Afflatus
Once the ceremony comes to a close, joy, and excitement fill the bastion. Hundreds of disciples flood the decorated dining hall, eager to taste the flavors of the Desert Cities. Gilbert himself handpicked the evening’s fare, carefully selecting ones that would invoke the richness of their homeland. The scent of grilled fish, spiced and steamed in banana leaves, captures Lumi’s attention, drawing him away from Khimi for some time while he can’t help the allure of the tantalizing scent of dumplings filled with lamb and spiced with sumac. When he inquires about the origin of these delicacies, Gilbert simply winks.
As the group enjoys their meal together, Ennui can’t resist teasing them about the stains covering their tunics and flesh, playfully mocking their inability to keep their hands off each other even if only for a moment. But despite her jokes, Khimi knows it’s all in good fun.
Mido and Augustus sit beside them, carefully picking their way through the offerings spread across the table. Plates filled with pickled vegetables, tender beans, and spiced chicken are arranged meticulously in front of them. Lumi’s eyes shine with excitement as he tells Mido of Gilbert’s news, his words accompanied by animated hand gestures and a joyous embrace. The slight dourness that has previously clouded Mido at the mention of his family evaporates in an instant, replaced by a renewed sense of joy at the opportunity for a reunion.
As the festivities continue on for hours, the artificial light shifts, fading into twilight. The glass lanterns hanging above each table are illuminated, casting warmth over the entire feast. Each lantern is adorned with panes of glass in various shades, reminiscent of the dyed glass used throughout Rhaz. The one above their table bathes Lumi and Khimi in a soft glow, and despite a promise to share the night with their friends, their gazes constantly find their way back to one another.
With the final hour of the celebration approaching, Gilbert offers his congratulations in private, before leaving Khimi and Lumi to their own celebrations. In the midst of the throng, Khimi sneaks away from the festivities, dragging Lumi along by hand. Prior to the feast, Gilbert mentioned a spring deep within the bastion where they could wash away the sacred ink, and after navigating through twisting corridors and rocky limestone walls, they finally reach the chamber. Immediately, the moisture clings to their skin and steam roils through the area.
In the darkness, Lumi conjures a small orb of light in his palm and takes Khimi’s hand to guide him toward the sound of running water. As they approach, hot steam rises to meet them warm, and wet against their cheeks. With each step forward, torches along sconces and columns flicker to life, the light dispersed through the clouded fog.
The room is cavernous, with a hot spring sending billowing waves over the rocky earth at their feet. In a rush of urgency, Rashid’s shamshir clatters against the stone floor as Khimi draws Lumi close to him.
“Gods,” Lumi whispers, his hands already sliding up Khimi’s thighs beneath the tunic. “You’re so beautiful. Take this off.” He eagerly pulls at the fabric.
Khimi grabs the collar of his tunic and rips it over his head, his golden earrings snagging at the fabric. In his haste, he tosses it over Rashid’s sword. There, he stands before Lumi, revealing his himself before Lumi.
“This,” Lumi says in his boyish lilt. “This is perfect.” His hands glide over Khimi’s abdomen and chest, admiring every inch of him.
Khimi stands still, waiting for Lumi to explore his body. With one swift motion, Lumi rips off his own tunic, revealing dark trails of ink on his skin. These marks detail Khimi’s favorite parts of him, his slim waist, his soft ass, his tender thighs. Khimi bites his lips, following the trails of ink up to his nipples, where he tried so hard to suck them dry.
“Beautiful,” Lumi whispers in admiration, his voice eager with desire. He presses his body against Khimi’s, the warmth of their skin meeting. His tongue glides along Khimi’s muscles, exploring every inch as he eagerly laps at his chest, sucking hard at his nipple.
Khimi smirks, feeling Lumi’s lips and tongue on his skin. “You mocked me when I first called you beautiful,” he laughs, running his fingers through Lumi’s hair.
Lumi traces along the scars on Khimi’s chest with his fingertips before returning to lick at them fervently. His tail rattles with anticipation behind him as he moves lower, stopping just above the dark bed of hair leading down Khimi’s abdomen. Showing no hesitation, he shoves his nose against his groin and inhales deep. His eyes flutter up at Khimi through his lashes, then roll back into his head as he murmurs, “Y-you smell so good.” His lips move against Khimi, skin, caressing his navel.
