To See the Summer Sky is Poetry

Ari watches you. Plastered to Curtis’ chest. Moaning in relief at his cool scales against your skin. Sweat glistening along your back. Your cute butt covered by your panties and so tempting. All he wants to do is reach out and pinch it. Cause he can. He finally can. And you would giggle and squirm and show him that gorgeous smile of yours.

The list of all the things he stopped himself from doing—from crossing that line—unfurls in his head. Exciting yet still daunting.

Curtis catches his eye, brow arching. That familiar pluck of his intuition low in Ari’s belly.

“Penny for your thoughts?” the dragon asks.

And you whine, shaking your head and letting the room fill with your bright giggle. “No,”you insist, “blow job for your thoughts.”

Ari growls low in his throat. Feeling desire swell in his cock. Fuck if he didn’t want to take you up on that offer.

“Thoughts first.” Curtis tilts your chin up from his chest, pressing a quick kiss to your lips. And then you both turn to him for his answer.

Ari sighs. “Just thinking about how lucky I am.” He stretches further toward you. Knocking his paw against your knee.

You separate your body from the dragon—reluctant to leave the cool press in the summer heat. But you crawl over to Ari sitting in his favorite spot on the couch and sit on his lap. Your hands find his cheeks, scratching through his fur and eliciting an immediate purr.

“I love you, doofus,” you say in a voice dripping with affection. “And I would just like to correct you.” A stern look hardens your features. “I am the lucky one.” And you kiss him. Letting his furry arms wrap around you and drag you closer.

You steal his breath. The way you pour yourself into the kiss—every ounce of love and devotion you shower on him the most exquisite delight. The feel of you under his claws, the beat of your heart, the taste of your lips—finally his.

“You’re both wrong,” Curtis comments. The couch shifting as he stands and wanders toward the kitchen. “I’m the lucky one.”

Ari breaks from you to watch the dragon’s retreat. The strained smile on his lips. A glimpse of resignation? Ari can’t be sure, but something concerning.

A soft hum escapes you. A considering noise that echoes Ari’s own thoughts. Ari turns to you, your eyes meeting his.

“Give me a minute.” Ari taps your hips and waits for you to scoot back and find the cushions before standing.

He follows Curtis into the kitchen. Leaning on the doorway and crossing his arms while he watches the ice dragon grab a glass of water.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Curtis says, refusing to glance over. He sips at his water, a drop spilling past his lips and trailing through his beard.

Ari pushes from the wall. “Like what?” he challenges, his air of nonchalance firmly in place.

Curtis sighs. Claws slipping across the glass as he sets it down. He turns to Ari, brow furrowed. The twitch of annoyance in his cheek all Ari wants to see. He steps closer.

“You thinking we’d be better off without you?” the weretiger asks.

“Not better off,” Curtis grumbles.

Ari laughs and picks up the glass of water for a sip. He hums. “Yeah,” he agrees, “we’d probably be just fine.” His shoulders lift in a shrug. “But we don’t wanna be fine. We want you here.”

“We?” Curtis asks, skepticism in his soft tones. “You don’t mind sharing?” And his glacial blue eyes find Ari. The intrusion of his dragon intuition delving deep.

Ari’s head tilts, a shiver rolling down his spine from his shoulders to his tail. “Don’t take my growling seriously.” His hand waves through the air, finding a place on the counter so he can lean intimately close to the ice dragon. “I’ll only ever share with you.”

His breath puffs a steamy cloud toward the dragon and its Curtis’ turn to shiver. His wings flutter behind him and tuck close to his back.

“You say that,” Curtis says, his voice like an echo. The cogs grinding in his head and furrowing his brow.

“I really do like you, Curtis,” Ari continues, hip checking the dragon with an easy smile trying to lighten the mood. “We had fun hanging out together, didn’t we?”

“Yeah.” Curtis’ lips purse before tilting in a fond smile. “Even when she wasn’t there.”

