Finn’s fingers knew where to go to make his wife squirm and moan, even as he kissed her fiercely. Ava clung to him, sweaty and hungry, wanting more of him, more of his body. Two weeks had been far too long and she was starving. She broke the kiss, panting, flushed with her desire, her gray eyes glazed and half-lidded.

“Give it to me, baby. Please!” she whimpered.

He gave her a devilish smile, his fangs glistening in the late afternoon sunlight that poured through their window. “Impatient today, aren’t you?”

She arched her neck, her breasts pressing into his chest. He took one into his mouth, flicking her nipple as his fingers went deeper into her, her wet, velvet folds trembling around him. She wasn’t the only one battling with her lustful impatience. Grasping one hand in hers, he removed his fingers, positioning himself against her. Her hips rose, moving slowly, taking him in a little at a time as he slowly pushed into her, her fingers tangling in his thick blonde hair.

His body shivered as he entered her completely, reveling in her heat as she gripped him, moving her hips to the rhythm of his thrusts. He could barely contain his own moans, his arm going under her, his fingers gripping her shoulder.

“Ava,” he breathed. “I need you.”

“Not yet,” she moaned, her nails scratching at his back as she kissed his neck, biting and sucking without breaking the skin. He felt too good, filling her, stretching her, making her entire body tingle with the familiar warmth that only the mixing of their energies could do. Her breath was hot against his skin as he lifted her onto his lap, his fingers pressing into her skin as she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning back so she could watch him as she bounced and rocked on his cock.

Finn could feel the pressure build, wanting to cum, but until he knew she was completely satisfied, he would hold back. She would always be first, that was his self-imposed rule. His hand slid into her long tresses, pulling gently, her head going back as her eyelids fluttered. He kissed the side of her neck, dipping into the hollow at the base of her throat before taking one breast into his mouth, his teeth gently grazing her nipple. She inhaled sharply, her movements becoming more relentless as she rode him, her own climax rising within her.

Her moans changed, her hips rotating as he thrust deeper into her. 

“Bite me,” she whispered. “Baby, take what’s yours!”

Finn didn’t even hesitate. He bit into her neck, blood pooling instantly on his tongue as he drank, the sensation like electricity shooting straight to her heat, her juices overflowing as she came, clutching him tightly to her, screaming his name.

Finn thrust harder, her quivering body encouraging him to finally let go. With one loud moan, he released her neck, blood flying from his fangs as he came, his grip matching hers. Ava continued to moan softly as she felt him pulse within her, filling her with his cum. She didn’t care about the blood that trailed slowly down her neck, or the slick sweat that coated her body. All she felt was the trembling in her thighs as the mini-orgasms washed through her, her head swimming with the release.

Finn moved his head from her shoulder, finding her lips. He gently slid his tongue into her mouth, pushing and sliding against hers, her blood tasting sweet in her own mouth. He held her face as he kissed her, his lips moving slowly with hers as their bodies relaxed. He lay her down, his lips going to his mark, licking the blood that remained from her skin as he sealed the wound.

She sighed as he slipped from her, pulling her close as she wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his chest, nuzzling her face against his throat. “Missed you,” she whispered. 

“I missed you, too, Princess,” he said softly. “It wasn’t the same without you.”

“Same. I’m glad we were able to collect all that blood, but I really wish you could have come with us.” She slid one leg into between his, crossing their ankles.

“I wanted to,” he said, trailing his fingers up and down her spine. “If we didn’t have so much going on here and in Kanaki Valley, I absolutely would have gone.”

“How are things going over there, anyway?” she asked, lifting her head slightly to look into his face. His amber eyes, set in a face that would have inspired fear in anyone else, were beautiful. She loved the way his eyebrows arched sharply above them, lifted at the corners. He had a sharp nose and full lips, his features angular under a thick mass of blonde hair that he did his best to keep under control.

He frowned, lowering his gaze. “I’d like to say they’re fine but…” he shrugged. 

“Are they not getting along or something?”

He shook his head. “It’s not that at all. In fact, I’ve never seen cooperation between the races like I have over there. I think it’s more that some of them, the healers and soldiers especially, are starting to feel overwhelmed. There’s so much to do and it feels like we’ve hit a wall. It doesn’t help that we can’t find the main nest and no one we’ve captured lately is talking.” He clenched his jaw. “Not even him.”

Ava’s fingers involuntarily pressed harder into his back and she slid them along his side, bringing them to his chest. It had caused no end of pain when they discovered the traitor among them seven years ago. No one had suspected him, no one had even thought to. Natsu wanted to kill him right then and there for what he had done, for summoning the Rogue’s to Helman Hall, for killing so many of their friends…for separating Natsu and Toji.

Instead of ripping his wings off, however, Finn suggested chaining him up in one of the newly constructed cells in the caves of Kanaki Valley and denying him access to food for long stretches of time until he talked. Seven years, and they barely got any information out of him. Natsu still made sure the bastard could never use his wings again, however, holding him down and ripping them apart himself.

No one stopped him.

“He almost broke, though,” Finn went on after a moment. “We almost fucking had him.”

“What changed his mind?”

“Starvation, probably. Loyalty to Renzo Ackerman and the other Rogues runs deep but not so deep as a demon’s hunger. I could torture him all day long but unless I find that one key that’ll unlock his secrets, I won’t get anywhere.”

“And the oracle?”

