skin pressed up against someone you cared for was indescribably satisfying. It made her feel safe, warm, needed, and loved. Spike, bless his heart, would often insist on peppering her body with gentle, affectionate kisses. After he finished, they would both descend into a fit of giggles and embrace one other as tightly as they dared.

Delmira clenched her fist and sighed. She had promised herself not to get too involved with Spike for Ember’s sake, yet she still ended up developing feelings for him anyway. Even though she had lived for countless eons, she was still a woman at heart.

Pushing her complicated jumble of thoughts aside, Delmira slipped into the steaming pool of water and tried to relax. After spending so much time inside what the Wyvertii considered her inner sanctum, she was positively covered in sweat, dirt, and soot. Her draconic transformation, while extremely powerful, did nothing to keep her body clean. Ergo, bathing was still very much a necessity for the goddess.

She grabbed a sponge and began to languidly scrub her skin. It helped to relieve some of the tension she was feeling in her muscles, but only a little. Once all the grime and sweat had been washed away, the forlorn goddess slid deeper into the bath until everything except her head was submerged underneath the waterline.

For what felt like an eternity, Delmira stared at the beautiful carvings adorning the walls. Ironically, she noted, a few of them depicted her as a mighty dragon, flying majestically through the skies. It never ceases to amaze me how these mortals think I’m some omnipresent being of pure perfection. Ha, if only that were true…

The goddess was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she failed to notice someone else enter the bath. Her reverie was only broken when her fellow bather decided to clear his throat. She yelped in surprise and flailed like a drowning cat. Once she gained her composure, she heard the man bellow with laughter.

“Apologies, your grace. I assumed you knew I was here.”

Delmira’s cheeks flushed from more than just the water. “Lord Torch, you know I hate being called that! In any case, I was a bit lost in thought. Sorry.”

“Aye, that’s more like the goddess I know! If I may ask, what’s bothering you?”

Delmira stared at her feet. “It’s Spike. Something… unexpected happened when I presented him with the Bloodstone Blade.”

“Oh?”

When Torch didn’t elaborate any further, Delmira grit her teeth in frustration. She really didn’t want to get into all of the details, but there was nothing to be gained by keeping all of her feelings bottled up. Furthermore, Torch was one of the few beings that she implicitly trusted. With a heavy sigh, she pulled her legs in towards her chest and propped her head in the crook formed by her knees.

“In my experience, every other Dragon Lord has been either awed or frightened by my true form. I expected Spike to do the same, but he reacted in a way I never could have predicted. He just walked up to me and embraced my head. There was no fear, just affection and acceptance.”

Torch nodded. “I expected as much. The two of you have been living with each other for some time now. Did you truly believe that Spike would be afraid of you, even if he knew you were a dragoness?”

“I-I just don’t know anymore! I’ve never felt so strongly about a mortal before. What about Ember’s affection for him? If I continue to act upon my own desires and feelings, it will only complicate matters for the both of them.”

Torch rubbed his chin. “Aye, for a time it will. That’s true of any relationship between multiple partners. Let me ask you this: do you love my daughter?”

“Well, of course I do! I’ve known her since she was a child.”

“Ah, but are you capable of loving her as a woman?”

Delmira chuckled. “You know, I’ve teased her relentlessly over the years, but I’d be a fool not to see how beautiful she’s become. I don’t think I’d mind treating her as a lover. That is, if she’s willing to see me that way too.”

“I think, in part, she already has. Ember wouldn’t have agreed to let you to fuck Spike if she didn’t trust you. To my knowledge, she has never expressed any interest in bedding another woman though.”

Delmira frowned. “No, she hasn’t…”

“I wouldn’t lose heart just yet, Winter Silk. My daughter can be stubborn and jealous at times, but given enough time I think she’ll eventually come to enjoy making love to the both of you.”

“Forgive me, Torch but you make it all sound so easy. How can I possibly go about this without hurting her feelings? You have to understand, it was never my intention to steal Spike away from her! I just wanted to help—”

Torch gently placed his finger on her lips. “That’s enough. The fact of the matter is: you both care deeply for Spike. Just be honest and forthright about your feelings with her as you have been with me. Ember will probably get upset, but I don’t imagine she could ever hate you for loving Spike.”

The ancient goddess relaxed her shoulders and nodded mutely. It wasn’t as if Torch was wrong in his thinking. After all, he was quite possibly the foremost expert on Ember considering that she was his own flesh and blood. But that still didn’t make sharing her feelings with the tomboy any easier to swallow.

