June 14, 2022 | Xander x Serena [SOLO]

 It was slow going, but Serena was healing. Xander had taken the initiative to make love to her regularly since their fight. Admittedly, her body did take some getting used to for him, but she preferred keeping at least a skirt and teddy on. He was surprised to find that, from the moment he made it clear he intended to make love to her, pure euphoria washed over and through Serena, burning away every painful emotion and lasting until hours after they'd both finished. He knew she loved sex and was uncomfortably privy to how she felt with others due to the nature of their bond. He had never known her to feel like this.

With clients-- when she felt lonely and went back to selling her body-- she got high off the feeling of being desired, but it was fleeting, and she had never actually gotten off with any of them. Xander still could not comprehend why she felt the need to be so promiscuous, nor why sex was so important to her. With her actual lovers, she was tender and adoring, at least with the men. She trusted Lucifer with her life. With Sigefrid and Louis, she was frequently overflowing with adrenaline. She still carried a torch for Trent, but since sleeping with him also necessitated sleeping with his wife, she was somewhat less than enthused anymore.

When she was with Xander, she was tender and adoring, cautious with her heart but trusting him entirely with their kinks, adrenaline-charged, passionate, and above all, joyful. He was beginning to understand the magnitude of her devastation when he had been away. Every time they made love, she healed a little more, trusted him a little more. She was as clingy as ever, but she was easier to be around and feed from.

It became a sort of ritual for them. He fed from her, which turned her on, and he now allowed himself to grow aroused, too. He teased her while he fed; she melted against him and teased him in return. When he'd had his fill of her blood, she pleasured him with her mouth. They would make love for hours. she would wrap her arms and legs around him:

"Xandy, I love you so much."

Since it was clear Serena thought of her Xandy as a second husband, Luci was strict in his standards for how the vampire treated her. Making her cry or making her feel insecure in any way would lead to a diet of animal blood and loss of his vampiric powers until he made up with her. It was a harsh punishment, but considering Luci had the power to send him to Hell or destroy him entirely, Xander had no choice but to watch his step. Serena herself was unwilling to make Xander suffer and would do everything she could to show him where she was coming from before it got to that point.

For someone so sadistic and antipathetic towards most, it was shocking to see how kind and forgiving she was towards her lovers. Luci had stalked her since she was 17 and kidnapped her to watch her sleep on multiple occasions. Trent had taken advantage of her feelings for him and broken her heart more than once. Sigefrid, Louis, and Nathaniel had all tried to kill her. Dany, was one of her official lovers, and Haesten, who was not, had both forced their way with her. Yet she'd forgiven all of them, or at least, needed their love too much to give them up. Xander deeply wished she would let go of the others and belong to Luci and him alone. He outright despised Sigefrid, Dany, and Louis. But as much as Serena wanted to forgive him, she didn't fully trust him yet.

(Note: The incident with Haesten is a solo I started but then got distracted before I finished. I'll put it up eventually.)

June 4, 2022 | Xander x Serena [SOLO]

Note: This was a little exercise I did to explore how I thought it would be if Xander was forced to feel everything Serena felt. She also gets a hell of a lot of angst out here. TW violence. Also, this is not meant to be guilt-slinging in any way. It's just what Serena was going through mentally at the time and I had to get it all out.

 Xander hated it when Serena insisted on cuddling him close while her husband made love to her, but he put up with it because he would rather be her emotional teddy bear than be nothing to her. Being around her was torture; she refused to acknowledge the pain and anger she still felt from their fight months ago. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't convince herself fully that she'd forgiven him. Yet she clung to him with all her might, pleading with her eyes for him to embrace her. And he did, because underneath her unacknowledged resentment, he could feel the strength of her love for him.

She was taking some time away from the club. Sigefrid was riding out more frequently now, and Serena, terrified that he'd met someone else, had fled without a word the night before his last trip. The relief her presence provided from his chronic pain was stronger than any opiate, and his resistance to pain had diminished considerably while she had been living with him. His dependence on her always brought him back. It had been enough, at first. She hadn't minded being used as long as she got to be in his life and warm his bed. But her jealousy toward other women had led to her shooting a crow-eater who'd been making eyes at him, and her trigger-happy demeanor was unsettling for the others in the club.