Ari smiles bright enough to rival the sun in return. “And we need someone here with a brain cell.” Curtis chuckles and rolls his eyes. “Cause kit kat and I? You’ve officially proven we’re idiots.”

“I am not an idiot.”

They both turn toward the doorway. Their girlfriend standing there, arms crossed and a displeased pout on your lips. Ari’s tail flicks. A bolt of nerves skipping through his veins.

“You know what I mean, kitten,” he pleads, reaching out to you as you back away. “Come on.”

And still you evade him. A glance over his shoulder to Curtis proves the ice dragon to be of no help. An amused smile on his lips.

You turn down the hallway toward the bedrooms and Ari stalks after you, pleading for you to listen.

“I’m very smart, thank you very much,” you say with a glance over your shoulder. You push through the door and Ari takes his opportunity before you can slam it.

He pounces and wraps you in his arms. Feeling your curves press against his fur. He litters your neck with placating kisses. Stroking a hand along your body.

“I know, baby,” he purrs, feeling you melt back against him. “I also know how all your big brained thoughts fly right out of your head when you get your mouth on my cock.”

Curtis enters behind them. “It’s true,” he intones.

“I can’t help it,” you whine. Your hands finding the forearm banding around your middle. “You know how much I’m obsessed with your barbs.”

“I do,” he agrees, swaying you back and forth. His claws flick at the waistband of your underwear. Lust consuming him as your breath hitches. “And aren’t we so lucky Curtis has such a good head on his shoulders.”

You agree with a dazed sound and nod of your head. Your chin tilts to capture his gaze. Lips parted, wanting a kiss. And he can’t help but indulge you.

Curtis clears his throat and like an eager puppy, you bounce over to the dragon for a kiss. Consuming and steamy, something plucks at Ari—something he can’t initially name. But as he watches Curtis’ claws grip on to you, the way he leans into your kiss. Ari can’t help but feel like the dragon keeps kissing you like it’ll be his last.

“Nope,” you say under your breath as you dodge Janice with her clipboard. Another petition to the landlord over something inconsequential or downright stupid held in her hand.

You spin on your heel and nearly crash into the woman behind you. A noise bursts past her lips as she stops short.

“Sorry!” you pipe up as soon as you see her. Hands holding her arms to keep her steady. “Shouldn’t have turned so quickly.”

She nods with a short chuckle and peeks over your shoulder. “Janice again?”

You sigh and nod.

“What’s she on about this time?”

“I have no idea,” you confess, “and I don’t want to know. Last time she was petitioning that apartments with more people in them should pay more rent.”

The woman’s nostrils flare. Eyes flaming with anger. “What. A. Bitch.”

A surprised snort greets her comment. Amused by such vitriol.

The woman chastens at your response. Half a smile tugging at her lips. She gives you her name and explains, “Janice lives down the hall from me. She doesn’t like that I live with my two monster husbands.”

Your eyebrows raise. “Is that so?”

She nods and huffs.

“Well, she certainly shouldn’t like me, then,” you say, shaking your head. “My roommate and I just got together, but I’ve been thinking about asking our boyfriend to live with us.”

The woman brightens and claps her hands. Pretty beads clack together in her hair as her head nods.

“You should! Seize the moment,” she encourages—perhaps a bit too loud.

Janice turns over her shoulder, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. And then she sours, like a rotten lemon. The sneer falling over her features as she finds the woman beside you.

She calls your name, beckons you over. Hand held out in offering. A saccharine smile plastering on her face. “Come over here, dear,” she calls. “We should catch up and let her on her way.” Janice nods derisively at the woman beside you despite the facade of congeniality on her face.

Your face scrunches in confusion. When the fuck did you become Janice’s friend? You glance to your new friend beside you—cause she is the far superior option to Janice—to see incredulity and affront.

Your tongue clicks. “Yeah,” you drone, “no. I think I’d rather choke on a chainsaw.” Your arm wraps through the woman’s. Janice balks. You march forward, dragging the woman behind you. “We’re going out to grab some lunch.”