Delmira chuckled to herself. Here she was, a powerful dragon goddess, and she was scared out of her wits at the mere thought of talking to a mortal woman. Life truly was stranger than fiction. After steeling her resolve, she blew out a puff of air and leaned up against the rim of the bath.

“When you were fighting Spike, you held back… didn’t you?”

Torch cracked his neck. “Aye, I only used about half of my strength. There was any number of ways I could have beaten the boy into a bloody smear, but that wasn’t the point. The rest of the Gauntlet tested his mettle sufficiently. I just wanted to see how far he had come with his training.”

“Were you impressed?”

“Mhmm. He’s quite strong for someone so young. I’m sure he’ll make a fine Dragon Lord.”

Delmira smiled. “Yeah, I think so too. Is he aware of what is to happen next?”

“Ahhh, well… I was going to tell him about his journey of knowledge today, now that you mention it.”

Delmira’s eyes widened in surprise. “Seriously?! You didn’t bother to tell him about one of the most important initiation rites of becoming a Dragon Lord after the two of you were done sparring on top of the volcano?”

“Forgive me, great goddess. We were both tired and injured. It slipped my—”

Torch let out a pained yelp as Delmira gave his nipple a hard twist. She made sure not to go overboard with it though; she didn’t want to cause him too much pain. After a few moments of Torch whimpering pathetically, she relented and kissed his chest to make it feel better.

“I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have done that.”

Torch sighed softly. “Nay, I am just as much to blame. Spike deserved to know what kind of responsibilities he now bears. However, you do realize that he will want to take both you and Ember along with him on his journey.”

“Yes, I considered the possibility. Is it selfish of me to be excited to go with him?”

“Perhaps it is. But no one deserves a change of pace more so than you, Winter Silk. How long has it been since you’ve left the valley?”

Delmira wiggled her toes. “Stars above, it’s been a few thousand years at least…”

“Well, there you have it. Go out and see the world, have fun, and most importantly: enjoy the time you have with Ember and Spike.”

“My powers will be severely limited if I leave the continent. I won’t be able to help Spike and Ember very much if they get into any sort of trouble. What about the rest of you? I’d be a terrible goddess if I abandoned my own children.”

Torch waved his hand. “The Wyvertii are a hardy folk, we are more than capable of taking care of ourselves in your absence. And I’m certain that Ember and Spike will be able to handle themselves just fine, should any conflicts arise.”

“Still, I—”

“Don’t think of it as abandoning us, your grace. Every being, no matter how powerful or ageless, is entitled to some measure of happiness in their life. I will continue to take care of running things in Brimstone, as I have for the past twelve hundred years.”

Delmira sighed. “Alright, I shall accompany them on their journey. Besides, I imagine the both of them could really use further instruction on how to pleasure more than one partner properly.”

“That’s the sprit! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a very important letter to compose.”

Delmira’s brow furrowed. “Are you mad? It would be ruined by all the moisture in here!”

“Aye, if it were a normal letter. I’m using enchanted paper for this one. It’s for the best, honestly. This is going to be an official declaration to the Equestrian Diarchy, after all.”

“I suppose that makes sense. But why would you need to communicate with the princesses?”

Torch chuckled. “Oh, it’s not for my sake. I need to inform Spike’s kin of his new title and all of the privileges that come with it. Is it not common sense that he would want to visit Equestria first?”

“Ah, right. How foolish of me. I nearly forgot that he wasn’t raised as a Wyvertii.”

“I’ve done my best to look out for your boy, Viridian and Elm. I only wish you two could have seen him grow into the man he’s become,” Torch whispered, “Ehem—yes, I often forget that he was raised by Outlanders too.”

Delmira smiled and pretended that she hadn’t heard Torch’s sentimental whispering. She felt much the same way, although she had not been quite as well acquainted with Spike’s parents as Torch was. It was always tragic to see a child become orphaned at such a young age, but Spike couldn’t have asked for a better foster mother than Celestia.

Maybe that was what made him so attractive to Delmira. He was vastly different from any of the Wyvertii she had met over her countless centuries of existence. The young Dragon Lord was kinder, gentler, and overall more affectionate than any man she had ever encountered before.

Delmira laughed to herself. Such traits weren’t exactly seen in the most positive light when it came to the Wyvertii definition of masculinity. But she honestly didn’t care. It was what made Spike so easy to love in the first place. And she was just as proud as ever to have had the honor of claiming his virginity.