She was grateful Lucifer didn't feel the same murderous hatred towards her other men. Xander, on the other hand, was extremely jealous and possessive, and he'd made it clear he didn't like Sigefrid or Louis. He wanted to keep her here, with Lucifer and himself, for as long as possible. So, he endured her clinginess and refusal to go anywhere without both of them. She had stopped asking Xander to make love to her. He could sense that she still wanted to, that she craved him inside of her, but she would always withdraw rather than ask him for such a favor. Maze hadn't touched him in months, either. Whether in some twisted female solidarity, lack of interest, or by Lucifer's command, he didn't know.

Her once-bright teal eyes had dimmed to a shade of grey, and while she still didn't get sick, it was taking her longer to heal herself lately. Xander could feel her emotions as strongly as ever. She was angry and depressed, punctuated with bouts of sudden euphoria. Being reminded how loved she really was-- something she could never remember on her own-- brought her the purest joy, and it was in those times Xander preferred to feed on her. The feedings also made her happy, and turned her on, though of course she never mentioned that anymore.

She needed his embrace and his bite. He needed her to be happy. He swore he would do anything to put the light back in her eyes.

It all came to a head one day in June. Serena walked in on Nathaniel trying to kiss Xander and lost her composure completely. She grabbed a softball bat from the closet, shoved Nathaniel away, and cracked Nathaniel across the face with the bat, screaming obscenities at him.

Then she rounded on Xander.

"And you." There was light in her eyes, but not the kind he'd wanted to see.

"I was about to stop him--"

"Don't give me that bullshit, Xander! You think I don't remember how you reacted to Nathaniel and Trent's little pole-dancing session back in September? Oh--oh--speaking of Trent! You slept with my best friend, who's very clearly a man, and you enjoyed it, and then you have the gall to tell me months later that the idea of sleeping with a man makes you sick! You're the reason I have dysphoria now, you insensitive son of a bitch!" Tears were streaming down her face by now, her voice was cracking and she was having trouble keeping it modulated, but none of that mattered. She was finally getting it all out.

"I apologized for that when I came back," Xander reminded her, "when Luci summoned me, and you said you forgave me." His voice was calm, without accusation.

As quickly as her rage had come on, it dissipated, leaving her crying and shaking her head. "I thought I had. But you'd threatened to break up with me, and before that, you left me all alone for a month. I don't care why you left, Xander, you were gone!" Her temper flared again. "And the sense of purpose I got from feeding you, that feeling of being special, that was gone, too! I missed you every single day that you were gone, and when you came back, you refused to feed because I wasn't happy enough for you! I'm your Singer, Xander! That's why we bonded, or did you 'forget' that, too? Come to think of it, what the hell were you eating while you were gone?" Though she didn't say it, the look in her eyes and the jealousy surging through her told Xander she feared he'd cheated on her with the groupie chicks who hung round the museum at night.

"Animal blood, from the butcher shop. It did not satisfy me as yours does, but I have told you, I can taste your emotions. I can feel them, too. It is... painful to--"

"You think it's painful, feeling what I feel secondhand through our bond? Try fucking living with it 24/7!" Serena shouted. She looked like she wanted to hit him with the bat, too. "You--" She gave a loud, frustrated sigh and dropped the bat. "Empathy is nothing next to compassion," she said in a more measured voice. "You flinch when I feel pain, but you don't try to take it away. You just scold me for feeling it. And when I push it down and try to be okay, somehow that's worse. I love you so much! You're so intent on avoiding the pain I feel that you push me away and make it worse, and that, I don't love." She shook her head miserably. "Do you really comprehend how shocking it was when you suggested we break up? Why the goddamn hell would you ever think that was something I would-- I couldn't survive that! I can't--"

She broke down completely, unable to speak. Xander hesitated, but put his arms around her after a moment. She melted into his touch and a sense of relief coursed through them both. He let her cry for a couple of minutes, then spoke.

"I did not think you were as enamored with me as you had once been."

She lifted her head, confused. "What?"

He sighed. "If you loved and needed me so much, why chase after other men? I felt... inadequate." He hated to admit it, but it was true. "I can accept your history with Trent and your attachment to Lucifer. I can even tolerate you sleeping with Maze and Rebecca, to a degree-- don't look so surprised, of course I knew-- but those ruffians, and that criminal who looks like you... I am sorry, but I cannot understand why you would want or need them when you have us."

She ducked her head again, reluctant to answer. He could guess what she was about to say, and he dreaded it, but this was a discussion they had to have if they were going to move forward in any way.

