**************

The club music vibrates the ground as you and Sarah stand outside waiting on the bouncers to look at your ID. Ever since nine eleven, security has increased tenfold, even at clubs in D.C. Or so your Dad told you.

Your feet already ache from the heels you chose and the wind almost makes the bright pink dress fly up as you wait. Two more people enter and only one couple stands in your way. You vibrate in excitement, stomach burning from the pregamed Fireball you shot beforehand.

“I really needed this.”

You get ready to respond, but stop as a bike races by and squeals to a stop right in front of the blockade. The driver throws out the kickstand and easily slides off the bike. His yellow helmet comes off and he cracks his neck as he walks up to the bouncer and automatically gets motioned in. You bite your lip and let your eyes wander down to his swaying hips as he disappears through the doors.

“I think I really needed this too.”

Your hips sway in rhythm to the music and your grind back against Sarah, giggling as the vodka redbull in your hand drips down your arm as someone knocks into you. 

“I’m going to go get another drink.”

Sarah nods, but by the nauseated look on her face you think it very well could be the end of your night. You sidle over the bar and lean against it as the bartender waits on another. Your drunken haze has effectively worn off and now a slight buzz is all that is left. 

“Vodka redbull again angel?”

You turn your head to look over your right shoulder and grin as you see the biker leaning against the bar beside you.

“I think I better stick with water this time.”

He nods and waves down the bartender. Only seconds later does water slide down to you and glass of bourbon to him. He takes a sip and you turn your body so you face him. 

“Your friend seems to have left you for the night.”

You glance around and then look down at your phone to see Sarah had got an Uber and went back to her sister’s apartment. The plan was to go back to yours, but she was too drunk for that.

“It appears so.”

“Perhaps I could escort you home?”

His accent sends a trill through your body and you look around. You’ve never been one of those girls to go home with a guy. But, his caramel toned skin and chocolate eyes make you melt a little at the knees.

“Only if you know how to show a girl a good time.”

He grins and takes your hand, guiding you through the clashing bodies and back out to the now empty street. He hands you the red helmet and slides onto the parked bike.

“That’s the only way…”

“Y/n.”

He repeats your name with a purr and you shiver. 

“Ari, now put your address in here and let’s get out of here.”

You do as he directs and will yourself not to think of your dad at a time like this. He would kill you for breaking at least a dozen of his rules. But just for tonight, you refuse to acknowledge them.

*********************

Your back slams down on your bed and you gasp as Ari grins down at you. Since locking your apartment door, it’s been nothing but teeth clashing and tongues fighting for dominance. That is until he used his weight against you and threw you onto your bed.

He places a hand beside your head and gently leans down, kissing you gently. 

“Beautiful.”

You blush and let him shimmy you out of the pink dress, revealing the thong Sarah convinced you to wear. He raises an eyebrow, a scary grin crossing his face and then he lands sharply on his knees. His finger plays with your slit and then curls around the string of the thong to move it out of his way. He leans his face forward and licks a long stripe up to eventually suckle on your clit.

You moan, throw your head back, and bring your own hands up to play with your breasts. He continues to work you over for what seems like ages, even as you orgasm twice. Only after a third does he lean back and grin as your eyes meet.

“Good enough treatment for you angel?”

You giggle and motion for him to come closer. He follows your instructions and stands, shedding his own clothes in the process. He has a few scars along his abdomen, but you stop looking as you watch him pump himself in his hand as he watches you. 

You scoot back on the bed, throwing your thong somewhere in the room and take a deep breath for courage as you spread your legs wide for him. He grins at the invitation and soon follows you on knees until he is between your thighs.

“Tell me if it becomes too much.”

You nod and he slowly begins to sheath himself, matching your groan as he enters you. Only when he is completely inside does he stop and let you both catch your breath. You’ve never felt so full in your life, or so wanted. He gently kisses your forehead and wipes hair away from your face.

With an encouraging nod, he begins a slow pace and then eventually works himself up to brutal thrusts. With your head thrown back and fingers clenching the sheets, you see stars and pray to whatever god that this night never ends.

Unfortunately, it does. The next morning, Ari is nowhere to be found.

*************************

A few weeks later you find yourself in NCIS headquarters. The front desk hands you a visitor badge and you work your lip as you wait on the elevator. Your dad really doesn’t like to be surprised at work, but when his face went over the news screen, NCIS using all media to try and locate the terrorist, your heart dropped.

You’d fucked up. Big time. 

The door dings and you slowly step out of the elevator and walk slowly into the bull pen. The quietness is eerie and you look around for Gibb’s gray hair. Your neck swivels and you stop at the first desk. A petite woman is leaning down and reading reports as you stop in front of you. You open your mouth, but jump as a whistle sounds beside you.

“Well good morning Tony.”

You look over at the sound and see a man leaning against a desk opposite from the woman’s. You clear your throat and cross your arms to hold your elbows. 

“Long way from Georgetown don’t you think?”

“I’m looking for my dad…”

Tony’s face pales and the woman behind you chuckles. 

“Tony’s worst nightmare.”

  She comes around her desk and holds out a hand.

“Ignore him, he’s a pig. My name is Kate. Now, who are we looking for? Perhaps one of the special agents in…”

“Y/n?”

You stand up straighter and look up at the stairs leading to the second floor. Gibbs walks down slowly and you hear intakes of gasps as he comes to stand in front of you.

“What are you doing here?”

Your lip begins to wobble and his stern face melts into one of concern.

“I messed up Daddy.”

An arm curls around your waist and he directs you to his office chair, sitting you down gently and then sitting himself down on his desk. You look around and feel your face pale as Ari’s grinning face smiles back at you. You quickly look down at your hands and let the tears fall freely.

“Tell me what’s going on Y/n…”

You take a deep breath and look up at your father, preparing yourself for the absolute war that is to come. You point a finger to the computer and when your father follows the line of direction he quickly stands and leans down to look you in the face. 

“His name…his name is Ari.”

Your father had good intentions, no matter which way you looked at it. On the one hand; you had been coddled, told tales as old as time about monsters and fae that roamed the forests, seas and mountains beyond your home, the dangers of men and women alike. On the other hand; he had trained you well, both in the art of etiquette and the art of fighting.

Growing up, you had yearned to be a princess who slew dragons for fun. Now that you were a grown up, adventuring outside the castle walls was all but a violation of your father's will.

Unaccompanied princesses get kidnapped, killed or worse.

That phrase had knocked about your head from when you first snuck out at the grand age of five-and-ten. Years later, it was still used, your father becoming more and more paranoid with each passing year and, more worryingly, your punishments for getting caught were getting worse and worse.

The latest example was being forced to live in the castle tower for two months. Your the head maid, Candice, brought you food, clean clothes, water and new books if you needed them. She was a stubborn, stern woman and she had been appointed to you since your last nurse maid, Saoirse, had fretted about you so much on the last outing she'd fainted. Poor girl.