His eyes went to hers. He knew what she was asking and he wasn’t ready to give the answer she wanted. “Ava.”

“She has been one of the most useful tools we’ve had in a long time, Finn,” she argued once again.

“Useful in that she gives us mind numbing riddles that take way too long to figure out.”

“She’s an oracle,” she replied, giving him a look. “They’re not supposed to be direct.”

“It would be super if this one would be.”

“I do not disagree, my love,” she said, putting her cool hand against his face. “However, we still wouldn’t have rooted out those last two nests without her. Not to mention save a coven of vampires and a whole host of other magical creatures that had gone underground.”

Finn sighed. “Fine, I’ll talk to Megura. No guarantees she’ll allow it so don’t get your hopes too high, alright?”

Ava smiled brightly, the sight sending his core to spinning. He relaxed, kissing her forehead.

“I’m not sure how you continue to talk me into such ridiculous ideas,” he chuckled.

“Because you love me and want me to be happy.”

“There is that, yeah.” Finn rolled on his back, Ava moving her head to rest on his chest as he held her close. After a minute, he said, “I’m really worried about Natsu.”

“You’re not the only one,” she said. “He’s been more distant lately, and it’s not just because he hasn’t heard from Toji in so long.”

“Any guesses?”

She slowly shook her head. “If I did, I’d know exactly how to help him. I can say he’s not feeding regularly anymore, which is pissing Meg off to no end.”

Finn grinned. “That doesn’t surprise me. It also explains the moodiness and tremors he’s been having. I’m not asking for the guy to be in a good mood every day, but it would be nice if he’d quit being such an irritable asshole to everyone.”

Ava nodded but said nothing more for several minutes. She tried not to let her worries overcome her but it was getting to be a trial. Natsu was her best friend, the one she swore her life and loyalty to as his Guard. In the beginning it had been easy, he had depended on her more, talked to her and confided in her. He even shared stories of his and Toji’s early days together. As time went on, and the spaces between his contact with Toji grew longer, he became more withdrawn, sullen, depressed, and angry. He dove into the work headfirst, burying himself in the intel reports, coordinating missions with the rest of the Force, even getting more involved in the interrogations and executions of a lot of their captives.

Natsu Helman Kanaki wasn’t the same man he was before the barrier was sealed off. He didn’t smile, he didn’t laugh, he rarely joined in on the few parties and relaxing nights that popped up every now and again. What he did do, what she wouldn’t tell anyone else except Finn, was cry. He cried all the time, nearly every night. When he did sleep, he had nightmares. He would wake up screaming and shaking, clutching either herself or Megura as they attempted to calm him. When he ate, he threw up, and when he went on “walks,” as he was doing now, he would be gone sometimes days at a time.

She knew exactly where he was right now, knew how he got there, and knew who would be with him. When he took off, Ava knew to stay behind. While it may be her duty to protect him and be with him as often as possible, he had made it clear, especially after Cameo was born, that she also had a duty to her family. They had a deal and it was one he refused to allow her to break.

“I go on a walk, you stay with them.”

She’d tried to argue, tried to remind him that her duty was to him first before all else. “Tsu, I can’t go back on my oath. Not to you or Uncle Hero, and especially not to Toji.”

His eyes, once so vibrant and alive, had become hard and empty. They were no longer the precious emeralds Toji loved; they were like river stones that had lost their luster, cold and unfeeling. “You’re not going back on anything, Ava,” he had said flatly. “It’s an order.”

Now, she buried her face in Finn’s chest. “If we don’t end this war,” she said softly, “I’ll lose him forever.”

Finn kissed the top of her head and tilted her chin so her gray eyes would meet his. “We will end this, Princess. One way or another. I can’t pretend to know what’s going on with everyone else, but I can’t imagine they’re just sitting around doing nothing. Especially not Toji. They’re working hard to get back to us, I believe that in my core. We won’t lose Natsu, ever.” He smiled, kissing the tip of her nose. “He’s too much of a stubborn prick to give up, either. He’ll find a way back to Toji no matter how long it takes.”

Ava snorted softly. “Toji wouldn’t have married him otherwise.”

Finn laughed. “Yeah, that’s true.” He pulled her on top of him, adjusting her legs so she was straddling his lap. “Can’t say I blame him,” he said, his hand going into her hair while the other traced the scar along the bottom of her stomach. “I’d destroy every Realm in existence if I lost you.”

She tilted her head into his palm, covering his hand with her own. “Good thing you’ll never have to.”

“Almost did.”

She nodded, her lips curling into a small smile. “I know. But we both survived and now you not only still have me, but a beautiful daughter as well.”

Finn returned her smile. “That’s honestly all I need in my life.” He sat up on one elbow, kissing her gently, his tongue dancing over her lips as she wiggled her hips against him. He inhaled slowly, a low growl rumbling in his throat. “Woman,” he muttered against her mouth.

“Hm?” she replied, her eyes glowing with coy innocence. 

“We’ve been at this for three hours.”

“Come on, Hellboy,” she said, her hands sliding into his hair as she rotated against his growing hardness. “Don’t tell me you’re ready to give up now.”

His hands went to her hips, lifting her slightly before impaling her slowly upon him with a small gasp. “Never underestimate the stamina of a demon,” he said, his grin playfully demonic. “I have two weeks to catch up on. I’m nowhere near through with you yet.”

She returned his grin, moving steadily to his thrusts. “Good.”

-*-