"Because," Serena said softly, almost in a whisper, "they desired me. You, Xander, you were only interested in me after you tasted me, and even then, you pushed me away at first. Sometimes you treat me like something you have to put up with to get fed, and that's when you're not treating feeding like a chore in the first place. Sigefrid flirted with me and, okay, yeah, he was pissed when he found out about my body, but he actually acted like he needed me once we got past that hurdle."

"You mean, after you stabbed him, stalked him, and plied him with drugs," Nathaniel put in from the couch, holding ice to his cheek.

Ignoring that, Serena continued, "And Louis, he--"

"Broke into your house, beat you, fucked you at knifepoint, and tried to stab you to death," Nathaniel finished. "Honestly, Xander has a point. And you never would have met either of them if you hadn't gone back to hooking."

Serena frowned at Nathaniel. "Buglet, I wouldn't have had to go back to hooking if Xandy hadn't gone away. I'm surprised you didn't start, given how upset you were about George."

Xandy. That was a good sign. She was back to using her pet name for him.

She turned back to face him. "I can't be left alone, Xandy. I just can't. I can't handle it. And before you say I have Luci-- yes, I do, and normally that would have helped, but he was sleeping with Nathaniel at the time, and Nate needed him. So I fell back on what I'm good at, something to fill the void, pun intended--"

Nathaniel laughed despite himself.

"--and, well, you know. But sweetie, I never meant to make you feel like you weren't enough. I love you, and I am so, so sorry that I hurt you." She wet her lips nervously. "But... I also can't give them up. What if something happens and you're gone again? And what if Luci's busy at the same time-- I can't deal with that alone. I also don't want to fight anymore and I don't want to be mad. I want us to be happy together."

Xander sighed. "I want that, too. Despite what you may think, I love you, too. I never stopped. Even at my angriest, I could never stop loving you."

Serena's smile and the color returning to her eyes told him that he had finally said the right thing, and that the happiness lighting her up from the inside was pure and true.

May 1, 2022 | Sebastian x Rebecca - story fragment [SOLO]

CW: Discussion of noncon.

 Rebecca went looking for Serena at the MC. As it happened, Sebastian was there quietly discussing legal matters with Sigefrid and two men Rebecca couldn't place, though another girl was there clinging to them both by the arm.

"Bash, could I talk to you for a second?" Rebecca asked. A large man made a crude remark and swatted at her ass; she whirled on him with a glare.

"Easy, Haesten," Sebastian said, sounding bored, as if he dealt with those antics from Haesten all the time.

"Why?" Haesten asked mockingly. "Is she your woman?" Raucous laughter broke out at that. Sebastian smirked and clapped a hand on Haesten's shoulder.

"She's my best friend's wife," he said casually. "She wouldn't want you to take a turn with her."

Haesten's eyes went flinty. "I do not care what she would want," he said. "Sigefrid's and Erik's women parade themselves and none of us may touch them, but a pretty girl who comes so willingly into our den--"

"Is it not enough for you that you've taken Skade?" an older man demanded from his seat on one of the couches.

"If you'd like to form a line and each take a number," Sebastian quipped.

"What?!" Rebecca screeched.

"Since you brought her here, you should take the first turn. I'm feeling generous today." Laughter broke out again at Haesten's words.

"Good to know you'd be content with my sloppy seconds," Sebastian drawled, "but seriously, she's not on the menu."

Rebecca rolled her eyes. She'd been wondering if Sebastian would say anything useful. He turned his attention back to Sigefrid and resumed their discussion. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently until Sebastian scowled back over at her.

"If you'd like me to change my mind and ask these strapping gentlemen to keep you occupied--"

"Where's Trent?" she demanded, impatiently waving away his threat.

"Trent has been banned from this clubhouse for months," one of the men beside Sigefrid said in a high, somewhat nasally voice. The girl clinging to him nodded.

"He threatened Erik," she added.

"I know that, but I thought Bash would know where he is," Rebecca said.

The other man Erik's girlfriend was clinging to spoke up. "How did you know our lawyer would be here?"

Rebecca stammered awkwardly for a moment. Sebastian would kill her if she outed him, but she was terrible at coming up with plausible excuses on the spot. Sebastian himself seemed greatly entertained, crossing his arms and leaning against Sigefrid with a cool smirk, until Haesten spoke up.

"Look, she does not know what to say. Do you know what I think? She came into this clubhouse under a flimsy pretext, hoping to get some action." He advanced on her, but Sebastian took her by the arm and led her out.