Candice wasn't one for much chit-chat. She'd watch you eat, take your plate, sometime snap at you about something being untidy and then disappear for hours until the next meal. During that time, however, you plotted.

Bit by bit, strip by strip, you tore up your bedsheets; knotting them firmly together until you could lap you small confine three times. With fabric from your underskirts you were able to fashion a simple bag where you stowed your notebook, quill, ink, and some gold you had managed to stash between your breasts where your father and his knights wouldn't dare look.

Your father should curse himself stupid for teaching his only daughter how to be so resourceful. Although, he'd probably commend it if you didn't have your mother's rebellious streak.

When the moon was full on what would have marked the beginning of your third month trapped in your tower, you grab your satchel and iron poker from the hearth, now long cold, and attach your makeshift rope to the feet of your bed before making a quiet descent down your tower.

Towers were overrated anyway.

Hiding from knights and knives was always a great past time and far easier at night. Most were already drunk and thought you were still trapped but you still had to be on your guard.

You hadn't thought very far ahead other than escaping. If you stayed, you would be thrown back into the tower but if you left...

Well, no more royal treatment.

As you wander the cobblestones, waiting for morning when the guards changed shift at the gates of the city, you think about what you could do to earn back your father's trust.

You weren’t hard-headed or argumentative, merely a curious free-spirit... which was still enough to cause your father to go red-faced and have steam billow from his ears on a good day. You considered your options carefully, when a conversation between two drunken knights caught your attention. Hiding in the safety of shadow, pressed against the wall of the tavern that smelled like piss, rotting food and other foul things a princess dare not say out loud, you strained your ears over the chatter and music to listen in.

"Apparently, the king has sent more troops out to the dragon's nest," one said, belching loudly. "'E's a fuckin' loon."

"Ey, don't let the Captain- hic - hear that." The other retorts before laughing loudly. "Even though it's true."

A dragon? Now that was worth investigating.

"If he antagonises it we're all toast." The first one says, sniffing. "No matter the marriage between his pretty princess and any of her suitors."

You consider than man's words with a nod of your head. A dragon would be a tough kill - but if you were clever enough, you could win the respect of your father and your people and you could have your pick of suitors. Mind made up, you wait for dawn, scavenging for as many supplies that you can fit in your satchel.

You're off to slay the dragon.

Five days.

Five gruelling days.

You feet were sore, you were hungry, thirsty and sick to the back teeth of elves, fae and leprechauns trying to trick you into deals on your journey.

One swift swing with your iron poker sent them running, or to dust if you managed to catch on with the sharp end. The least they could do was be helpful. You managed to direct yourself by listening to passing knights on the main road or by speaking to travelers and merchants headed to your home city. By dawn of the fourth day, you could see the dragon's castle and by the fifth, you are stood before the bridge to the castle feeling like a small, insignificant gnat.

The castle is in ruin. The castle's stones have been charred black and in some parts the walls have been decimated entirely. Parts like the bridge. The castle backs into a mountain, and plumes of smoke are still rising from the castle town below, meaning the dragon uses houses for candles or there are monsters living there now.

You swallow down bile. Perhaps you shouldn't have done this. However, you're here now. No turning back.

You step onto the bridge, managing to jump across the parts that are broken, or gone, ignoring the wails of the river below. You get to the gates, smashed to smithereens and creep through the town, poker at the ready.

The town almost reminds you of your city, at least the upper city, but the houses that are destroyed don't all look like fire just destroyed them. There are boulders, charred black by fire, bodies rotting with no signs of burns...

Buildings like the clock tower are smashed with claw marks that have been carved into the stone by something large and sharp. You shudder.

You continue to walk towards the castle, inching through the huge oak doors as quietly as you could. The door creaks shut and the sound echoes throughout the hall and you brace for an attack that doesn’t come.

You search the halls, the kitchens, every room you come across and find...

Nothing.

Then you notice that the rooms, other than the first hallway you entered, are too small for a dragon. They are human rooms, you are in a human castle and you are fool who left home.

You launch your poker into the nearest hearth in a fit of anger, before picking it up and stalking the direction of the bedrooms. High up in the caveside, with a large balcony that oversaw the town and mountainside was a bedroom that ypu had opted to claim for your own. Clearly a King's room with a large four poster bed but the net curtains had all but burned away.

Screw it - you should get to be a king for a day.

The bed had been slept in, unmade and unkempt, and it smelled like a coal fire. You begin a small fire in the hearth, watching the embers dance to life before you with a sigh. Rummaging in your bag you, pull out your mother's necklace and what was left of your rations, asking yourself if your mother would agree with your choice of adventure this time.

You fetch water from the kitchens and drag a tub from a nearby room so that you may bathe in hot water at least once before you begin another five day journey home. Fixing the necklace around your neck, you toy with it idly, wondering how best to grovel to your father when you arrive back home in another five days time until your bath water grows cold and you crawl under the sheets, ready for sleep.

You sleep well for a few hours, until your dreams become fitful. There's a devious pleasure building in your cunt and pressure on your thighs that makes you squirm and groan. You can't tell if you're trying to keep the pleasure building or escape, however, when your mind wakes up it reminds you that you were in the room alone before you fell asleep and you're promptly ripped from your dreams with a gasp.

The wetness, the scent of your sex, is more than real. As is the man between your legs. Before you can scream there's a hand on your throat squeezing, warning you, not to make a sound.

"I wondered how long it would take you to wake," the man looms over you, his body between your bare one, as he moves closer to the candle at the bedside table and with a puff sets it alight.

The the golden glow of the candle you can see him more clearly; broad shouldered, brown haired beast of a man that had managed to sneak in and begin to defile you without your knowledge.

When he tilts his head to look at you your eyes grow wide. His eyes are serpentine blue, the pupils slits, and when his lip quirk upwards to smirk at you a forked tongue runs over sharp, pointed canines.

You had found the dragon.

The grip on your neck loosens slightly and you hear a soft clicking as something sharp rests on your jugular as you take a greedy deep breath.

"Who are you? Why are you in my home?" He growls, eyes watching you closely. "And don't lie to me. I'm not above slitting a pretty girl's throat."

"I'm a princess!" You say quickly, lip quivering. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. "Of Ignisia."

"Oh? A princess?" His eyebrows raise and he grins, his canines like its the best news he's ever heard. "How fitting."

"Please, I didn’t take anything." You barter desperately. "I don’t want anything. I just- I needed someplace to stay. Just for tonight. I'm sorry. I can leave!"

His hand moves but the sharp object that was held at your neck trails behind it and you're horrified to see it is a talon on the end of his finger and you suck in a shaky breath, trying to stay calm.

