February 28, 2022 | Halfdan (Dany) x Serena [SOLO]

Loosely based on interpretation of Halfdan (Vikings) by Lydia S.  "Dany" is her spelling for his nickname. This was letter-perfect in my notebook; any errors in transcribing are due to being awake since butts-o'clock in the morning to be at the hospital.

CW: Dubcon/noncon. We were going to write this together, but co-writer went AFK and I haven't heard form her since about mid-February. (I'm transcribing this in May.)

Halfdan stirred. Someone was in bed with him, and had gotten there while he was dozing. He opened his eyes and saw a mass of curly blonde hair. Of course. Serena. The tease who acted like everyone's girlfriend but only let Sigefrid touch her. Yet here she was, clinging to him like a bat to a branch, and not for the first time.

"You again," he groaned. She raised her head, smiling.

"I couldn't let you sleep alone when you were having nightmares, silly," she said, slowly unwrapping her arms and legs from around him.

"I always have nightmares. You split your nights between me and your boyfriend there." He wasn't in the mood for her flirting. Nor did he miss how her smile widened to a grin when he called Sigefrid her boyfriend.

"Then share the bed with us," Serena said, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Hell, no!" Halfdan snapped. "I'm not climbing into bed with him? The fuck do I look like to you?"

Serena blushed and ducked her head. She did that a lot, but she was the farthest thing from shy Halfdan had ever met. She did have some weird prissy habits, though, considering she used to sell it for $3,200 a night. She didn't let anyone undress her, including Sigefrid. She also had issues with anyone touching her hair. She never showed cleavage, and he'd never seen her in a miniskirt, either. Despite the fact that he'd seen her stash her water bras at the clubhouse, she didn't seem to wear them much; she always looked pretty flat-chested, though she tried to hide it with her choice of tops.

What did a hooker have to blush about, and what the hell was she hiding?

Halfdan walked his fingers up her outer thigh and played with the hemline of her skirt, noticing how her breath quickened. She pretended not to feel it.

"Maybe I'll change my mind," he purred, sliding his hand up to her hip. Her brow creased and she tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

"Dany, what are you doing?" She used the club's pet name for him.

He smirked, leaned in, and whispered, "Ever been double-penetrated?"

Her gasp and the way her eyes widened told him she hadn't. He found it hard to believe she was that inexperienced.

"The innocent act is getting old," he said impatiently. "Have you fucked two guys at once or haven't you?"

Now she giggled, another annoying habit of hers. "Not the way you're thinking, but yes. One in my mouth."

"And the other?" He glanced downward; she scoffed and shoved at him.

"None of your damn business."

He expertly rolled her onto her back and climbed on top of her. "I'm about to make it my business."

She squirmed and tried to shove him again. "No-- don't!" she cried.

"Don't worry," he said, unbuckling his belt. "I'll pay you for your time."

"I don't care about that!" she snapped. There was fear in her teal-green eyes. That was new. What could someone like her possibly be afraid of?

"You offered yourself to me so freely when we met. You greeted me like an old friend when we saw each other again. You cook for me, climb into bed with me, cling to me."

"I thought we were friends."

"Please. Girls don't act like that around guys they're just friends with."

"I wouldn't know," Serena said stoutly. She tried to push him away again, but he pinned her. She blushed again and looked away, frowning as if he was annoying her now rather than frightening her. Strange girl.

"Oh, I see," he murmured, leaning down and kissing her neck. "You're afraid of cheating on Sigefrid, is that it? I wasn't planning to tell him." He raised his head and smirked.

She looked up at him again, calculatingly, he thought. "I would still know," she said. "Please, don't do this."

He pretended to think about it. Then, "No, I want to know what makes you think you're worth over three thousand a night."

She glared. "I quit hooking when Sigefrid and I started spending time together. You know that."

He did know that, but he decided to torment her some more. "Once a whore, always a whore. I want to see what's under that cute little skirt of yours."

She started struggling in earnest now, snarling epithets at him, threatening him. He just laughed and tied her down, quick and efficient.

"You flirt with me constantly," he reminded her. "You knew I would want this. And I know deep down, you want it, too. I'm willing to go deep, Serena. So deep you'll be screaming my name. I'll scream yours too if you want."

Serena laughed, a bitter sound full of irony. "You don't even know my real name, and I'd kill you if you said it in bed. At least with me like this."

What the fuck? "You want me to untie you, you'll have to earn it," he taunted as he resumed undressing himself.

Now she was looking at him in confusion.

"I don't care what your name is," he added. Then, "You let Sigefrid call you Serena in bed. Does he know you have another name?"

She looked at him like he was an idiot. But she was the one who brought it up, he thought irately.

"Yes," she said after a beat. "He also knows I prefer my stage name when I'm... Look, just stop, okay? Things are about to get really awkward for both of us."

"Maybe you wouldn't feel awkward if you weren't so secretive," he said, sliding both hands  up to her hips--

"Don't!"

--and pulling down her weird-looking thong.

"What the hell is this?"

She closed her eyes, going red in the face yet again. "It's a chastity belt," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm a drag queen."

Halfdan burst out laughing. "Seriously? This was your big secret?" He paused. "Wait. You said Sigefrid...?"