Khimi brushes his fingers against Lumi’s cheek and then takes his hand, guiding him through the steamy water and into the shallows of the hot springs. As they peach on the smooth stone edge, Khimi sits Lumi between his legs and presses their bodies together. He bites down on Lumi’s shoulder, eliciting a soft moan from him.
“Your thighs could crush me,” Lumi whispers as he nestles back against Khimi’s chest. His tail gently brushes against Khimi’s arousal pressing into his back. “You wanna fuck me,” he adds, glancing back over his shoulder.
Knowing Lumi’s desire, Khimi slides a hand down Lumi’s chest encompassing it completely. He presses the peaks of his nipples between his fingers and squeezes. “How about we pick up from earlier?”
Lumi, with a hungry glint in his eye, shifts between Khimi’s legs, then gazes up at him. “How about,” he whispers, his fingers wrapping around Khimi’s shaft and giving him a slow pump. “You lay back and let me take care of you.” His voice drips with a dangerous lust.
With a gentle push, Khimi relaxes on his elbows. “Seeing you like this…” He starts, unable to form coherent words as he watches Lumi climb on top of him with fluid movements.
In a matter of seconds, Lumi’s lips are on his, moving with an insatiable rhythm. The boy lets out low purrs that vibrate against his trembling lips as saliva drips down Khimi’s chin. Lumi pulls back for a moment to wipe it away before trailing kisses, and licks over his scars. Then, with one last nip at Khimi’s skin, Lumi wriggles down between his legs, his hips swaying back and forth behind him. His tail stands proudly on end as he pushes his hair out of his eyes and takes a long lick along the underside of Khimi’s length, urging the leaking precum into his mouth with pressure along the vein. Carefully rubbing back the velvety foreskin, his tongue glides over the tip, sharp and prickly against his skin.
“Gods, I want you,” Khimi whispers through his teeth.
Lumi beams up at him, his his hips swaying with increasing ferocity, the scars along his nose wrinkling as he furrows his brow in concentration. “Just relax,” he speaks softly while massaging a comforting hand through Khimi’s abdominal hair.
Khimi tilts his head back, closing his eyes in bliss as Lumi’s lips wrap around the engorged head. With skilled movements, Lumi’s tongue dives beneath the foreskin, the roughness of it sending electrifying waves of pleasure through Khimi’s body. The slick, wet sound of his cock sliding from between Lumi’s lips interrupts his trance. As he opens his eyes, Lumi gazes up at him with admiration. The sheer size and girth of his cock sways enticingly before Lumi’s eyes, and Lumi kicks his feet behind him playfully as if entranced.
“Do you love me as much as you love my cock?” Khimi asks with a confident smirk.
Lumi teases him with another long lick, savoring the taste on his tongue. “You know I do.”
“And you like how I taste? Khimi continues, his voice heavy with desire.
“Your cum? Lumi replies with a hint of laughter, pressing his lips against the side of Khimi’s shaft. “I love milking my bull!” His ears wiggle with joy.
Khimi snorts and tosses his head back as Lumi’s sharp fangs brush against him. The hours seem to dwindle away as Lumi brings Khimi to the brink of climax only to drag it out, teasingly letting him soften, then stroking him back to full rigidity as they discuss their plans for the journey.
But eventually, Khimi’s patience is pushed beyond its limits, and he brings a hand atop Lumi’s head, urging him over his cock. With his fingers tightly coiled in the blond locks, he forcefully guides Lumi’s head up and down. With a primal grunt, he thrusts his hips upward as Lumi drinks down his seed greedily, his throat bobbing with each gulp while they lock eyes intensely.
Khimi leans back and runs his fingers through Lumi’s feathery hair, tugging on it to urge him closer. Once their faces are mere inches away from each other, he grins, admiring the cum dribbling down the corners of his swollen lips.
“Good boy,” Khimi whispers, meeting Lumi’s lips. The slick between their lips only seems to heighten Lumi’s eagerness, and he pushes his tongue into Khimi’s mouth desperately, swirling and pressing into his cheeks.
Once their kiss breaks, Khimi looks deep into Lumi’s eye. “Are you ready?” he whispers. “Ready to see the world?”
Lumi lets out a contented purr and nestles his head against Khimi’s chest. “Anywhere with you.”