"Off the menu, I said," he called back as they were leaving. He dragged her to his car and shoved her roughly into the passenger side, then got in.

"Seriously. What the hell?" he asked as he peeled out of the parking lot.

"I keep forgetting you're stronger than you look," she breathed distractedly. He frowned, but kept his eyes on the road.

"Haesten's right, you shouldn't have gone looking for me there. You couldn't have sent a text? Rebecca, I know you lack common sense at the best of times, but those guys are bad news."

"You hang out there all the time," she muttered, "in drag. You don't seem too threatened. Why should I be? And that other girl--"

"Allya and I-- Allya and Serena-- are under the protection of the vice president and the president. Some random chick walks in there, looking the way you look, and they'll use any excuse to tie her up and gangbang her. Unless you're into that, send a fucking text next time. And no, for the record, I don't know where your husband is. He showed up at Xandy's and my hotel room last week and I sent him away."

Rebecca scoffed. "You sent away Trent? The guy you've been obsessing over since you were in grade school? I don't believe it."

Sebastian's normally pouty lips went into a hard, straight line. Rebecca tried to open the discussion a few more times, but he ignored her until they got to her house.

"Get the hell out of my car," he said. She didn't. He turned to face her, teal eyes narrowed in anger. "Unless you want me to drive you back there and make a gift of you to Haesten--"

Without thinking, she launched herself at him. Grasping his face in her hands, she kissed him aggressively and made her way into his lap. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered if he was going to shove her away, hit her, or make good on his threat. Excitement pooled below her waist as the thought crossed her mind. Haesten wasn't a terrible-looking guy, and some of the others, with their long hair and muscular bodies, she wouldn't mind being railed by a few of them. Her face flushed as her imagination took over, and it took a good few minutes for her to realize she was still making out with her husband's ex-boyfriend, who hadn't done a thing to stop her. She pulled back, bit her lip, and looked up at him through her lashes. He rolled his eyes at her, opened the car door, and more-or-less gently nudged her off his lap onto the pavement.

"You could keep me company until he gets back," she husked, trying her damnedest to sound seductive. "And then... maybe we could share him."

Sebastian's lips parted. He'd been the one to break things off with Trent, but he clearly still loved the man, and he wasn't prideful enough to deny an opportunity to hook up with Trent with Rebecca's blessing. Besides, she could clearly see he was aroused. He might hate her, but he'd made it clear on multiple occasions that he found her attractive despite his constant digs at her body.

He ended up following her inside and feigning disinterest as she removed both their clothes. He allowed himself to be led to the bedroom and pressed onto the bed. He scooted up into a seated position by the head of the bed, his expression neutral as she situated herself, impaled on him with her legs wrapped around his waist. It wasn't the first or even the fourth time they'd hooked up, although it had never been just the two of them before. She was vocal as she rode him, running her hands through his curly blond hair, pressing her massive chest against him as though she expected him to appreciate it. He allowed her to use his body to get herself off, only reacting when she gushed all over his lap: He closed his eyes and tilted his head back with a faint smile.

Afterwards, when she was cleaning them off, she grimaced at him. "Hey," she began. "I'm sorry about before. I think I might have peed on you a little."

To her surprise, his cheeks colored faintly as he waved off her apology.

"It's fine," he said.

She looked at him quizzically. His blush deepened and he refused to meet her gaze.

"Sebastian? Are you... into that?" she asked. "It's okay if you are. I'm into some weird things too."

Sebastian huffed, got up, and left the room. When she padded out a few minutes later, he was dressed and watching a Mandarin drama on Netflix. She settled on the couch next to him, nestling in against him, and he put an arm around her automatically.

"We can make this a regular thing, if you want," he said between episodes, "but I am beyond uncomfortable discussing my kinks with you."

"That's not fair," Rebecca protested, pausing the show. "You and Trent stalked me and spied on me for years. You know all of my kinks. Why can't I know one or two of yours?"

"You do know one or two of mine," Sebastian gritted out through clenched teeth. "You know I like getting fucked in drag, and you know I have a thing for knives, both of which are evident from my relationship with Sigefrid." His expression softened into a fond smile for a moment, then his brow creased and he pulled out his phone. "Crap. I should tell him I'm here. Likewise, you need to tell Trent what just happened."

"What? Why me?"

"At the risk of sounding five, because you started it."