"Yes. He knows. And I swear, if you pick on him about it, I will fucking end you."

"I'd like to see you try." He stroked her cheek condescendingly, then grabbed some lotion from his bedside drawer and lubed up.

"You're still going through with this?" she asked, astounded.

"Didn't your precious boyfriend?" he sneered, moving things aside for easier access before slowly pressing in.

"Aah-- no! Hey, don't touch--"

"A little late," he scoffed.

She cringed. "And, no. Not the first time. He was so mad at me. It took us days to make up." Her breathing sped up as he pushed all the way in.

"You're not the first shemale I've fucked," Halfdan said bluntly. "Though what I can't understand is why you're so coy about it. Why not just be honest?"

"It's not something I'm accustomed to disclosing. For my clients at Lux, the fun was in the illusion. They knew what I was and sought me out because of it. Most of them didn't want the illusion broken. Then when I branched out, picking up men while in drag became a sort of game. Most guys thought I was pretty enough that it didn't matter. Some were fascinated and wanted to fondle me to... you know, prove it. No one tried to undress me before Sigefrid, and I liked it that way."

None of that made any sense to Halfdan, but he decided not to think about it. She felt good, whatever she was, her body squeezing him like a vice. He moved faster, testing her. She moved with him, relaxing and closing her eyes.

"Tell me how much you like me stretching you out," he whispered.

She opened her eyes again and froze, panic clouding her expression once more as she began struggling against her bonds. "We can't do this!" she cried. "Dany, please, you have to stop!"

He had no intention of stopping. In fact, he found her struggles and protests to be quite the turn-on. He pressed his body down on hers and kissed her roughly. She started to kiss him back, but abruptly stopped herself and began freaking out again.

"You like me," he whispered against her lips after breaking the kiss. "That's why you're fighting this so hard. You're afraid of what Sigefrid would do if he knew how much you want this. How much you enjoy it." He moved one hand down to make his point; she squirmed and thrashed about more aggressively. He laughed. "You're only hurting yourself," he said. "I told you, I'm not going to tell your man about this. So relax and let me give you what we both want." He kissed her again, and this time she submitted. She relaxed again and moved with him, making the sweetest noises as he used her tight little arse.

He started going harder when he thought she could handle it, and her moans grew louder. He noted that, even in the throes of ecstasy, she still sounded like a real girl. He wondered if her voice was just always like that.

She froze in panic again after orgasming, back in that shy, fussy persona. He figured she was usually wearing her chastity belt during sex and wasn't used to coming. He untied her arms and let her cling to him until she calmed down again, moving slowly and gently inside her.

"I'm going to fill you with my load and it'll be dripping out for days," he purred, distracting her. It worked; she giggled and buried her face in his neck. He picked up the pace again. "You like that?"

She nodded, nuzzling him. "It sounds so fucking hot," she moaned, her voice softer and higher than he'd heard it yet. "Gosh, Dany, you turn me on so much."

February 28, 2022 | Sigefrid x Serena ficlet [SOLO]

Loosely based on interpretation of Sigefrid by Lydia S.  I wrote this to comfort myself during a deep depression. This was letter-perfect in my notebook, so if I made any errors transcribing it, it's because I've been up since butts-o'clock in the morning to be at the hospital.

Sigefrid wasn't one to profess his love easily. Oh, he loved to flirt, especially with beautiful girls like Serena. How was he to know she'd take it seriously and get attached to him? Then there was the fact that, despite how pretty she looked and how feminine she acted, Serena wasn't exactly a girl, under those long extensions and cute little skirts. She had a nice, round arse and made the sweetest moans in bed, so to say he had been shocked to find a guardian at the gate was an understatement. He'd mistaken her for a virgin when they met, but she'd really just been shy about revealing herself as a (very convincing) drag queen. Then he'd learned that, yes, there really was quite a bit of psycho under that pampered princess veneer.

He wouldn't tell her that he slept better with her in his bed, nor that he enjoyed the way she spoiled him. He wouldn't tell her how much he missed her when she wasn't around or how jealous he was of her other men. He certainly wouldn't tell her that their chemistry had exceeded all his expectations and that he really no longer cared what was under her skirt, he wanted her to get off with him, so could she stop wearing that weird chastity belt since it clearly hurt her anyway?

He was rough and cold, aloof to a fault, and it frustrated him that it made her cry. He could sense there was something she wasn't telling him, and he hated secrets and lies. How could he risk trusting her when she wouldn't tell him what was on her mind?

He'd also noticed how disgusted she was when her men went too soft. She liked powerful, masculine men, and Sigefrid fit the bill exactly. Serena was such a crazy girl that there was no predicting how she'd react if he opened up to her.

Still, it wasn't lost on him that she went out of her way to pamper him and take care of the other men in his club. She was nurturing towards them since she'd somehow got it in her head that they were an extension of him. She was fiercely protective of him and became easily annoyed if anyone dared question him or his leadership abilities. She also seemed to have a desperate need to be accepted by the others even though she'd once claimed she didn't care about them because they weren't him.

See? Crazy. There was no telling where her head was at. But she felt so good in his arms and she was so affectionate with him that he couldn't help wanting her. Deep down, he needed the attention. He could do without the mood swings or the fact that she somehow felt the need to dress and act half her age. He was pushing 50; he didn't need to be seen with some jailbait-looking bitch. Yes, she was younger than him, but not that young, damn!