"Poor little princess so far from home." The dragon coos. "Not that I would usually release a human but you..."

His large hand stops at where your thigh connects to your hip, and runs his thumb carefully over your clit to make your body jerk. His tongue, swipes over his lips as he looks at your swollen bud.

"You, princess, taste like divinity." He tells you. "Like liquid gold. And I'm not willing to part with you."

"No!" You cry out and try to move but his hands hold you in place.

"But aren't dragons greedy?" He says, almost sneering. "A princess should know this."

You thrash against his hold as hard as you can, but he only smiles at you when you stay locked in place, tears falling from frustration.

"You haven't even asked me my name." He says, pouting teasingly. "You come into my home, sleep in my bed with your delectable cunt on display and won't even ask me my name."

He sighs dramatically, pressing the talons into the flesh of your thighs and you cry out until you concede to his obvious request and ask for his name.

"Ari, Treasure." He purrs, leaning down to let his tongue flick against when he asks for your name. When you give it to him quickly, he grins. "Good. Now, where was I?"

He trails kisses down your body, forked tongue flickering over your pebbled nipples tauntingly, chuckling low in his throat when you writhe in his grasp. When he inches futher down to your cunt you can see outline of two leathery wings folded against his back and want to cry; he was a monster of a man, both figuratively and literally. His giant frame could keep you pinned and trapped for as long as he deemed fit; his talons could slice you open at any given chance, and his giant hands could snap your bones like twigs. You were trapped in another castle yet again, but this time there was no escape.

When Ari's tongue takes a long, slow swipe of your folds, you gasp back into the moment. The edges of his forked tongue toy with both sides of your clit at once; flickering and licking the swelling nub under your attempted muted whines. As the pressure builds you try so hard to close your legs but Ari's sharp claws pierce the flesh of your thighs. You let out a scream of pain, and Ari presses your legs against the bed forcefully, keeping you splayed on display for him as his face disappears between your thighs.

"Now, now," he rumbles, breath searing hot against your sensitive flesh. "Stop moving. Let me finish tasting my new favourite treasure."

Head situated, he slings his hefty left arm over your hips to pin you, his right hand still pressed into your left thigh. All of the air leaves your lungs as the dragon begins to devour you; mouth latching onto your clit to suck an orgasm from you.

You claw feebly at his hair to try and get him to move away, sensation becoming too much for your body to bare, but he is set between your legs like stone and your nails only manage to rake through surprisingly soft hair as you coat his face with a scream.

You think he's done when he moves his face away but through half-lidded eyes you can see him smirk.

"Look at how your pretty pearl shines for me," he praises, spreading your sticky folds open carefully with his talons to reveal your pulsing clit. You let out another whimpered plea that falls on deaf ears, body shuddering violently as Ari makes a point to drag his tongue against your sex agonisingly slow so that you can feel the entire tongue seared against your flesh.

"Soaked and needy, waiting for my cock." The serpentine eyes glance up at you from between your legs and your breathing catches when you see that sinful tongue run over his lips. "Is that what you need, princess? A fat cock to keep you satiated?"

You shake your head no as he sits onto his haunches, his huge body bathing you in shadow beneath him. He's well built and ten times the size of any Knight you have seen, muscles trust and trained with patches of gold scales that twinkle in the candlelight like gemstones.

Horrifically, you're in awe of the beast - the monster - before you. Handsome features that, had they been on any ordinary man, you may have found yourself breaking marriage laws for. Not that this was any different. A princess captured and held captive by a dragon, defiled by a dragon, would have you sent to a nunnery.

Unaccompanied princesses get kidnapped, killed or worse.

Despite the fact your current situation was supposed to be the worse, your cheeks grew hot at the realisation that it didn't feel like the worse option. Held captive sure, perhaps maybe reverse kidnapped, but while Ari had threatened to kill you, it seemed he didn't want to if he could help it.

You sniffle as you look up at him, his eyes watching you carefully, seemingly waiting for you to thrash again. When you don't, Ari rewards you by to flicker his tongue over your neck playfully before kissing you softly. Your lips part in surprise and Ari takes advantage of the moment to slip in tongue against yours. He tastes like your cum and sweet smoke and your eyes close as you move your lips against his.

You can feel his smile against your lips; the smirk of someone who has won the fattest prize pig at the fair, the grin of a spider as a butterfly gets caught in it's web. Your heart rattles in your chest like a frightened bird in a cage; both terrified and excited of what would come next.

When Ari moves back off your body he returns to his haunches and begins to slowly undo the laces to his dark brown trousers, that bulged with the outline of his cock. He watches how your eyes fixate on him, how you don't make a move to run; any human would have done so by now. It only confirms to him that you aren't just any other human; you're his. His tongue darts across his lips when your breathing hitches as he frees his weighty cock and smirks again when you don't move. Your eyes dart up at him, wide and panicked, when he taps the head of his weepy cock against your clit and you suppress a delicate whimper.

When Ari wordlessly tilts his head at you and repeats the motion and you release a shaky breath as you watch as a glittering line of pre-cum connect you both. His cock is easily too big for you; thick girth and far too long... a broadsword would probably be more comfortable.

Ari coats his cock with your slick cum and groans when he pushes against your tight hole experimentally. The stretch is unimaginable, bordering on unbearable, as your cunt betrays your body by adjusting to his size slowly. Your body seizes with panic and you breathing becomes deep hiccups.

"Stop! Stop!" You wail, pounding the sheets. "It's too much!"

"Too much?" You can hear the smirk in his voice, even with your eyes squeezed shut. His talons envelop your hands and pin them beside your head. "Princess, that's just the tip."

"Please please please," You shake your head violently, lip quivering as you try not to cry. You don't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry. "Your cock is too big. I can't."

"You are." Ari's voice fills your ears, soft and soothing and you blink away tears to look up at him, realising he's stopped moving but his cock still twitches part way into your cunt. "I'm in no rush. We'll go slow, Treasure."

He dips his head down kissing you almost kindly as he moves his hips back and forth slowly. Small teasing thrusts at your entrance begin to go deeper, stretching you wider as Ari experiments with patterns and you gasp helplessly at feeling of the veins of cock against your walls. The stretch is unbelievable, your pussy clamping down so tightly onto him you can't move, let alone think. When Ari finally bullies his cock to its base you let out a pitiful wail, stuck against him with his cock prodding into your insides uncomfortably.

"See, Treasure? You take my cock well." Ari praises, littering your face with light kisses. You harrumph, trying to act unaffected by his praise and ignore the fluttering sensation his words cause in both your chest and pussy, but wjen his hips begin to slowly roll back and forth against yours you hiss.