"You don't sound five." At Sebastian's disbelieving look, Rebecca shook her head and grinned. "no. Because if you did, I couldn't point out that... you didn't finish."

Sebastian blushed again. "Mind your own business," he groused. She laughed and straddled his lap again.

"Getting you off is my business," she purred in his ear. He shoved her off his lap with one hand and, when she looked up at him from the floor, there was as clear expression of annoyance on his face.

"Let's clear something up." There was a cold note in his normally warm and sweet baritone. "I jacked off watching footage of you in college, and then later when you slept with Trent. I've had group sex with you multiple times and, yeah, if those guys in the club had forced their way, I wouldn't have had a problem participating. But I have never once had an orgasm because of you, and I never will. Oh, don't give me that kicked-puppy look. I don't cum that often. I spend 90% of my sex life in chastity, so."

"Are you kidding me?" Rebecca snapped, sitting back on the couch and glaring at him. "You got 30 girls pregnant, Sebastian!"

"Which was clearly a prank from one of my in-laws," Sebastian retorted. "Oh, tee-hee, let's mess with the succubus. Have 'em knock up a bunch of chicks! Hilarious!" He threw up his hands angrily.

"Okay, but--"

"Listen." He steamrolled over her protests. "There is no way in hell I would ever get off from you consensually banging me."

Rebecca's eyes widened in horror as the implication sank in. He gave an ironic chuckle, seeming satisfied that she got the message.

"Don't look so surprised. You know I hate you." His voice was warm again, laconic. "I have no problem hooking up with you as much as you want. Be as good or bad in bed as you want, it doesn't matter to me. You won't get me off either way." He shrugged for emphasis. "And don't worry, I won't do the other thing unless you really piss me off."

She shivered. That was a pretty low bar to set. But she also didn't fully believe she couldn't get him off if she really tried. She scooted up next to him on the couch and rested her hand on his thigh. His eyebrows rose, but he otherwise ignored her, even when she pulled his arm around her.

"Hey, isn't that the actor Faustus likes?" she asked, nodding to the screen as she hit play.

"Vanness Wu," Sebastian nodded. "Yep."

"He is kind of cute."

Sebastian grunted in the affirmative.

"Fine," said Rebecca after a moment. "I'll text him."

A few episodes later, they were a tangle of limbs on the living room floor. Rebecca was exhausted and frustrated. She'd done everything she could think of, used every last ounce of her skill, and failed to evoke the desired response from Sebastian. He, meanwhile, was able to play her body like a fiddle with seemingly very little effort. For a guy who wasn't too enthused about sleeping with women, he had a shockingly good grasp of how to please them. Maybe Trent had shared some of his sex books with his friend, or maybe his skill came from spying on her in bed for over a decade.

"I hate you, so much," she panted now, nestling closer to him even as she said so.

"Good," he replied indifferently, like he hadn't been vigorously pounding into her and thumbing her clit five minutes ago.

"See, I don't get it," she said, propping herself up on one elbow as she regarded him appraisingly. "You have this cold, calculating act. You claim I couldn't get you off unless you were raping me. But when we're actually doing it, I can tell you're enjoying it. The way you look at me, the way you touch me, it doesn't feel like you hate me at all."

He rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "Rebecca, the first person I ever loved abandoned me to chase after a relationship with you, multiple times," he explained patiently. "Of course I hate you. You take him completely for granted and then get mad when he shows a mind of his own instead of doing your bidding. For twelve years, you kept forgetting he existed until you wanted something from him, then got a bug up your ass when he had needs of his own. Nathaniel and I broke up with him because of drama you kept causing. But on the flip side, Trent's fascination with you was contagious. I want to know what the hell is so special bout you that the man I protected and loved for over 20 years could forget about me so easily. I don't want to think he's just out of his fucking mind, but personally, I can't think of any other reason he'd like you." Sebastian's voice was shaking as he ranted at her.

She scoffed, trying to hide how much his words hurt. "Okay. Wow. But that doesn't mean anything. You don't even like girls."

"Wrong," said Sebastian. "My first celebrity crush was Sandra Bullock. I sleep with Maze... semi-regularly, it used to be more often, but whatever. I have no problem bedding girls. You, however, I despise. I want to make that very clear to you."

Rebecca's hazel eyes narrowed. "Do you-- with Maze-- does she, you know?"

He stared at her until she completed her thought.

"Does she make you... you know, finish?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes yet again and huffed. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes. Rarely, but it happens. And yes, when it's just her and me," he added.