Her male persona. Sebastian, actually did dress age-appropriately, at least in the courtroom. Sigefrid doubted he could convince Serena to wear a suit, even a women's suit, to look like an adult in her mid-thirties. But he was still tempted to burn every single plaid skirt and frilly pink blouse she owned.

She wouldn't let him see her naked, which made sense, considering. But she was so secret in other aspects that didn't make much sense. At least she'd never yet turned down an invitation to his bed. And, as cutesy as she acted, she had a vicious bloodlust that rivaled his own, and formidable intelligence despite her inability to see more than two feet in front of her. Her lack of perception annoyed everyone, but he had to admit he was glad she hadn't taken anyone's hints-- or glaring neon signs-- that she should fuck off and leave him alone. She was a warm, willing body with fledgling healing powers, a shit-ton of resources, and access to drugs that gave him an amazing high. Best of all, she didn't seem to care what she was to him as long as he let her feed him and warm his bed.

The truth was, he was falling in love with her. He just wasn't ready to admit it yet. And he wouldn't allow himself to suspect that what she was so desperate to hide was that she loved him, too.

February 28, 2022 | Louis x Serena ficlet

To say that Louis had a bad history with women was a bit of an understatement. His peers in college had nothing kind to say about him, and he and Serena Sublime had met when he had tried to kill her. Serena was odd, to say the least. She had considered him beating her to be foreplay, had offered only a batting of her mink lashes and squeals of delight at his attempts to rape her, and had somehow survived being stabbed 50-something times. She had taken his attempted murder as an invitation to follow him home, sneak into his room, and seduce him. She was also the only drag queen he had ever even considered sleeping with. He'd tried to kill her again, of course, but once again, it hadn't stuck, and he'd allowed her to sleep beside him that night when she'd broken into his home.

She baffled him, and he was both intrigued and utterly infatuated. She kept him guessing, and he liked that. He'd heard from others, including her husband, that she was clingy and needy, but that hadn't been his experience with her. If anything, she kept him at a distance. She had even briefly taken a break from their relationship following her belated honeymoon. He had later learned she was the drag persona of the very lawyer he had hired to get him off for murder, Sebastian Morningstar.

The fact that Sebastian had made absolutely no fuss about representing him despite knowing beyond doubt he must be guilty was something that still surprised Louis whenever he thought about it. Sebastian was a talented lawyer who had gotten him off... and then promptly turned Louis over to the other Morningstar, to be punished.

"I'm sorry, but I did promise him," Sebastian had said. He had fixed Louis with such an intimate look that Louis was initially repulsed... but then he noticed those beautiful teal eyes with flecks of emerald green, eyes he'd gazed into countless times over the last few months, eyes that lit up in delight when he and Serena made love.

After Serena's husband had managed to instill a sense of guilt in him for the horrid thigs he'd done over the years, he had asked Louis what Louis wanted. The truth had been pulled unwittingly from him-- he wanted to get back together with Serena. Not to harm her, but to date her.

"She has two straight lovers already," her husband had said dismissively, "a vampire she's donor to, and a biker whose club Sebastian represents for free. The vampire had to be ordered to live with us and feed from her regularly after taking off for a month. The biker she had to bribe with drugs to get him to spend time with her and he's been in a stupor for weeks. Neither of them are particularly happy with the fact that she was born male, and it kills her a little more every day either of them neglects to spend time with her."

There it was, the secret to finally killing Serena, told to Louis as freely as anything. He was surprised, even now, that he hadn't wanted to use it. He had wanted-- he still wanted-- to protect her from it. He had expressed as much to her husband, who had welcomed him into the fold.

Now here he lay, with this peculiar, gorgeous, pampered creature in his arms. She wore a red silk negligee that disguised her utter lack of breasts and a pair of matching panties that didn't disguise anything. Unlike her vampire or her biker, Louis didn't require her to remain in chastity in order to be comfortable sleeping with her. He did like her cute little outfits, though, and she beamed contentedly at him as he ran his hands over the soft, smooth fabric of her lingerie.

"I'm glad we got back together," he said warmly.

"I am, too," she murmured, nestling closer to him. "Sigefrid's been tripped out so long, he doesn't even notice anymore when I cuddle him. At least it keeps the nightmares away, but sometimes it's like he's not even my... well, whatever he was. Point is, I quit hooking for him and I was about to get back into it when Luci summoned me for you."

There it was, the needy side her husband and boyfriends gossiped about. She didn't trick for the money; she did it because she was addicted to the validation from getting men off, and Lucifer thought she might as well get paid for it. She was good in bed and had the unique talent of making Louis feel loved. He believed it was because she herself deeply craved love-- and couldn't recognize it when she had it. She was so fragile, so feminine, so easy to mistake for a cis girl, that Louis couldn't comprehend why her other boyfriends left her alone for so long.

He had been shocked to discover he didn't like it when she cried, which she did easily when her feelings were hurt. Hers was a heart accustomed to breaking, and he found he wanted to piece it back together. Maybe it was because she didn't care that he was a killer. Maybe it was because trying to kill her didn't make her cry, but refusing to let her pamper him did. She wanted so badly to be useful. She believed with all her heart that it was her ticket to being loved, but she'd been let down and let go so many times that she'd settle for being used, just as long as it got someone to stay.