After spending about another twenty minutes soaking, she got out of the bath and stretched out like a cat. The goddess was anything but bothered by the heat, but she still needed to put food in her belly. Torch quickly followed suit, the growling in his stomach being far louder and more apparent. The giant actually blushed, but Delmira chose to ignore it and loop her arm around his.

“There’s no need to feel embarrassed, Torch. I’m just as hungry as you are. Do you think Sepia would mind frying up some toast, eggs, and boar bacon? It’s still rather early…”

Torch rolled his eyes. “That depends entirely on if she’s still nursing Garble back to health.”

“Wait, what?”

Torch sighed. “Believe me; I’m just as flabbergasted as you are. Apparently, the two of them really hit it off during the celebration. Ever since he returned from the Gauntlet, the two of them have stuck together like tree sap. It does make a certain amount of sense though. Garble nearly died from his injuries. They’re simply… celebrating life, I suppose.”

“That’s one way to put it, not that I have any right to judge.”

“Indeed. If worse comes to worse, I can always have Onyx do it. She’s actually quite adept at cooking. It’s not something she openly advertises, but from time to time she volunteers to make meals.”

Delmira gave him a half-lidded stare. “You know I can cook too, right?”

“Yes, Spike has often told me how delicious your meals are!”

“So, what’s the problem?”

Torch rubbed his neck. “It’s rather inappropriate to ask a goddess to cook my breakfast…”

“Don’t you dare give me that look! I’m feeling extra generous today. We’re heading to the kitchen whether you like it or not!”

Torch had no desire to deny his goddess. Like any reasonable person in his position, he allowed the diminutive albino woman drag him around by the arm. Many of the cleaning maids gave the two of them odd looks, but no one bothered to question what was going on.

Sure enough, Delmira didn’t waste any time when they arrived in the kitchen. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, she was slicing up the bacon and frying it along with the eggs. Torch felt slightly guilty, so he tried to offer a hand but was immediately shooed away. With nothing better to do, he sat cross-legged on the floor and enjoyed the tantalizing scent of frying food.

Spike’s House, Brimstone

A single ray of sunlight filtered through the window and fell upon Spike’s face. Although not the worst way to wake up, Spike will still quite tired from his ordeals during the Gauntlet of Fire. And unlike Twilight, he was very much a light sleeper. Once he was awake, it was nearly impossible for him to drift back to sleep.

The young dragon lord shrugged off his bedsheets and clambered over towards the window. Most of his body screamed at him, telling Spike to rest once more, but he ignored the pain and took a moment to admire the thin sheen of dew coating all of the trees just outside the window.

After scratching his stomach and yawning, he decided that at the very least he should take a bath. He was in sore need of one, and the hot water would do wonders to sooth his aching muscles. Despite the haze of pain and grogginess muddling his mind, Spike immediately noticed something was off.

As he drew closer to the bathroom, he heard strange noises emanating from within. His blood coursed with adrenaline, making him more alert than before. Even though Brimstone was considered far more primitive than Equestria, crime was exceedingly rare amongst the Wyvertii.

Ember had chalked it up to the simple fact that crime carried a heavy social stigma, and punishments were often quite draconian. One tended to be discouraged from stealing if the punishment was getting your cheek branded with a hot iron.

Spike cracked open the door, trying his best not to make too much noise. The last thing he wanted was to alert his would-be intruder. After taking a deep breath, he tip toed across the elaborate fresco tiles and towards the bath proper.

The sight that greeted the young dragon lord was not at all what he had been expecting. He blinked his eyes several times just to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. The intruder was… not actually an intruder at all, but none other than Ember. And she happened to be on her hands and knees.

Her body was positioned in such a way that it gave Spike a generous view of her divinely sculpted derriere and a portion of her feminine folds all at once. Logically, he understood that Ember wasn’t trying to be seductive on purpose. In fact, she was merely stoking the firewood to heat up the bath water, which required her to be on her hands and knees.

Unfortunately, Spike’s other head was doing the thinking instead of the one on his shoulders. The Gauntlet of Fire had lasted three weeks. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Ember since the night of the celebration. Ergo, that was three weeks’ worth of hardship, isolation, and pent up sexual frustration.