You can feel each drag of his cock, torturous and steady, splitting you open and bringing you to ruin slowly. A clawed finger inches it's way from your clavicle down to your stomach, where the outline of his cock is visible, and Ari lays his palm flat and looks, what seems to be longingly, at the sight. A rough thumb-pad, careful with the claw, brushes over your swollen clit and you moan; nerves dialling to a hundred with renewed excitement.

"I want to make my treasure glow," he half growls, looming over you, hips still rolling against yours though slightly faster than before. His left hand grabs and swallows both of yours and pins them above your head, pressing his body close to yours as his cock buries itself repeatedly in your cunt - harder now - and his other hand busies itself with toying with your sticky clit.

Your pulse races and you can feel your body betray you by wetting his cock again, moaning like whore as the wet sounds echo in the stone room. Ari's eyes meet yours, slits growing from pins to saucers with excitement. You can't look away, cheeks burning, pulse racing; you'd never been in a predicament like this before and it was becoming harder and harder to deny that the dragon you had come to slay was breaking your will in the best way.

"My treasure wants that too?" He asks, pressing his palm harder into your abdomen when he ruts especially hard, making sure you can feel his huge cock twitch inside of you. "Have I broken you in already?"

You go to shake your head no as you squirm gently in his hold but Ari's blue eyes pierce yours, forked tongue flicking at your lips curiously. Suddenly, he rolls onto his back; taking you with him and you sit perched on his cock while he lays wings splayed beneath you. Now, you can see just how deep his cock is inside of you and you let out a sharp whine of surprised ecstasy.

It excites you to see your body like this, so small in comparison to Ari's, so utterly helpless to his whim and yet he hasn't truly hurt you. He has defiled you in a way far more sinister; in a way that leaves you wanting more.

Ari's claws sink into the flesh of your hips and ass, growling as he forces your now-eager body to grind against him before he uses his strength to lift you up and down over his cock; effectively using your tight, wet cunt to pump himself.

"How many little gems shall we have, hmm?" Ari presses, gaze fixated on yours - daring you to answer and promising to fulfil it. "How many will you give me, Treasure?"

"Ah - Ah - I don't k-know." You pant out, hearing the lewd unashamed sounds of wet skin as your insides constrict his cock.

"Oh? You don't?" Ari taunts and you cry out when his thumb finds your clit again. "Don't worry Treasure, I'll keep you nice and full all the time just in case."

"Please!" You yell to the cieling, an unfamiliar feeling building higher and higher. Your hands grasp at anything you can hold; Ari's wrists, then forearms, before gripping his shoulders with a half sob as the feeling hits a new peak. Ari keeps using you as your orgasm washes over you and you're left shuddering and gasping for air. Now pumping you faster and harder than ever, Ari's tongue darts over your sweet, sweat-sheened skin, watching your tits bounce and your face contort from hazy to fucked out.

"That's it, give me one more." Ari urges with a hint of desperation in his voice. "One more for me, pretty princess. Then we can take a break."

You're too far gone to care about asking what he means by taking a break, focusing solely on his seductive voice, calling to you from the abyss of lust.

"A-Ari," you whine anxiously, feeling the pressure build far quicker this time.

"That's it, Treasure. Cum for me. Let me feel you cum with me." His hands don't stop forcing your body to work his cock, even after your muscles go limp until he forces your hips down hard and he cums inside you with a loud groan that sounds akin to rumbling thunder.

You're both panting. Ari lowers you slowly so you can lie atop him, his cock still pulsing inside you and his breath hot against your neck. Minutes pass in silence and you think that you may have passed out or fallen asleep because you feel groggy and more bone-tired than after your five-day trek.

Ari's claws rake your scalp gently, his breathing steady, but then he shifts his weight - moving you with him off the bed until you're bundled in his arms.

"Where are we going?" You ask, your voice sounds distant, quiet almost.

"To the treasury," He tells you nonchalantly. "Now, wrap your arms around me - good girl - but I want to look upon all of my treasures."

You comply, confused, but when his wings flex behind his back you start to panic.

"No, no- what are you-" you look behind you as Ari carries you in his arms easily from the bed and makes his way to the balcony. You smack at him furiously. "NO!"

But Ari only laughs like your a kitten hitting at a springy toy and continues, letting his wings open fullyas he steps into the cold night air. "Calm down. I'm taking you to the treasury, then we'll continue."

You breath is stolen before you can argue back and you grip at Ari so tightly you can feel your fingers kneading muscle as he takes flight and soars upwards. The beat of his wings every few moments is worrisome at first, until he levels out and the breeze is gentle as he glides along the skyline. There's a shameless grope to your ass that makes you squeak, burying your face into Ari's neck while he chuckles.

"You're missing the view." He says and you tighten your grip around him. "I promise I won't drop you."

At the mere mention of him letting you go, you almost choke him with your grip your legs like a vice around his waist and press his cock against you. Ari huffs and holds you a little tighter but you still don't relax your grip, shivering as night wind bites at your skin.

"Open your eyes." Ari urges, nosing your cheek. "I've got you, Treasure."

You peek one eye open and find Ari's face smiling down at you against the black background of the night sky. Stars dance behind him and you turn your neck slightly to look around you to the mountain and river below. Ari's descent is slow, allowing you to take in as much of the night sky as possible and as concession for the exquisite view, you don't complain when he kisses at your face and neck (perhaps even leaving some bite marks hither and tither too).

The entrance to the treasury is through one of the highest peaks of the mountain the castle is built into and after a brief period of total darkness encapsulated by sharp rock, you're greeted by golden light. Large chandeliers dangle from the rocky cieling and their candles' flames are mimicked by the sea of gold below; coins, chalices, knick knacks, clocks and candelabras by the million are kept in this hidden treasure trove, the odd glint of colour from a ruby or amethyst catching your gaze. Upon one of the highest peaks of treasure, sits a throne of solid gold, and Ari lands silently next to it, setting you on your feet beside him while he retrieved to golden chalices and what looked like a bottle of mead and set them on a table to the off side of the throne.

As he moved, you bit back a gasp, noticing Ari's final draconic feature. When you had been panicking or pleasured, you'd missed it; a long slightly curved tail that thinned to a point from Ari's tailbone, hidden behind his massive form. Ari catches you staring as he comes to take your hand and guide you to the throne with him, tail dragging through gold coins with ease.

"You like my tail?" Ari chuckles, making a show of swishing the muscles back and forth, standing tall and proud with a grin.

"I didn't realise you had one." You respond, slightly embarassed though you can't tell what for.

Ari laughs, coins and jewels crunching beneath his feet like crisp frost on grass blades on a winter's morning before taking his seat on the throne, pulling you onto his lap. "You were too pre-occupied with taking my cock, princess."

His body is slightly too warm as you press against him, cosying up as tiredness begins to seep into your veins. Ari sips from his chalice as quietly as he can, holding you curled against him, and occasionally pressing his hot lips to your bare skin.