He hadn't seen her as needy when he'd first overheard it, but now that he thought about it, she definitely was. In a way, he was, too. He needed power, control, thrills. Those lusts, which repulsed most women, she was highly attracted to. She was happy to submit to him.

Her vampire, Xander, had made the mistake of trying to become a moral person after he and Serena got together, out of a misguided belief that love should redeem a monster. Xander had been upset to learn that Serena had no interest in redemption, and that she saw him defending his human friends from her as a personal attack. Even her own husband, Lucifer, didn't side with her 100% of the time and, while she had consented to renew  her vows with him, she had lost some of her trust in him when he tried to rein her in. Xander thought it should mean something that he'd changed himself for her, but not only had she preferred the monster she fell in love with, Xander had made the mistake of reminding her he was straight and that she was not physically what he had been looking for. After a month of not taking her blood, no less. She claimed she'd forgiven him and was just happy to have him back, but Louis, at least, could tell it still bothered her, especially since Lucifer had had to force Xander to move in with her-- with them.

Sigefrid was an unrepentant killer, and it excited Serena when he had her help him torture people. She had designer drugs made for him, fed him, and doted on him, to the point where she cooked for his entire club because they needed to be strong to serve him. He was the most traditionally masculine of all her lovers, but the downside was that, if he felt any affection at all for her, he only expressed it during sex, and even then it was never in words. She obviously adored him, but was terrified to mention it because she thought he would leave her if she did.

Two of Serena's other lovers were dating each other, which she was okay with, but had married people she hated. She saw that as a betrayal, too, especially since the hatred was clearly mutual.

This meant that, by default, Louis was her current favorite. She loved and trusted him a surprising amount, considering. He didn't like hearing about her other men, but he also wasn't going to stop her from talking about them. It did feel good to be needed, and she needed him to stay with and comfort her.

He pulled her leg up over his hip. "I'm glad you quit," he replied. "I want you in bed with me, not-- what was it?-- ten random guys a night?"

"Eight." She tapped his nose. "On average."

She was so cute, even when talking about a profession Louis found disgusting, that he couldn't help but smile. He wondered, not for the first time, how any man could possibly neglect her. He kissed her, rolling over on top of her, and decided to show her just how glad he was to have her to himself tonight. And, if he was being honest, he also wanted her undivided attention, which she gladly gave him during sex.

Posted on Fanfiction.net as "Roulet's New Lover, chapter 3"

Serena/John ficlet [SOLO]

 Now that Serena took a good look at him, she recognized John from Harvard. They'd gone to many of the same parties after Trent had left. They'd even made out once or twice, but that was as far as it had gotten. And now John was living out in the boonies, she thought derisively. On purpose. Just like Serena's father, a successful accountant who had moved from Palo Alto to Des Moines.

She disguised her judgment with a warm smile as she crawled into John's lap and straddled him. His aura of self-loathing made a lot of sense, now that she thought about it, and she wondered if she could distract him from it. She could certainly try. She pressed a kiss to his lips, one hand gripping his tie, the other sliding into his hair. After a moment's hesitation, John kissed her back, pulling her flush against him with both hands on her ass. She broke the kiss and reflexively started to pull back.

"Hey, now," she murmured. "Don't get too excited. That kiss was free, but I charge $3,200 a night if you're looking for more."

John gave a noise of surprise when he heard her price. "That much? What makes you think you're worth it?" He glanced pointedly at her absolute lack of tits.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't set the price, my husband does."

John rolled his eyes, too, and made a show of throwing up his hands. "A married hooker. This gets better and better. What's next? Wait, don't tell me. You're actually a drag queen," he added sarcastically.

Serena blinked at him. "You can tell?"

John's jaw dropped and he just about pushed her off his lap, but thought better of it and pulled her close again. "I'll repent for this in the morning," he decided. He threw her down in the couch, eliciting a delighted squeal, and kissed her furiously as he put on a condom. 

Now that her 'secret' was out, she was remarkably less picky, like putty in his hands, responsive to every touch, willing to do anything he wanted. She felt good, and while something nagging in the back of his head told him he'd picked her up before, even had a similar sort of conversation with her, he didn't fully recognize her. It wasn't until he was moaning her name in climax that he thought about it.

"Serena... Is that a popular name for girls in your line of work?" he asked breathlessly, as he pulled out and disposed of the condom.

She looked quizzically at him as she tried to discreetly clean herself with a wet nap. "I don't know," she said. "It's not a rare name, why?"

He gazed at her. "I picked up a Serena recently, when I was in California. She was also a pretty blonde drag queen."

She tittered. "Yes, that was me," Serena confirmed. "We've hooked up a few times, actually. I wasn't going to charge you for tonight, by the way. I never did before."

As he got dressed, his expression was a stone wall. That self-hatred was creeping back in again. "Right. I didn't recognize you without those boy toys you're always clinging to."

"And I almost didn't recognize you without a stick in your ass, yet here we are," she retorted.