Much to his embarrassment, it only took about thirty seconds before his erect penis throbbed with burning desire. Part of him wanted to throw civility out the window and plow Ember senselessly right on the spot. But… he knew that she deserved much better than that.

After clenching his fists, Spike walked over to Ember and tapped her on the shoulder. She gasped in surprise at first, but once she realized it was him, she threw her arms around his shoulders in a bone crushing hug.

Even though his muscles ached, it felt wonderful to finally get to hold her again. The warm, tingling sensation of her skin pressed against his, the flowery aroma of her hair, all of it threatened to overwhelm him. He released his grasp on her and planted a gentle kiss upon her forehead.

“You have no idea how much I missed you.”

Ember didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she grabbed both sides of his head and pulled him towards her lips. Spike was slightly surprised, but he didn’t hesitate to return her passionate kiss. They continued to explore each other’s mouths for a minute or so, until Ember pulled away gasping for air.

“As much as I enjoyed our kiss, you still have morning breath. And I know for a fact that I felt your penis rubbing up against my stomach. How can you be this hard so early in the morning?”

“Well, when I-I saw you bent over like that I couldn’t help but stare…”

Ember’s face turned beet red. “For Delmira’s sake! This is the first time I’ve seen you since the Gauntlet began and you’re already thinking about sex?! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”

“I’m sorry! It’s just been so long since—”

Ember nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. “Don’t get me wrong: I’m really happy that my body excites you so easily, but… would it have killed you to show some tact?”

Spike was about to argue that he had, in fact, showed some tact but decided to keep quiet. The only thing that he would receive after confessing his restraint would be a swift punch to the face. Instead, he chose to rub Ember’s back. Her anger quickly evaporated when she let out a contented sigh.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I was worried. My father assured me that you would make it through the Gauntlet in one piece but I couldn’t help but think of all the horrible things that could happen. B-because I… love you.”

Spike ran his fingers through her hair. “There were times during the Gauntlet when I wanted nothing more than run back to Brimstone and hold you close to me. But I made you a promise, and I had to keep it no matter what.”

Ember expressed her gratitude by pressing her body tightly against his chest and planting a few sloppy kisses along his neck. He gasped in surprise when he felt her fingers wrap around his shaft. With a throaty giggle, Ember gently fondled his penis as she continued to kiss every part of Spike’s chest she could get her lips on. When she started to use her thumb to play with his head, he whimpered softly as a single bead of pre-cum oozed out.

Spike moved his lips along Ember’s neck and shoulders, making her shudder every time he stopped to swirl his tongue along her skin. Not satisfied to stop there, he cupped one of her breasts and began to knead it with his fingers. He then lowered his head towards the other and began to suck on her erect nipple.

Spike let out a pained yelp when he felt Ember shove him onto the cool floor tiles. He was about to ask why she would do such a thing… until he felt her warm, soft lips engulf half of his penis. Her ministrations were decidedly more frantic and hungry than when they had made love near the lake.

The lewd slurping noises coming from her lips as she slid up and down his shaft did something that Spike hadn’t realized was possible: his penis got even harder, almost to the point where it was painful. But it didn’t stop there. Ember took the initiative and swallowed his cock all the way down to the base, and lovingly fondled his balls.

The young man was amazed that he had enough stamina to last this long, but the inevitable tightening sensation of an oncoming orgasm threatened to make him blow his load. As gently as he could, he placed his hands on Ember’s head and stroked her hair.

“I don’t think I can hold back much longer....”

Ember abruptly stopped sucking. “Wait! Not yet! I need you inside me, NOW!”

Spike was slightly disappointed when she stopped, but he understood why. However, his disappointment very quickly turned into pure delight as Ember straddled her legs atop his waist like a cowgirl mounting a saddle. She grasped his shaft and positioned it directly below her glistening lips.

In a single, swift motion she impaled herself onto his penis. Both of them gasped due to how sudden it was. Yet, it was not entirely unwelcome. Even though they had yet to move, Spike could already feel Ember constricting his dick for all it was worth. On the other hand, Ember moaned happily after she enveloped Spike’s thick manhood to the root.

Ember slowly began to move hips in an up and down motion. The tomboy quickly began to pick up the pace as waves of pleasure shot through her entire body. After a time, she was riding Spike hard enough that the sound of their slapping flesh echoed throughout the bathroom.

Spike was so consumed by the hot, wet confines of Ember’s pussy that he could do little more than grasp her buttocks while she continued to have her way with him. In some distant part of his mind, he marveled at how delectably firm her ass was. He was certain that many Equestrian women would have killed to have such a beautiful athletic figure as hers.