"My little treasure," Ari murmurs as your eyes fight to stay open. "I'm going to keep you with me. Always."

Treasure END

A/N: I don't know how many of you have read Shifting Sands by @late-to-the-party-81 but it is one of my fave Lloyd fics of all time. I was toying with the idea of a dragon and thought of that while writing Lloyd's fic and wondered who would make a bad good dragon and ofc its Ari (Also Monster!Ari fucks hard always - in every sense.) Will I revisit? Probably.

Ari: @steviebbboi @stargazingfangirl18 @late-to-the-party-81 @irishhappiness @pandaxnienke @doodooslay @theinheriteddutchess @queen-honeybee-stories @alicedopey @dontbescaredtosingalong @ryubyy @maydayfigment

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No names.

At least, no surnames.

That was apparently a rule of thumb when dealing with dealers. Not like you were stood outside his house (very awkwardly) or anything. Your friend gave you a thumbs up from the safety of his car.

That was the other rule of thumb; never go alone.

You grimaced at him and wiped your sweaty palms against the rough of your jeans, beginning to slowly regret ever mentioning that you wanted to try pot. Said friend in the car said they knew a guy who knew a guy who could help you out, so long as you went with them to get their pick up.

Not much could be said about Ari, other than he was a dealer. You'd asked but you'd been met with a shrug and a "he's a dealer. I get my stuff and bolt."

With your lips pursed into a thin line, you gaze up at the house. It looks inconspicuous next to the others. It's big and homey-looking with a well-kept lawn and a nice (but not expensive) car in the drive. You wonder if dealing is all he does, or maybe this is a friend's house, or perhaps it is his house but dealing is just the side gig. When the door opens you're still expecting a twenty-something year old with red rimmed eyes and a beanie opening the door, or a super scary guy decked out in tattoos. Joke's on you for making assumptions like that.

Ari is tall and muscular, taking up a good ninety-percent of the doorway with his broad shoulders. Long, brown hair fell in waves around his neck and, much like the lawn, his matching beard was thick but well-maintained and the loose light blue cotton shirt he wore complimented his eyes beautifully. You supposed he could look scary if he was angry and frowning, however, with his amused grin as he looked down at you he just looked like an over-sized teddy bear. But maybe that was the point.

"Can I help you?" He asks casually, his eyes scanning you.

"Um, I'm looking for Ari?" You can feel yourself shrink a little under his gaze, he was intimidating regardless of being teddy-bear like or not.

"That'd be me." He confirms. His blue eyes meet yours, challenging you to ask him what you're so nervous to ask.

"C-can I come in?" You stammer out quietly.

"Why?" He presses, making you squirm on the spot.

"Ah, I, erm..." you begin to panic. You can't say drugs - you'd sound stupid and what if he was secretly a cop?

Ari snorts and you look up at him with saucers for eyes. He's grinning, no laughing, at you. Your cheeks begin to burn as you pout at your feet. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"

"Very much so." He moves out of your way, letting you step through the door. "Come on in."

"Not what you were expecting?" He asks, leading you through to the kitchen where the curtains are drawn and there's multiple small bags with what looks like dried herbs inside them.

"N-no." You answer honestly. Your eyes fix onto a drawing on the fridge; a colourful child's drawing where the "people" are mostly vague shapes before looking back at the table quickly.

"At least you're honest." Ari chuckles. "This is your first pick up, I can tell. It's alright, I won't bite."

You wring your hands and wipe them onto your jeans. "Sorry."

Ari snorts again has collects two of the bigger bags and hands them over to you, watching as your carefully hide them into your purse. "Don't apologise. Do you even smoke? Or is Gabriel making you run errands for him?"

You look sheepishly at him; from what Gabriel had said, you weren't expecting this much conversation.

"I haven't tried it before and want to. Gabriel said he'd bring me when he came next."

Ari nods pulling an impressed expression, almost surprised by your naïve honesty. He picks up a small rectangular pack from the table

"Want me to show you how to roll?" He wiggles a pack between his fingers and looks at you expecting an answer.

"Um..." You shift on your feet, feeling a little out of your depth. It would be helpful to know but why would he be offering? Gabriel said it should be in and out and you can already feel your phone buzzing in your back pocket. Then again, Ari seemed nice and you couldn't deny that there was something enticing about the way he seemed to be interested in you. "Sure."

"Right answer." He winks at you and you can feel heat rush to your cheeks. "Hold out your hands."

He pulls out a paper from the pack. It's thin and almost transparent and he places it gently between your fingers so that you hold it in a v-shape, his fingers brushing against yours. He picks up an additional bag sprinkling the herby substance down the centre of the v and your nose crinkles at the smell. It's strong, too much like BO for your liking.

"Awe," Ari coos playfully at you. "It's alright, you'll get used to it."

You puff your pink cheeks in a half-pout. There's something oddly alluring to the fact he likes to try and catch you off guard, teasing and toying with you, and it annoys you that it's working for you.

With his fingers over yours he moves the edges of the paper up and down, before rolling it on itself leaving one edge sticking upwards. He moves the paper towards your lips with a curious look.

"Stick your tongue out." He murmurs and you obey without hesitation. Ari's eyebrows shoot upwards and he smirks. "Good girl."

Heat and shame wash over you as he glides the paper over your tongue and smooths the final edge flat. He inspects your handiwork before handing the blunt to you upright.

"Not bad. Consider this one on the house," He says and before you can take it he moves it out of your reach. "On one condition."

You blink at him. "Um. Okay."

"Next time Gabriel wants his pot, I want you to pick up for him again." Ari's lips tug upwards at the corners, flashing you a flirtatious smirk that makes you feel giddy.

"Sure thing." You nod clearing your throat as he walks you back to the front door. "I-It was nice to meet you."

Ari's eyes sparkle down at you as he opens the door, leaning in the doorway again as you exit. "You too. See you round, sweetheart."

You give him a nervous smile goodbye as you skitter back to Gabriel's car, feeling Ari's eyes follow you the entire way down the drive.

You see Ari again about two weeks later, when picking up Gabriel's next order as promised. The kitchen looks the same as you'd left it, the only addition a blunt that's gently billowing smoke left in an ash tray.

"Been practising?" Ari asks, taking a seat at the table.

"I - yeah!" You get a little too excited and clear your throat adding a quieter "Yeah."

Ari seems happy to see you so enthusiastic and drags the chair next to him out from under the table, patting the wooden seat. "Take a seat and show me."

You're aware of how close you are to Ari when your knee brushes against his and you fight to stay calm. He hands you the papers and watches closely as you pepper in the weed between the paper folded in your small hands; so careful not to spill a single stem. Then you roll tentatively, like he'd shown you before, peeking up at him as your tongue drags along one edge of the paper. The chair creaks as Ari's hand tightens it's grip and you hear his breathing stop for just a second. For a moment, you think you've done it wrong as you seal the blunt over but Ari breaks out into a grin, releasing the back of your chair and letting his hands slap against his thighs.