"Was that an offer?" he shot back sarcastically; he knew Serena didn't like topping. They glared at each other for a moment, then just as quickly as his clothes had gone back on, they came off as the two of them launched themselves at each other.

After their second round, John pulled Serena to snuggle up against him for a few minutes, then decided to push his luck. He ran his hand up her inner thigh, towards where no one was allowed to touch, paying customer or otherwise. She grabbed his wrist before his hand could get too close.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked, his tone mocking. "Don't you want to get off, too?"

She looked at him, conflicted.

"Why not?" John asked. He slowly slid down her body, maintaining eye contact until he slipped his head under her skirt. She squirmed, but didn't stop him this time. She was helpless to his touch, a slave to lust.

That was her sin.

--

They spent some time together after that, reminiscing about Harvard and drugs. Serena was mostly clean; John ...had his moments. He'd been using when he and his brothers had reunited. Serena's earnestness, the ease with which she bubbled forth affection, made him want to go for the pipe again. He wanted to tell her to cut the bullshit; it may be her job to make men feel good, but he wasn't paying her and she didn't need to act like he was someone worth caring about. But every time he so much as insinuated her sweet words and insistent clinginess made him uncomfortable, she looked at him like he'd just slaughtered her grandparents on a whim. He'd never met someone so openly needy, not even Faith. So he let her snuggle up in his lap and tell him how sexy and amazing he was. He began to relax and let her stroke his ego, among other things.

"You're not going to fall in love with me, are you?" he asked at one point, half sarcastically.

She looked at him, surprised, and scoffed. "Sweetie, I don't fall for every guy I fuck," she said bluntly. "I just like to be able to pamper who I'm with at the time."

"You're cuddly for a whore." He didn't know why he felt the need to deflect, to insult her. She didn't care, though. She'd heard worse from her husband's consort.

"And you're charming for a multi-practice lawyer." She meant it sarcastically, but it didn't quite come out that way. She scooted into his lap and draped her arms round his shoulders. "Look, okay, I'm not exactly looking for another boyfriend. You and I have some things in common and I enjoy spending time with you. That's all there is to it."

"Is that why you don't charge me?" he asked, amused.

"Part of it. I'm not in it for the money. I just...." She hesitated. "I feel better, during sex, about life. About the fact that I'm forced to stay alive for my husband's amusement, or whatever it is he gets out of this. Some guys approached us back when I started doing drag and asked if they could, you know.... And Luci joked that they could do whatever they wanted for $300 an hour. Then we ended up increasing it to $400 to send a message to clients after some guys from the varsity football team got a little too...." She grimaced.

"For that high a price, they should be able to do whatever they want," John argued. "It's appalling to me that you think you can make any sort of requests."

"You're missing the point. Money or no money, it's still my body at the end of the day. Neither Luci nor I actually need or care about the money. We just charge because there are people willing to pay, that's all. It adds a barrier to surmount, and thus, intrigue. People like that, for some reason."

"How many guys get to do you for free?" John wanted to know.

"None of your business," Serena responded easily and without rancor. "Would you like to remain one of them?"

Point taken. John shut his mouth and nuzzled into her hair. She relaxed and sighed happily against him. Lying together like this, they could easily be mistaken for a pair of ordinary lovers.

-- 

"Why do you like me?" John asked. Serena regarded him pensively.

"The folk song the choir sings about you, how bold and brave you are, has some truth to it," she said. "Your people like you, don't they?"

John smiled and cupped her cheek. "Why do you, Serena?"

She nuzzled his hand. "We have a lot in common. Both educated at Harvard Law, both need affection like oxygen, both have deep ties to men we idolize who may or may not fully approve of us."

John shifted uncomfortably. She could see it, then, his desperation for his brother's approval?

"Both willing to become anything, no matter how insane it may look, to be indispensable to those men."

John dropped his hand. "We do have a lot in common," he agreed. "I display my sin openly on my body. You, however... yours is somewhere a bit more private."

Serena closed her eyes and wrinkled her brow slightly, letting out a sigh. "You noticed that, huh?"

"It's an intimate place for a tattoo," John said.

"No shit. I was so wasted that week, I don't remember getting it, nor do I know how recovery was. I'm just glad it didn't get infected." Serena took a swig of her green apple vodka, as if to emphasize her point. "I don't even know who did it. Just that they were professional. Didn't take advantage."

John scoffed. "They probably got the hint that you were marking yourself for Trent, considering it's his name you've got there."

Serena scoffed right back. "Yeah. I was saving myself for him. I did save myself for him. But he went back to his college crush, even though she treated him like shit. I married Luci, who treats me better than I deserve." She took another drink. "So, what am I, John? Lust or envy? Which of those are you going to carve into my flesh?"

John didn't want to think about work right now. He pulled her closer, running his fingers through her hair. "I'll flip a coin," he said, a little more cavalier than usual. Serena gave him a long look, then smiled that usual contented smile she had when they were cuddling. He was a few years older than she was, old enough that they had almost missed each other in law school.

As if reading her mind, he asked, "How old are you, anyway?"

Serena thought about scolding him for asking a lady's age, but she knew his rebuttal would be that she wasn't a lady. That wasn't a point she wanted to argue right now, so she answered, "I'll be 34 in September."

"How old are Trent and Nathaniel?"