And you lead her out the door and down to the sidewalk.

With a scoff directed at the deranged woman left in the building, you say, “if you have something else to do, that’s fine, but the offer for lunch stands.”

The woman chuckles. “That sounds fabulous.” She sighs and hikes the strap of her purse higher over her shoulder. “By the way, my friends call me Star,” she offers.

You nod. “Kit Kat,” you say with a gesture to your chest. “Know anywhere to get lunch?”

Star leads you to a small cafe. The couple blocks spent getting to know one another. You insist on paying and order your food.

By the time you’re eating, it’s as if you’ve known each other for years. She gushes about her husbands, Steve and Bucky. You explain the situation between Ari, Curtis, and you.

Her smirk wicked as she says, “wait until you hear about how we got together.”

Curtis stands in front of the door to your apartment, frozen. The usual chill he naturally brings to the air nothing compared to the raging blizzard inside him. Truth as plain as the door in front of his face.

You’re with him until Ari gets too possessive. That he’s just hanging on to the ride as long as it keeps going. He knew it from the first moment he met Ari, met you.

No matter what you or Ari say—he knows it.

With a deep, fortifying breath filling his lungs, he knocks. He waits a minute and no one answers. He knocks again. Nothing.

His brow pinches. He checks the time. He knocks again. You asked him to come over. Said you needed to go over some recordings and retake a few lines.

He pulls out his phone and scrolls to the group thread with you and your boyfriend.

Anybody home?

It sends with a whoosh and he waits. Not even a minute passes before Ari opens the door, headphones hanging crooked around his neck and chest heaving with breath.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you,” he blusters, grabbing Curtis’ arm and dragging him inside. “I was recording.”

“It’s fine,” Curtis replies, asking your whereabouts.

Ari’s ears twitch. His head cocking to the side.

“She went out to get the mail a little bit ago. She should be back by now,” he replies, voice trailing off as he produces his phone and scrolls a moment.

It’s then, with impeccable timing, that your text pings on both their phones. Message staring up at them from your group thread.

Sorry sorry!! Made a new friend! We went to lunch to avoid Janice. Be back soon 💋

“Oh,” Ari says, tucking his phone away, perfectly content with the response.

Curtis’ brow quirks. “Janice?”

“Woman who lives in the building, we hate her,” the weretiger explains. His shoulder bob in a shrug. “You wanna hang until she gets back?”

“Sure.” Curtis agrees with a quick nod.

Before he can stop them, his eyes take a slow perusal of the weretiger. Fur a little bit ruffled from the way his claws card through it. Easy smile spreading his lips. He blinks slow, unable—unwilling—to look away from the delicious sight.

That’s the problem with the two of you. You’re affectionate and forthright—like an open book. Ari—not so much. He flirts and plays, pokes and prods. Inflames the rivalry between them. He doesn’t lie, per se. But there’s a wall that keeps distance between them. Always on the outside.

Ari leads him further into the apartment, hips and tail swaying with his strut. And Curtis can’t stop watching.

The weretiger stretches his arms over his head, a moaning groan passing his lips. That noise. The fluff of fur right at his lower abdomen. The tempting curl of Ari’s tail. It hits Curtis right in the gut and he wants.

“Want me to keep you company?” Ari asks, turning over his shoulder and gesturing to the couch.

“I won’t keep you from work,” he replies, jaw clicking. He clears his throat—anything to save it from the vast, dry tundra it now is.

“I need a break anyway.” His eyes glint toward Curtis.

“You don’t have to,” Curtis insists, falling to the couch and waving a dismissive hand. He waits for Ari to take the hint and leave.

But Ari stalks closer, hands caging him on the arm and the back of the couch.

He leans over, purring, “I can see you getting hard.”

Curtis grunts, pushing at Ari’s arm. The weretiger moves easily, letting him stand and maneuver away.