"You've learnt quickly sweetheart." He sighs, picking up his discarded blunt and taking a quick drag.

"Can I keep this one too?" You ask curiously, admiring you're work as Ari begins to sort through the stems on the table in front of him. His blunt hangs out of the corner of his mouth and his eye brows raise in your direction. The term smoking hot was never more accurate.

"What are you gonna give me for it?"

It's a loaded question and you both know it. Heat grows between your legs and you shift in your seat next to him.

"What... do you want?"

"Ah. Ah. I asked first." He tuts, winking at you. You shift your legs again.

"W-well." You clear your throat, feeling hot all over. "I don't think I'm smoking my joints right - I'm not getting the feelings that Gabi describes."

You peek up at him, feeling stupidly bashful and naïve for even thinking of asking him this, but the rush of being around him is too addictive. Ari's eyes don't leave yours, patiently waiting for you to continue.

"So I was wondering if you'd show me how?" You ask with soft pleading eyes, adding a hasty; "Please?"

"You wanna rent me?" Ari chuckles, looking over at you as he puffs out a cloud of smoke. "Whore me out?"

You fight a blush even though you don't find the idea unappealing. "N-not what I meant."

"Tell you what, since you asked so nicely," he sighs, running a large hand through his hair. "I'll take you up on that if-"

He pauses, setting his wrist down on the table with the blunt still smoking between his fingers, turning to face you fully. "You kiss me."

Now your eyebrows shoot up in surprise, lips parting slightly as if you can't believe your ears or your luck.

"O-Okay." You wet your lips nervously, leaning closer to his face. Your eyes drop to his lips for a brief moment before you push forward, colliding your lips against his. Beard scruff brushes your cheeks and your lips tingle and soon enough there's a large, warm palm on your neck that eases you closer against his body. You relax enough to open your lips wider, letting Ari run his tongue over your lips before he slips into your mouth. He tastes like smoke and temptation and you hum happily into his mouth, letting your lips move against his.

Your hands find perch on the thigh closest to you as you lean into the kiss, the tough muscle beneath your palms flexing under the material of his jeans. Ari's palm cups your cheek, his thumb brushing the faint curve tenderly as he kisses you, sending your brain and pussy feral. By the time you remember to breathe again, you're already light headed.

"It's yours." Ari's voice is thick and he takes another drag. He blows out the smoke long and slow, his blue eyes peeking at you and how you're watching him like a hawk, waiting for him to do something more to you. "I'll show you how to smoke next time and make sure you have the high of a lifetime."

"Thanks." You puff, leaning back and removing your hands from his leg.

"No more waiting on Gabriel either - I'll give you my number." With the blunt hanging from his lips Ari holds out a palm for your phone which you willingly give, you stomach swooping with excitement. "I'll text you when I'm free."

You can't contain the small smile that graces your swollen lips. This whole game of coy cat-and-mouse had you ready to jump his bones from the moment you met and the longer it continued the more you were struggling to keep cool.

You were so glad Gabriel had such a hot dealer to introduce you to.

The next time you see Ari is the following week.

You didn't want to seem too desperate texting him too soon but you couldn't stop thinking about your brief, but seemingly eons long, make out session. Luckily, Ari texted you first after three days inviting you over whenever you wanted for your smoking lesson, but due to work commitments, you had to postpone until the Friday.

Knowing you probably wouldn't just be smoking, you opted to wear some light make up and your lucky thong; paired only with a tank top and a short skirt. If the last two visits were anything to go by, you weren't sure how long your outfit would stay on.

The Uber to Ari's was silent, your head already spinning and you gripped the handles of your back pack filled to the brim with snacks. You hadn't wanted to come empty handed when he was still technically doing you a favour.

Even if he was going to fuck your brains out regardless.

You were less awkward now as you stood outside Ari's door and far more nervous. The cool air kissed your legs and your pussy fluttered with each passing thought of Ari's wandering lips and hands and if he'd tease you in more ways than one tonight or purposefully make you wait - or beg - for him to ruin you.

When Ari finally opens the door, he almost does a double take. His eyes are glued to the hem of your skirt, showing off the tops of your thighs. You can't complain, your eyes are glued to his body too; his tight white t-shirt that wraps around each muscle and his grey sweatpants that have a definite outline of his cock.

You swallow your drool and clear your throat. Ari blinks back to life and grins at you.

"You look good," he says stepping aside to let you through. You edge past him and peek up to smile coyly.

"Thanks."

"I've set up on the sofa. You want anything to drink?" Ari asks, closing the door and locking it behind him, following you through to the living room. "You can drop your stuff wherever."

"Um, no. I'm good, thanks." You drop your bag at your feet. You're back to standing awkwardly again, playing with the hem of your skirt, trying to think of how to start.

Ari walks past you to his sofa and throws himself back into a relaxed position, his eyes never leaving yours; his long legs spread open wide. As he'd said, there's a lighter, some papers, an ashtray and a small bag of pre-ground pot lined up next to him.

Ready for you.

"Alright then, let's get started." He says voice low, patting one of his thighs. "C'mere pretty girl. Show me what you've learned."

You inch towards him, letting his hands find your hips and guide you backwards onto his lap. His hands are warm as they run over your skirt, nudging your legs to straddle over his knees, spreading you open to the living room before you. You gasp quietly, shifting against his large, hard cock against your ass as Ari pulls you backwards, pressing your back into his firm chest. Your heart beats so fast it's almost non-existent; you'd wanted to be ruined and it looked like Ari had been on the same wavelength too. You can feel your pussy gush with need as you try to keep your breathing steady when the small baggy and papers are waved in front of your face.

"Roll us a joint, baby." Ari purrs, his breath fanning against your neck, making you shiver. Blushing, you take the weed and papers, balancing them precariously in your lap as you make up the joint and letting Ari's hands run up and down the expanse of your thighs with ghost-like touches.

"You're so good at that now." He praises, his chin digs a little into your shoulder as he watches you roll the joint. "Such a fast learner."

"Mm." You hum, jumping when his fingers dip under your hem and trace patterns against your inner thigh. Your clit throbs as Ari chuckles, his fingers inching higher but stopping before they're right where you want them to be. "Had a good teacher."

"Stop rolling." Ari commands gently, and you turn to look at him ready to stick your tongue out.

"Ah-ah." Ari shakes his head with a smirk. "I'm not gonna seal it with that. Not when I have you sitting in my lap like this."

Before you can ask what he means, his fingers dip under the material of your thong and run the length of your already-silky folds making you stiffen and bite down onto your lips to keep a pornographic moan from spilling out. Your walls pulse as Ari's nimble fingers work at your clit gathering more of your arousal before removing them entirely, leaving you to whimper pathetically at the loss.