"Nathaniel... 33 in March. Trent, 33 in May. If you were going to ask, yes, they're the only male lovers who are younger than me."

"Why do you dress and act so young?" John asked, changing tacks. "Since most of your lovers are older than you anyway, why not just act your age?"

"Says the guy who pretends to still be in his mid-20's."

"Better over 18 than under."

Serena blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

"Serena, half your wardrobe is plaid knee skirts, and the other half is pink frilly cutesy crap. It's a little unnerving."

She shook her head. "When were you going to tell me you had such a problem with how I dress? Besides, a lot of guys like the 'pink frilly cutesy crap', as you so charmingly put it."

John frowned. "I just feel like a creep for being so attracted to you when you insist on looking like that."

Serena smiled fondly at him. "Don't overthink it," she said. "After all, we're all sinners, are we not?"

He could practically see her locking away in her brain his admission of attraction to her. He wondered if he'd regret saying so later on.

February 5, 2022 - Xander's Return [SOLO]

 Serena clung to Lucifer, weeping. "I want my vampire," she managed to gasp out between sobs. "I love him so much -- and he just -- he left me! He promised he could never hurt me! He lied, Luci!"

Lucifer held her close and stroked her hair. "Shall I summon him for you?" he asked.

"I'm supposed to be able to summon him," Serena sniffled. "He told me, when we bonded, he would come to me if I was in distress. But he...." Serena trailed off as she realized what Luci was asking. "You want to compel him using your power over your Dominion?"

"I was hesitant at first," Lucifer admitted. "I feared he wouldn't be quite himself, but perhaps, if I command him to be kind to you, you would find that preferable to the hurtful creature he's become?"

Serena nodded and wiped her eyes. "Please," she said softly. She rarely asked anything of her husband, except in bed, but she wanted her vampire, wanted to be fed on, to be needed and treasured.

Luci's eyes glowed that impressive red-orange and, a moment later, Xander was there, kneeling at his feet.

"You summoned me?" he asked.

"I did, for the sake of my wife, your Bonded. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Have you any idea the trauma you've caused her?"

Xander turned to Serena. "I am sorry, my love," he whispered. "I do not know what I was thinking."

Serena threw her arms around him. "Xandy!" she exclaimed. "You're really here! I missed you so much!" Her agony forgotten, she nuzzled him and kissed his cheek.

"I said the most horrid things to you," Xander whispered as he held her. "Would you allow me to take them back?"

"Of course! I'm just happy you're here! You poor thing, you must be starving."

Without another word, he brushed her hair away from her neck and kissed her, then bit into her. The taste of her filled him with pure joy and he moaned as he held her closer yet. She echoed his moans, turned on by his touch and his bite as always. That was all it took for her to forgive him completely.

Yet after he'd drunk his fill, he still saw the need to comfort her and apologize again. "Truly, I should never have made you feel insecure about your gender, nor your darker proclivities, given my own past. You reflected something within me that I was ashamed of."

Snuggled into his embrace, she insisted she didn't mind, not anymore, not now that he was HERE! But she added, "You shouldn't be ashamed of your past. I know you want to be a better man, but as long as you remain by my side, loving me as I love you, needing me as I need you -- as long as you never let me go again, or hate me for being needy--"

"Never," he promised. "You have every right to want me by your side. You are my Singer, my Bonded, my everything."

Tears of joy streamed down her face. "That's all I wanted," she whispered. "Gosh, I've never been so weepy as I have lately. And, Xander, I ... The other men...." She wanted to keep Sigefrid and Trent in her life, but even with them around, she had still deeply missed Xander.

Xander nodded. "Return to me, feed me, and I shall not trouble you about your men." He seemed to understand.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you comfortable sharing a bed with Luci and me?"

Here, he hesitated. He could deny her nothing, yet the power dynamic made him a little uncomfortable. "... I will do so," he said finally, earning a squeal and a kiss. He kissed her back, fervently, finally showing her how deeply he regretted his absence.

"Thank you," she breathed in his ear. "For coming back to me. I, um... I forgive you, but it might take a little while to trust you completely again."

"Understood," he said. He removed his shoes as she and Luci climbed into bed, and he got in and cuddled her to his side. She cooed happily at the coolness of him, as she had the day he had marked her as his own. It didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep in his arms, with Luci snuggled up behind her, protective and loving and oh-so-tender.

She really was the luckiest girl in the world. She and Trent had gotten back together, as had Trent and Nathaniel. Sigefrid had defrosted towards her. Dany flirted with her and called her gorgeous, and every time they met he seemed to want to get closer to her. Luci was so patient and gentle with her; he was surprisingly adept at handling her delicate, oft-fractured heart. And now she had Xander back and he seemed willing to make amends for breaking her heart before. She smiled in her sleep, and Xander purred against her, the low rumbling sound soothing her and helping piece her back together, bit by fragile bit.

Serena x John - Encounter at Lux

After a grueling day of practically doing everybody else's job for them, as was the way at Whitefeather & Associates, Nathaniel was looking for a way to relax and unwind. He received a text message in the group chat with his friends Serena and Trent, asking if he wanted to come out clubbing tonight.

[Might as well], he texted back unenthusiastically. He decided to go out in a suit so he wouldn't have to go home and change and keep his friends waiting.