“You cannot,” Curtis bites, wings flicking behind him and tail snapping. Even if it’s a lie. Blood surely rushing to his cock at the alluring picture Ari’s figure paints.

Ari’s brow furrows, his head tilts to the side. “It’s nothing you have to worry about, anyway,” Curtis mutters under his breath.

A rumbling growl cuts through the tense silence between them. It grates against Curtis’ ears. His wings hike up his back. His whole body locks up as his intuition is overwhelmed by a buffeting crash of discontent.

“Not my problem?” Ari growls, each word gritted between sharp teeth. “Is that why you’re here? You breaking up with us? That why you won’t let me touch you?”

Something spikes in his voice, though Curtis can’t quite place it. Is it a crack? A peek beyond the barrier? His eyes narrow on the weretiger.

“Even if I were here to break up,” he says, each word selected with care, with precision, “what would that have to do with you?”

“I’m part of this relationship just like you.”

“But, we’re not—”

Curtis cuts himself off, hand gesturing at the space between them, as soon as he sees Ari’s shoulders droop. Realization breaking over his features.

“Right, right,” the weretiger says, tone weary. “You’re here for her.” His lips strain at one corner—a bastardization of his usual smirk. “I’ll leave you alone, then.”

Ari turns on his heel and walks away. His fingers card through his fur and he heaves a heavy breath. The door to the guest room and his studio clicks behind him—latch not completely caught.

Curtis stands frozen. Mind replaying the past few minutes again and again. Then it expands to the moment the two of you showed up on his doorstep.

“We just need you.”

His mind sticks on that ‘we’. Like molasses he has to slog through. You wanted him. Ari let you have him. That was the deal, wasn’t it? His friendship with Ari was always flirty, playful. That didn’t mean anything to the weretiger. Or was he wrong?

But before he can sort through any of his feelings or figure out exactly what to say, he bursts through the guest room door.

Ari sits on the edge of the mattress, staring into his paws. A furrow carved between his brows.

“I—” Curtis’ words click and lock in his throat. He can’t push them out. But by gods does he try. “You’re saying you want me too?”

Ari blinks, eyes squinting in incredulity. But he says nothing.

Curtis breathes deep, pushing his intuition toward the weretiger enough to make him shiver. “Nothing about our relationship changed from the point the two of you showed up at my door. Even if there is attraction between us, you always say you’re just sharing her with me. That’s not the most inviting—”

“I used to be a bit of a fuckboy,” Ari interjects, “as kit kat would say. So I’m not…good at the whole deep feelings thing.” His head tilts in concession. The dragon stays still as stone. Listening to every word—analyzing and letting his intuition interpret. “I didn’t think I had to say anything. That you’d just want me to be fun, carefree like when we met. That you liked the little rivalry thing we had going on. That eventually you’d come around just for me.” He sighs and growls low under his breath. “I’m doing the same damn thing I did with her, aren’t I?”

A deep breath fills Curtis’ lungs. The temperature dropping on his exhale. Heavy and weighted. A click into place as he sees it all—the truth glimmer like a diamond. “Oh.”

And that is the moment he decides. Surging forward. Crowding over Ari and stealing his breath with a burning kiss.

Ari jumps but moans. A shudder shakes Curtis from his head to his tail. His wings flutter and fold behind him. His teeth bare in the kiss as Ari’s thumb brushes over Curtis’ slit. The dragon gasps, his hips bucking toward the touch. And Ari just smirks—that infuriatingly sexy smirk.

Curtis’ claws rake through Ari’s fur, licking into Ari’s mouth and tracing over his teeth. Moaning a delicious wanting into each other.

They find the bed, rolling over one another as they explore each others’ bodies. Rocking and writhing for pleasure.

Curtis shivers as his cock pushes past the closure of his slit. Free and hard, leaking precum that sticks to Ari’s fur. His own cock growing from his sheath.

The two monsters moan, Ari’s teeth nipping at Curtis’ scales.

“I want to feel you.”