He runs his wet fingers along the bare edge of the joint before cleaning them up with swift licks of his tongue.

"That's the good stuff," he rumbles. "Seal it over."

You do as he says, your brain clouding with lust as his other hand squeezes your thigh like a brand.

"Put it in my mouth, honey." Ari parts his lips for you to gently place the joint between his lips. The lighter flickers to life with one firm stroke from Ari's thumb and he raises it to the end of the joint, taking two quick inhales until the embers glow before tossing the lighter aside again.

You watch closely as he takes a long drag, moving the joint between his fingers as he swallows the smoke and then blows out two smoke rings. You squint at the sting of the smoke but can still make out Ari's smirk.

"Tastes fuckin' good." He teases, making your cheeks go more red. "Go on, take a hit."

He holds the blunt to your lips and you tentatively take a drag, coughing a little as you try to mimic him swallowing the smoke. Ari snorts at your attempt and kisses your nose, making your heart flutter incessantly.

"Good but you can do better." He holds the blunt steady for you. "I want you to take some long drags while I fuck your sweet little pussy okay? Long drags - and hold that smoke for five seconds each time."

You gasp at his words and nod firmly, taking the blunt end between your lips as Ari reaches under you to pull his cock free of his sweats. You can feel the a delicious squeeze around nothing as Ari runs the tip of his cock over the flimsy material of your thong before yanking it to the side. His cock is as big as you'd seen through his sweats, but there's a scalding heat to it as he taps the head against your clit, making you almost whine out your exhale of smoke one two seconds too early.

"Now, to me." He leans over your shoulder, lips parted and you immediately let him him take a drag of the joint. He shifts you in his lap, sighing out his smoke as he slides his cock into you, impaling you onto him. His hands hold your hips in place as he leans back into the pliant leather, groaning loudly as your walls clench around him to accommodate to his size.

"Shit, baby girl," he huffs. "You're fuckin' perfect."

You puff out what little smoke you managed to breathe in, moaning loudly instead as Ari bounces you on his cock. You're leaning back enough to be able to see exactly what he's doing; ramming his cock so far into your pussy his balls smack against you. Your toes curl and your thighs start to strain under the pressure of being stretched wide over his legs.

You try to take more drags but you're interrupted by your own moans and the mess Ari is making of your pussy already. Your walls milk his hard cock and you could swear for a second you saw stars as a familiar tightening in your abdomen signals a fast-approaching orgasm.

"Ari," you pant squeak his name as your pussy clamps around him, the wet sounds becoming louder and louder. "I think- hng - I think I'm gonna cum."

"I know sweetheart, I can feel that tight pussy squeezing me." Ari's fingers press into your hips as his pace continues, a loud groan erupting from his throat. "Take another drag for me first."

You suck on the joint hanging loosely between your fingers, taking a long gulp of smoke.

"Look at me." Ari growls out, a hand sneaking further around your waist and lower. As your eyes lock with his, his fingers find your clit, sending sparks across every nerve in your body. A smug grin crosses Ari's face as your eyes flutter and a moan rumbles in your chest before giving you another command, "Blow."

You breathe out the smoke into his face as he breathes it in, your eyes drooping to half-lidded pleasure.

"You look so beautiful doing that." He snatches the joint away from your loose hands and presses it into the ashtray, despite there being plenty left. He catches your curious look and smiles. "I need to focus on you, honey and I don't need you dropping your hard work."

Ari's fingers find your clit again, drawing tight circles as he fucks up into your tight hole. Your pussy spasms and you moan, your arms reaching for something - anything - to keep you steady as he fucks into you harder. The slapping sounds that echo around the room are drowned by your curses and groans as your second orgasm draws closer.

"You're doing so good for me, sweetheart." Ari murmurs into your ear. "Just knew I'd like you. 'M gonna enjoy having you around to fuck and fill-" Ari's words are cut off by a short grunt, followed closely by quick gasps for air as he cums inside your shuddering pussy. You follow suit, heaving for breaths as you gush over his cock again.

"Stay right there," He urges softly, pulling you against his chest. Slipping his softening cock from you and placing kisses against your neck, he murmurs "I'm not quite done with you yet."

One had runs fingers along your slit, jumping between teasing your oversensitive nerves to pushing his cum back into your leaking hole. With his other, he hands you the lighter before picking up the blunt again and holding it to you to light for him. Your hands shake as you reach over to light it, your poor legs convulsing over his as he strums your messy cunt without a care in the world.

"That's my good girl." Ari presses feather-light kisses against your shoulder and you whimper, trying to focus on lighting the lighter. You flick at the metal furiously and on your fourth attempt, a flame flickers to life and Ari lights his joint in the flame before taking a long drag and blowing the smoke away from your face. He looks like a dragon hoarding his treasure; smoke billowing from him as you turn in his lap and bundle closer, dripping all over him.

Ari watches you with a warm grin plastered to his face, his eyes are glassy, red rimmed and a little puffy as he offers you a drag. It's a small drag, no coughing or sputtering this time, but the weed seems to be taking effect because your body sways and you can't stop smiling up at him. Ari only laughs and urges you to lie further on top of him, running a large warm hand up and down the length of your back.

"You should wear skirts more often, sweetheart." He rumbles, taking another drag, his softening cock twitches against your bare pussy and you sigh with delight. "Although, this one might be ruined by the time I'm finished with you."

End

But this woman, not only had the audacity to be late but also to insult him. Who does she think she is?

But whatever anger, perhaps, that he felt at that moment, vanished as he turned and saw her for the first time. The woman was young and beautiful. perfect. She was wearing black lace lingerie which was ridiculously covered by a thin robe of the same color, only more transparent, so he could see everything. Her eyes seemed to mesmerize him. And when it seemed that something inside it opened, a great gray mist covered it. And he went back to her original facade. To be an idiot.

"Not so brave now, huh?" Ari smiles playfully. "I'm surprised, for a moment I thought I had heard that wrong"

TWO HOURS BEFORE

Ari suddenly wakes up, his chest moving up and down faster. Again the same nightmare. Sometimes he just thinks about how everything would feel if he didn't have those nightmares. Those memories that long ago were real.

He wonders what it would feel like to be normal. To just travel around the world knowing those not-so-well-known places that save amazing stories. He did travel around the world, although those travels were work-related. Dirty work.

Fuck, he curses. He needs to distract himself again because he already knows, like every other night, that he won't be able to sleep again.

"So? Cat got your tongue princess?" he steps closer to the beautiful woman, gently caressing her cheek. But he quickly takes it off when he sees her closing her eyes. She is scared. He knows those gestures so well.

Ari is hit by another memory again—one when he is back to his teenage years.