When he and Trent arrived at Lux, Serena was already waiting for them outside. She scampered up to them and pulled each man in by the hand so they could beat the line. Being the wife of the owner had its perks.

"Hey! I'm so glad you could make it!" she squealed.

"Yeah," said Nathaniel. As they went inside, Nathaniel saw a somewhat-familiar face. "Hey," he said, "isn't that your new friend? The one who called you a weak-minded sinner?"

"John?" Serena said, furrowing her brow. "No, I don't see him." She shrugged. "Let's get something to drink." They pulled up stools and signalled the bartender.

Then she saw him. "Oh, you're right. It is John. Maybe I should go say hi. See if he'll recognize me."

Nathaniel sighed. "We do like to live dangerously," he muttered.

 

First a house party, a big one at that and they'd even had a good-sized pool out back. That had been how John had ended up so practically shit faced to begin with. Once his old colleague had convinced him to settle down, relax a little. A lot had him rather tense and at times John acted as if he had a stick firmly inserted up his ass. Well am entire bottle and a half of champagne later and he'd ended up in the pool making out with two girls who didn't mind his drunken ramblings about his weird brother and court cases or we'll, far worse. Sobering up a bit with a few lines of cocaine he'd them followed his friend Carter to a strip club. Both deciding they needed out and again by the time they'd left John had gotten them almost kicked out and he was practically stumbling. By now it was late and Carter had once last stop he wanted to make. Some club he claimed was a fairly big deal. So agreeing John had eventually ended up there within at one of the bars and for the past thirty minutes had been rather desperately attempting to pick up some very cute black bartender with a big ass. However he may have slipped up and said to much about needing to repent in the morning for what he wanted to do to her. Whatever the case was she'd dipped and probably purposely leaving him standing there listening to Carter sweet talking some blonde.

Staring off at the cup of whiskey for a moment he was currently starting to feel the other shit he'd smoked with Carter twenty minutes ago creep up. Heavily at that and it was a wonder he wasn't seeing stars by this point. Moving to hop off the barstool finally he decided he needed some fresh air when he started for the door. Maybe something new to try and get back to the hotel with him to. In fact as he was walking he damn near ran right into the blonde and for a moment he looked a bit shocked. DAMN! She was hot! Little tall but… "My apologies gorgeous I… Well I should probably look where I'm going in this place. Or sit down" He remarked actually sniggering a bit drunkenly.

 

"Easy there," Serena said, taking hold of John's arm and leading him to a couch where they could sit down together. Tonight she hadn't been set to perform, so instead of her usual white prom dress, she was dressed somewhat casually in a black leather skirt, matching over-the-knee boots, and a silver halter top. A clutch was slung over one shoulder.

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and downed both his drink and Serena's as she walked off with John. Typical. Whenever they went anywhere together, she ended up picking up some guy and spending the night with him. And this guy talked like some kind of fundie. He'd probably try to burn Serena at the stake if he found out what she was.

Trent watched them with a critical look in his eye. Though he had allowed himself to fade mostly into the background of their conversation, he had not liked John or Jacob at all. Serena had made it clear to Trent that she could handle herself, but he couldn't help but be protective.

"Are you okay?" Serena asked John now, cupping his face. "You look a little rough."

 

Well, that hadn't been hard. In fact John hardly had to try at all. Eyeing the rather tall female a smirk crossed his face as they soon came to sit on the sofa. "You look familiar, have we met?" He suddenly asked as he eyed her. Maybe he was just tripping, however. How could he know her? This was fucking L.A! She likely just looked like someone else he'd seen a lot of and thus he quickly decided not to put too much concern into the matter if that was the case.

"Rough? Oh darling I may be a bit drunk but I would not consider this the roughest I've ever looked" He slurred in response with a bit of a cheeky grin plastered on his face. "You on the other hand. They let Angels just walk around now?" He flirted all to easily as he leaned forward where he sat head cocking a bit to the side as he looked at her.

 

"Maybe we have, maybe we haven't," Serena said. She knew very well that fit, long-haired blondes were a dime a dozen in this city, especially since that happened to be Lucifer's exact type.

She thumbed his cheek with a little giggle. "Drunk, probably high… Good to know you've got a strong constitution, though," she murmured.

She giggled again. "Funny you should say that," she said; the club was owned by an angel. "Short answer: Yes. And what about you? Come here often?"

 

A faint smile on John’s face as she moved to touch his cheek he merely let his eyes wander over her features for a moment before what she'd asked finally seemed to register. "Here? No actually. I'm from out of town. Thought I'd grace this wonderful establishment with my presence before I leave tomorrow" He told her lightly chuckling as he moved to slowly sit back a bit of a dizzy waive threatening to wash over him. He'd really outdone himself this time most likely. The drive tomorrow wasn't going to be fun and he actually didn't doubt Jacob would have to get them as far as he could back in the direction of home.

 

"Mm, I'm glad you find it so wonderful. You know… since you're leaving tomorrow," Serena said, scooting a little closer to him, "maybe we can have some fun before you go."