And that’s how Curtis’ cock finds Ari’s. The two of them rutting against each other. Ari’s paw wrapping their members together. Curtis’ mind numbs around the edges, pleasure taking over. Ari’s barbs a delicious scratch against his sensitive length. Precum dripping down their shafts.

Moans exchange between breaths. He drinks in every one of Ari’s sounds. That tug of need deep in his gut finally satiated. Ari’s clear desire stoking his further.

How many times had he thought of this? Of being with Ari like this. Thinking he only had you—a conditional compromise.

And yet, Ari holds him fervently close. All of his reservations disappear with the rolling of his hips.

Ari’s thumb strokes over Curtis’ tip. Savoring the husky groans that escape the dragon.

“Look at you,” Ari purrs, nuzzling along Curtis’ neck. “So gorgeous for me.” He growls deep in his throat, hips bucking. “You’re perfect for us.”

Curtis drags Ari back to his lips, locking their tongues in a battle for dominance. One he wins—too easily. Ari’s teeth nip at him as his hand skims down Ari’s side to grip at his plump ass.

His wings pull closer to his back. The peak of his pleasure drawing nearer. His body chasing that high until he spills over Ari’s knuckles. A deep, primal moan bursting past his lips.

He huffs against Ari’s mouth. Gripping the weretiger closer still. His hand replaces Ari’s. Wrapping around his length. Stimulating his barbs. Watching his cum coat Ari’s cock and squeezing his grip as he twists his wrist and urges him toward release.

Ari’s stomach muscles tighten before he cums. Snarling as he paints Curtis’ fingers white. His warm breath blustering over his cheek.

Curtis releases Ari’s cock slowly, one more overstimulating stroke over his member. He lifts his claws to his lips, tasting the weretiger’s release. Letting it coat his tastebuds, savoring every drop licked from his digits.

Ari’s paws cradle his cheeks with a tender affection as he pops his lips from his final finger. His brows tilted in a tentative question. One Curtis can read as easy as a book.

He kisses Ari, silencing him before he can ask. “I know,” he whispers against his lips.

Ari’s chin dips, lowering it to brush against Curtis’. A shiver travels up Curtis’ spine, recognizing it for the gesture it is. The truth beyond what his brain had calculated.

A rumble purrs through Ari’s chest. Vibrating against Curtis as they hold each other and let Ari’s scent sink in.

Like a sated cat in a ray of sunshine, Ari falls into sleep first. Despite Curtis’ cold complexion, the weretiger holds him close. Soft snores brushing against Curtis’ neck.

The apartment door opens. Your keys jangling as they set in the bowl by the door. You expect to be greeted or maybe questioned for your extended absence. And yet you’re not. Not when you drop the mail on the kitchen counter. Maybe they went out for lunch, too?

You trail through the apartment. Glancing into the living room, the main bedroom, before finding the guest bedroom—Ari’s studio—and your two boyfriends cuddled up in bed.

Your shoulder falls to the doorjamb, a fond smile on your face. Ari’s head rests on Curtis’ chest and you just know between them is the perfect temperature.

You take another long look at them, nodding to yourself as you turn from the door. More sure of what you’d discussed with your new friend over lunch. You retreat to the couch, curling up in your spot and scrolling on your phone to wait for your loves to awaken from their nap.

Your ears perk at the soft sound of the latch clicking. You look up to find Ari, scratching his chest, a satisfied smile on his face.

“What did the two of you get up to while I was away?” you question in lowered tones, hoping to let the dragon continue his slumber in the other room.

A startled hop interrupts Ari’s step. His eyes snapping to you before a beaming smile breaks out over his features.

“You’re back.” He bounds over and nuzzles himself right into your lap.

“You smell like sex,” you reply. A chuckle rolling past your lips as you push at his forehead. Ari rumbles against you, his own amusement plain. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Curtis is everything,” Ari purrs. His words vibrating through your belly.