Ember slowed down for a moment and bent forward to press her lips against his. The kiss they shared was incredibly sloppy and there was a short bout of tongue wrestling, but it was still full of love and affection nonetheless. After they separated, Ember grasped Spike’s hands and began moving her hips a bit faster.

“I can… feel it. I’m close.”

Spike felt like his penis was going to melt. “Me too. Is it safe to—”

“Shut up and fill me with your seed! Don’t you dare let a single drop spill onto the floor!”

The young dragon lord didn’t need any further convincing. With a loud grunt he shot his thick, sticky load into Ember as hard as he dared. In fact, it had been so long since he last had sex that his orgasm occurred in several, intense waves.

Ember reached her climax shortly thereafter, letting out a pleasured scream that would have normally mortified the headstrong tomboy, if she’d had the wherewithal to care. Once they finished riding the high of their respective orgasms, the two lovers collapsed into sweaty, quivering pile of limbs and flesh.

Once he summoned enough energy to move, Spike languidly removed his slick, flaccid penis from inside Ember. He looked down and let out an annoyed groan. The young man immediately recognized the sensation of having leftover semen still inside his shaft.

Ember seemed to notice this too. Because she slowly rolled over and began to eagerly lick off anything that still coated his dick. She even went so far as to slurp up the thick glob of cum that remained lodged inside his shaft. Although he was thoroughly spent, Spike felt his manhood begin to rise once more.

Spike shuddered. “Do y-you have any idea how sexy that is?”

“Mhmm. I told you that I didn’t want to see a single drop of your seed wasted.”

Spike blushed. “Does my—umm—stuff really taste that good?”

“Oh, goddess no! It’s salty and has a strong, bitter aftertaste. But… I enjoy swallowing it because it came from you. And I know you like it.”

Spike pulled her in for a deep kiss, despite that fact that he could taste himself on her lips. She moaned happily and grabbed his butt cheeks, hoisting the both of them into a standing position. A bizarre mixture of arousal, panic, and surprise assaulted Spike’s poor brain. He had temporarily forgotten just how strong his lover actually was.

With a throaty giggle, she carried him princess style straight into the bath. Once they were inside, she gently put Spike down and allowed him to submerge his body into the steaming water. Soon thereafter, she sat down directly behind him, pressing her breasts against his back. After wrapping her arms and legs around him, she placed her chin on his shoulder.

“It’s a good thing I started heating up the bath. I can’t imagine how awful we must smell right now…”

Spike kissed her neck. “No doubt. But I had fun getting messy. Besides, there’s nothing better than relaxing and cuddling in the bath right after you’ve had sex.”

“Mhmm. Wait… you’re still sore from the Gauntlet, aren’t you? Delmira’s scales! I didn’t even think about—”

“Don’t worry about it,” Spike soothed, “I’ll probably be in pain for a little while longer than I’d planned, but I wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. You have nothing to be sorry for, Ember.”

“Just so long as you let me work out some of the kinks in your shoulder. I can feel how tense they are. And—look that ugly bruise! Did my father give that to you?”

“Umm, I think so? It was probably when he punched me into that boulder…”

Ember growled. “That clumsy oaf! He’s never been very good at holding back his strength.”

“You mean… he didn’t use his full strength against me?”

Ember snorted. “Well, of course not! He’s had over a thousand years to hone his skills. There was no way you could have beaten him, even if you are exceptionally strong for your age. My father knew that. He was simply testing you.”

“Then why does he want to stop being the Dragon Lord? If he’s that powerful, surely no one could possibly stand in his way! It just doesn’t make any sense!”

“Wyvertii tradition states that only males can become Dragon Lord. Plus, my father has wanted to retire for quite some time now. He’s getting old, Spike. I think he just wants to settle down and marry Onyx while he still can.”

“Aren’t they basically married already? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with any other woman than her. Why would relinquishing his title change that?”

Ember sighed. “The answer to that is… complicated. You see, in our society it’s against the law for Dragon Lords to formally marry their servants. Such a situation would compromise—”

“—the Dragon Lord’s authority and create rampant favoritism,” Spike finished, “Yeah, I know. My sister taught me about stuff like that during Equestrian history lessons. If you ask me, the law still sounds a bit extreme.”