 

As she scooted closer John moved his arm over her shoulders and cracked a rather sweet smile. "Oh yeah? Whatcha got in mind darlin?" He whispered softly purposely playing along despite what was obviously happening. Even going as far as moving in rather close. She smelt phenomenal and those lips. Already images were going through his head and rather freely at that.

 

Serena giggled and slid him a cocktail napkin with her name and price. "There are rooms here, or we can go somewhere more private," she whispered, biting her bottom lip as if she was shy.

 

Glancing at what she had handed him, well of course and John wasn't very shocked. He'd already pegged a couple earlier. A faint smile crossed his face as he balled the napkin up into his hand and let his eyes move back hers. "Here is fine beautiful" He replied without even much thought at all. His hand reach to gently brush some of her thick blonde hair behind her ear.

 

Serena looked around for a moment. Did he mean here, on the couch? She could get away with it, being who she was to the owner. Hell, why not? She climbed into his lap and, taking his face between her hands, kissed him aggressively.

 

Moving to grasp her hips as she hopped on John at first looked a little shocked but well also wouldn't exactly be his first time in this position. Lips meeting hers right back as she kissed him he let out a purr against her kiss lightly nipping at her bottom lip.

 

Ooh, he purred! That was absolutely delightful, Serena thought, tangling her fingers in his hair. She nipped at him right back, then tapped his nose.

"I like it in the ass, from behind," she whispered, a little smirk on her lips as she broke the kiss. "What say you?"

 

Letting out a soft moan as her teeth found John’s lip and her fingers found his hair his hands had already slid around to grasp at her ass pushing her down on top of himself more when she'd spoke. Light blue hues meeting hers he cracked a bit of a smirk. Damn, for that much money she wanted to make requests? However he decided rather quickly it wasn't worth complaining and he really didn't care. "Whatever you want baby girl" he purred back. One hand gently moving to brush a finger along her jawline as he spoke.

 

"Ooh, on second thought," Serena breathed. "This works for me if it works for you. Do you have protection?" she asked. She could somewhat guess his thoughts from his expression - it was a relatively common complaint.

 

Indecisive much? For a moment John merely blinked a bit drunkenly and then slowly nodded. "Is in my wallet" He told her before actually starting to snicker a bit drunkenly. "Scoot off for a second darlin gotta get it from under my ass" he mused hands moving to slightly move her enough to the side and towards the couch his hand could reach and fumble for his wallet from his back pocket.

 

Serena giggled and allowed herself to be moved. "Cute, you keep it in your wallet," she remarked. She took her purse off and hid it under one of the cushions, then subtly adjusted the back strap on her leather chastity so he could go in easy. Then she sat on her knees and watched him expectantly.

 

"Where else would I keep it?" John slightly slurred in response not really seeing how that was even worth noting. Moving to open the leather wallet he soon pulled it out and moved towards her again. Nuzzling at her cheek before gently nipping at her lower jaw. At this point he merely tossed the wallet behind him on the sofa and moved to a hand to the other side of her cheek and head.

 

That wasn't a question worth dignifying with a response. Wallet friction could cause a condom to become less useful… that is, if Serena cared in the first place, which she didn't. She smiled as he nuzzled her; even if this was purely transactional, she had felt starved for affection and this little bit felt good. She leaned her cheek into his hand with a soft sound of pleasure.

 

Moving to nip down to her neck John bit a little harder and his hand now moved from her check to her legs. Slowly brushing his fingers along her inner thigh he slowly moved to make his way up for her crotch. Other hand holding himself up on as he leaned in close he was borderline close to just pushing her back onto the sofa yet taking his time at this point. Simply enjoying playing with her.

 

Serena grabbed his wrist before he could touch her crotch. "H-hey," she protested, squirming slightly. "…well, there's probably something I should tell you. Most people, most regulars, already know this, but since it's your very first time… I— uh—" She blushed furiously. This wasn't something she normally disclosed, but this guy looked absolutely shitfaced at this point - what was the worst he could do?

 

Stopping as she grabbed his wrist John at first shot her an annoyed look but then as she started speaking he just looked confused. "What is it baby?" He whispered softly his hand instead moving to gently take her wrist back gently. His thumb brushing across it as he leaned in to nuzzle her trying to be comforting. It couldn't be THAT bad right? Well not as bad as her almost wanting to choose how things were done despite him paying her.

 

Serena took a breath, blushing deeply. This wasn't something she was in the habit of disclosing, but since it was Lux, she couldn't have her husband's reputation tarnished by association by not saying something, right?

"… I'm a drag queen. That's not a problem for you, is it?" she asked, her eyes averted from his.

 

John took a moment to process what she was saying. Ok so maybe there were worse things but mainly because she probably should have mentioned that. At some point…. Before now. After a moment however he began to chuckle and slowly shook his head. "Not at all actually. But maybe next time figure out a way to spice it in while flirting. Fairly sure a straight man would be pretty pissed" He whispered a bit teasingly at her as moved to lean in a bit close again gently nipping at her neck again to try and help relax her.

 

Serena gave a self-conscious little chuckle. "Yeah, I normally don't tell people," she admitted, "and, yes, I've had a couple straighties get mad at me. The ones who found out, anyway. I'm still trying to work out how flirting works." Her hand went up to his hair as he bit her, and she did indeed relax instantly, relieved. This could have gone worse, for sure.