It swoops with the confession, and you blurt, “I wanna ask him.”

Ari pauses. He lifts his head from your lap, pushing up onto his knees beside you. Tilting your chin until your eyes lock, he studies you. “Yeah?” A soft smile tugs at his lips, infectious as it pulls one across yours.

“It feels right, doesn’t it?”

Ari sighs, a relieved puff of breath. “It does.”

“What feels right?” Curtis grumbles from the hallway, his fist rubbing at his eyes.

You smile toward the ice dragon and beckon him over. Moving to let him into the corner of the couch behind you. His arms immediately wrapping around to cradle you to him.

Glancing to Ari, he nods. And you take a bit of his confidence, turning to Curtis.

“Would you move in with us?” you ask, clearing your throat to steady the nervous warble of your words. Your skin pricks with nerves. Ari’s touch rubbing over your legs, a silent reassurance.

Curtis’ brow furrows. A breath puffing cold from his nostrils. You shiver but tuck yourself closer to him.

His lips lift in a smile brighter than you’ve ever seen, looking to Ari before he replies, “just tell me when.”

The delivery men squeeze the extra large mattress through the hallways with a skill you’ve never seen before. Finagling the corners until it can flop on top of the boxspring and the brand new bed frame.

You lay across the mattress, spreading your limbs wide but unable to reach from one edge to the other. The main bedroom rearranged just so the new bed will fit. New bedroom set, new sheets, new pillows—all to celebrate and embrace the new addition to your home. Curtis’ things finally all integrated with yours and Ari’s.

The weretiger crawls onto the bed, scooping you in his arms and dragging you close. Purring as he buries his face in your chest.

“Where’s Curtis?” you ask, pout pulling at your lip.

“Making sure everything’s set and they’re escorted out of our home,” the ice dragon says from the doorway. He climbs onto the pile, grabbing you both into his arms. Wings draping over your bodies.

You hum at the rush of cold air, the shiver in his touch. “This is good,” you purr, content between your boyfriends.

“We should put the sheets on the bed,” Curtis replies, but he doesn’t move.

None of you do, reveling in the perfect hot-cold embrace. Melting into each other. Until your bladder has another idea.

You groan and pull away. Their arms reach for you, but you avoid them with a whining, “I gotta pee.”

Ari huffs, pulling Curtis closer and snuggling. The two of them the perfect fit together. Contented murmurs under their breaths in agreement of how much. So you leave them there with one final, lingering look before the bathroom beckons.

A glance in the mirror as you’re washing your hands after reveals a beaming smile plastered on your lips. Unbudging even as you try to compose yourself. Joy effervescent as it bubbles up inside you and guides you back to your bedroom.

Ari and Curtis stand at opposite corners of the bed, struggling with the fitted sheet as it pops off repeatedly. Ari curses under his breath and huffs at Curtis. The dragon simply pulls the cover back where it belongs, waiting for the weretiger to do the same.

You smile and watch their struggle. Listen to their grumbles as they fail to notice your presence.

And they don’t. Not until the bed is completely made with your duvet and they slip beneath the covers.

Ari’s eyes find you with a soft smile spreading across his lips. “What took you so long?” he asks, grabbing at the air between you.

“You boys seemed to be fine on your own,” you reply, leaning against the doorway without budging.

“She watched us make up the bed,” Curtis adds with a quirk of his brow. “Didn’t even think to help.”

You step to the side of the bed, leaning over Curtis and pressing your lips to his.

“And it was quite entertaining.”

His cold arms wrap around you, dragging you into the covers. You giggle and burrow beneath, snuggle right between them and sigh.

“This is what I’m talking about,” you say in contentment.

Ari purrs, bundling you between him and Curtis. Curtis’ finger strokes along your side before it’s snagged by Ari’s hand.

And you don’t mean to, but laying there—right where you’re supposed to be—you fall asleep. Both of them holding you tight. Happy with you. Happy with each other. Ready to begin this new chapter all together, with everything you need.