“Unfortunately, it has some precedence. About two thousand years ago, a servant convinced Lord Topaz to marry her. They seemed genuinely in love at first, but it turned out that the servant was just using Lord Topaz to get rid of people she didn’t like. But he eventually caught onto her scheme. He had her body tied down with a boulder and thrown into the sea as punishment.”

Spike felt his stomach churn. “I—uhh—guess I understand? Well, not really… but what happens now?”

“For starters, we relax and enjoy the rest of our bath.”

After copious amounts of snuggling, cuddling, and scrubbing, the two lovers made their way towards the kitchen for some much needed breakfast. Since Winter Silk wasn’t currently in the house, Ember took it upon herself to cook for the pair.

The tomboyish princess burst into laughter when she heard Spike try to vouch for his own culinary skills. As a result, he sat cross-legged on one of the floor cushions with a sour expression on his face while she scrambled some eggs.

“I’m completely serious, Ember! I cooked Twilight’s meals for years! Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Trust me; it’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that—hahahhaha—performing such a domestic task completely suits your personality. Maybe if this whole Dragon Lord thing doesn’t work out, you could become a handmaiden instead!”

Spike’s face turned red. “Cooking is totally manly. There’re plenty of male chefs in Equestria…”

“There are plenty of Wyvertii male chefs too. It is considered an honorable profession. No, you are more like a handmaiden for fretting over your sister’s needs like a mother hen.”

“I’m nothing like a mo—”

Ember pointed her wooden spatula at him. “As I recall: you told me how you used cut her sandwiches into triangles and trim off the crust. That is fretting, Spike.”

“It’s not my fault that she happens to like her sandwiches made that way! And, you know, she’s kind of picky about how her coffee needs to be brewed too. Otherwise, she gets cranky in the morning.”

Ember shook her head. “If that’s how you want to justify it, be my guest. Don’t worry; I still love you just the same. Even if you can be unmanly at times…”

Taking Ember’s haughty tone as a challenge, Spike got up from his cushion and crept over to where she was cooking the eggs. Without so much as a warning, he suddenly grabbed her butt cheek and used his index finger to trace a line up her back. She squealed in surprise and whacked his head with the spatula.

“Spike, I’m still trying to cook breakfast!”

Undeterred, he slid his hand from her butt cheek and started going lower. After hesitating for a brief moment, he began to massage the bottom edge of her labia with the tip of his finger. Since she didn’t seem to offer any resistance, he went ahead and inserted two of his fingers into her pussy as deep as they could go. With gentle care, he began sliding his finger back and forth to make her feel good.

Ember whimpered. “Geez, didn’t you get enough while we were in the bath? I swear you’re insatiable!”

“I wanted to prove—,” Spike whispered while tweaking her nipple, “—just how manly I can be. But calling me the insatiable one? That’s a load of horse apples. You seem to be enjoying this just as much as I am.”

“Shut up a-and take responsibility for what you started, idiot…”

The two lovers got so caught up in their heavy make-out session that they failed to notice a third person enter the room. Ember was the first one to notice their uninvited guest and immediately froze like a statue with her eyes wide as saucers. Spike was slightly confused when his partner abruptly stopped kissing him… until he noticed Winter Silk standing in the doorway.

“You don’t have to stop on my account. I enjoy watching people fuck. Especially when it happens to be people I know intimately. The two of you are just so… passionate. To be honest, it’s getting me all hot and bothered~”

Ember practically shoved Spike away and scrambled to a floor cushion as quickly as she could. Spike was a bit dejected, but he could understand why Ember was so embarrassed. Physical intimacy was still very new to her, and she simply wasn’t used to others seeing her in such a state.

While it was true that he was now sporting a full-blown erection, Spike just smiled sheepishly and gave Delmira a friendly wave. After all, the two of them certainly weren’t strangers when it came to making love. The lust that still clouded his mind evaporated instantly when he happened to notice an elaborate scroll bearing Luna’s official seal clutched in Delmira’s hand.

The disguised goddess took a seat next to Spike. “I’m afraid there is much we need to discuss. Mistress Ember, you might want to brew some tea. This may take a while…”

Author's Notes:

I may have gone a wee bit overboard on the saucy parts. But I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy writing them. To be fair though, Spike and Ember hadn't seen each other since the celebration. It makes perfect sense that they'd be friskier than a pair of rabbits. That being said: the story is now going to transition into his journey arch. Expect lots of shenanigans abroad involving Ember, Spike, and Delmira.