“Fuck… Just get out of here.” he sighs. "I don't want it tonight"

The woman is about to say something but he doesn't give her the time and instead decides to hurry and get the hell out of the room.

Taglist (open): @bunnyforhim @wintasssoldier

@buckysteveloki-me @magnificentsaladllama

@yoruse @patzammit @moonlightdivine

"Get out of your head, pretty girl." A large hand takes yours, bringing it to scruffy lips, and you blink out of my thoughts and smile as Ari briefly meets your eyes. “Stop being so nervous, they’re going to love you.”

“Will they?” You raise your eyebrows at him. “It’s your ex-wife, who could think I’m going to try and replace her… Not to mention Maya…”

He squeezes your hand. “Trust me, sweetheart. Sarah will love you. Maya will love you.”

“Says you, you’re biased.” You rest your head on his shoulder, getting comfortable and trying to stop your mind from racing.

“And I’m right,” He kisses your hair, parking along the street. "C'mon pretty girl, let's get you inside. Sarah mentioned some kind of dessert we're supposed to try- daughter's orders."

You can't help but laugh, knowing his sweet tooth knows no limits as you keep a tight grip on his large hand, letting the cool breeze soothe some of your nerves. You bite your lip nervously as Ari firmly knocks against the wood, and you release a slow breath before a beautiful woman opens the door. 

"There you are, come on in." Sarah ushers us inside, eying Ari disapprovingly but smiling at you softly. "Nice to meet you. Usually he isn't this early."

You laugh a bit, knowing damn well you're both later than planned. "I <i>tried</i> to get him out the door on time."

She shakes her head, grinning as she crosses her arms. "He's a lost cause," She smirks at Ari teasingly, making him roll his eyes. "I'm just glad he's here and trying with her. She doesn't need an absent father."

You nod, careful not to overstep despite wanting to defend how hard he works. Their relationship has always been delicate since Maya was born, and even though it's out of love for the little girl, you know he wishes it had ended better. "Well, all that matters is that she has you both now."

"True," Sarah smiles, calling for her daughter as Ari winks at you. "I hope you're ready, she's been excitable today."

As if on cue an adorable little girl bounds down, looking so much like her father but having the warm eyes of her mother. “Daddy!” She rushes over, knocking into Ari enough for a small oof to escape his lips as she wraps her arms around his middle. “You’re back!”

“I’m back,” He grins, holding her close to his chest. “I issued you, were you good for your mom?”

“Always,” She grins, and from behind you watch Sarah playfully make a face. “Well, mostly.”

“Sounds familiar,” You grin at Ari, not missing the side eye it earns you.

“I have someone I want you to meet,” He rests a large hand on her head, turning her to face you. “This is (Y/N), my… friend.”

“Girlfriend,” Sarah corrects gently, nodding to Ari reassuringly at his nervous expression. “She’s his girlfriend, just like your aunt has her boyfriend.”

She nods, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Nice to meet you,” She smiles gently, taking your hand. “You gotta come play with us, Daddy always has the best games. Do you work with him? Is he as fun out there as he is here?”

“Maya, take a breath.” Her mother chides, smiling at her energy while Ari makes a face at her ribbing. “She just got here, remember?”

“I’d love to play with you,” You smile as she lights up, chatting excitedly as she leads you upstairs to her room. It’s beautiful but simple, full of art and pictures of her and her mom and dad, but nothing negative about their relationship- a testament to their devotion to her. “These are beautiful, you’re an artist?”

She blushes a bit. “Yeah, but not that much. I like to draw Daddy pictures though.”

Ari clears his throat, and you turn to see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “You’ll have to show her more later. What do you want to do first?”

She instantly moves, leading us into several games- some with Ari playing a sea monster and her leading the ship, some of them drawing and creating stories together, and even some where they play board games with her little collection. By the time you have a second to catch your breath it’s been a few hours, Sarah gently calling everyone down to try something Maya made, and you can see with a glance Ari’s worn out from her antics.

“This is great,” You hum, smiling as Maya grins happily. “You’ll have to share more of your desserts with us sometime.”

“Especially with me,” Ari grins, winking at her. “I need more energy to keep up with you.”

Sarah laughs, shaking her head. “We all do if we want to stand a chance,” She rises to start cleaning up, waving her hand dismissively when you and Ari rise to help. “Go relax with her, I know you have to go soon.”

Ari nods, yawning and stretching. “Give me five and I’ll be ready, I need to recharge a bit,” He pads over to the large couch and flops down, almost immediately falling asleep and snoring the way only he can, and Maya giggles as you wink at her. 

“I don’t know, I think you should make him spend time with you,” You tease, seeing her grin as she sneaks over to him. Before she can do anything he moves, wrapping his arms around her and dragging her to settle on him without opening his eyes. She laughs and tries to scramble away, making you laugh as he tickles her and kisses over her face. Something in you aches, wanting to give him more chances to be with his daughter, and it takes a moment for you to blink out of it and see Ari’s baby blues watching you intently. 

“He’s a good father,” Sarah hums, quietly sitting with you at the table and handing you a mug of tea. “And a good man.”

You blush a bit, taking a sip and letting the warmth soothe you. “He is…”

She gently squeezes your hand. “Things didn’t work out well for us… But I don’t regret the time we spent, or that little girl he loves so much. He’s nothing but an agent, but he’s a damn good father to her.” She smiles at you gently, nothing but warmth and reassurance in her eyes. “He loves you, (Y/N). I can see it in his eyes. You’re a good match.”

You smile shyly, a bit touched she’s being so kind despite her history with your boyfriend. “Thank you, Sarah. “

“What’s going on here?”

You both look up, Sarah smiling as he holds a half-asleep Maya in his arms. “I think it’s about bedtime,” Sarah rises, tea forgotten as she brushes hair from Maya’s face. “Do you want to tuck her in before you go?”

Ari nods, smiling as Maya waves and yawns out a goodnight before he disappears upstairs, giving you time to help gather everything and get ready before Ari rejoins you. After a few goodbyes and promises to visit again soon, he wraps an arm around your shoulders and tugs you closer, kissing your temple. “You ok baby?”

“More than ok,” You lean into his touch, smiling as his arm tightens around you. “I want that. Someday.”

He raises a single eyebrow, glancing down at you. “Want what?”

“That. A warm loving place for you to have a family, a place for you to call home when the thrill of the mission fades. You deserve that happiness.”

“So do you,” He kisses you softly, helping you into his truck but not moving away, keeping his hands on your hips as you spread your legs for him to step closer. “I’d like that. A family with you.” He kisses your ring finger, eyes never leaving yours. “But you’re my home, (Y/N). Not a building, or a city, or even a country. You.” You flush, smiling shyly, and he kisses you again before moving to climb back into the driver's seat. “We have a lot of time to practice… and I intend to start immediately.”