Rebecca nodded slowly, eyes wide. "Wowww," she intoned. Then she smirked. "I'll make you enjoy it with me. You'll see. Challenge accepted."

April 23, 2022 | Lazy feel-better fic - Serena x club [SOLO]

This was actually written March 9th, but takes place in April, so it's marked for April. I figure the last woman to realize she was pregnant would have caught on round the end of March, so a week from the end of April seemed appropriate.

Serena was taking care of Sigefrid's club, who had fallen ill around the same time. Despite some of the men's dislike of her clingy, needy personality, the fact that she couldn't get sick was her saving grace. She cooked, kept the safehouse clean, and did the men's laundry in ordinary circumstances. Now she was feeding them soup with fresh meat and vegetables, practically by the gallon. She had added sponge-bathing them to her list of duties and was doing their laundry far more frequently, with the help of her husband's consort, Faustus, who stepped in with magic when tasks got overwhelming. Faustus had warmed significantly toward Serena since she'd cleared him to sleep with Lucifer, not that Serena had been the one holding him back in the first place.

Serena had taken it upon herself to take care of all the men across three charters. But she paid special attention to the president, Sigefrid, who was her lover. And she may have also shown preferential treatment towards her friends Dagfinn (technically Sebastian's friend) and Dany (whom Serena had been attracted to before she'd met Sigefrid). She would have been preferential towards Bloodhair as well, but she was still sore with him for being unkind to her on his ex's behalf. But that was not to say she treated any of the boys poorly. She showed her deep adoration for Sigefrid by taking her caregiving role seriously. She'd come to see Sigefrid's men as an extension of him: All must be kept safe, fed, and clean, in as close to fighting shape as possible. Serena would get her own men-- extensions of herself-- to help, but they had their hands full taking care of the 30 mothers of Sebastian's burgeoning young. Adding a group of flu-stricken bikers to the list of people they needed to help would have been asking too much.

The women had begun to see each other as a community. Living in the same complex helped. Those who had shared Sebastian with the same lover were closest as they lived side-by-side and had that lover as a caretaker. Luci, of course, had declined caretaking duties and sent Xander-- who had not participated in any of those threesomes-- in his place. As the women grew closer, the strong better able to take care of those with more complications, it took weight off the shoulders of those assigned to see to them. Replacing that weight with yet more of Serena's... whatever they were was, again, too much even for Serena to ask.

Yet most of her partners loved Serena enough to help her take care of the bikers anyway. Nathaniel made vitamin-rich smoothies. Trent had the scarves Sebastian had made for him over the years sewn into blankets. Helena persuaded Freya to provide herbal remedies to ease the bikers' symptoms. Freya was with child herself; Faustus was responsible for taking care of her along with his own share of Sebastian's flings. He called upon his friend Dorian to help with his share, though, and Dorian did feel some measure of responsibility towards Freya.

Luci had been asked to cure the bikers' flu. He'd flatly refused, since Serena already over-used the healing ability he'd given her via the feather implanted along her spine. Serena disliked asking him for favors, and he disliked turning them down, yet his siblings had begun to grumble about Serena's use of divinity that did not rightfully belong to her. He was, he explained, protecting her. She didn't like the situation, but she accepted it. So Luci helped by keeping liquor and medicine stocked.

Trent had used to take care of Sebastian back when they were boys together, back when Sebastian could still get sick. Trent was patient, nurturing, and sweet-natured. He had once volunteered to take care of all 30 of the women who'd fallen pregnant. He had amazing fortitude for a regular human, and these qualities made him lovable. Yet Trent had once threatened Erik because he didn't like how some of the bikers were treating Serena, and was subsequently banned from their safehouse. He was in no great hurry to help the club, but he'd do just about anything for Serena.

Serena convinced Dany and Sigefrid to share a bed and let her snuggle up between them. She knew they both suffered from night terrors. When she felt alone, so did she. This way, the three of them kept each other comforted.

The boys were a little on-edge when Xander came around. They refused to invite him in, so Serena met him outside for feedings. Sometimes he held her a little longer than strictly necessary-- making up for lost time-- and she never complained. She loved him just as much as she loved Sigefrid. She remembered back when she and Xander had met. They hadn't gotten along at first. They'd each called the other out on the loneliness that drove their unpleasant habits. But they'd come to feel affection for each other over time, and the moment Serena's blood had touched Xander's lips, it was clear she'd been born to feed him, to love him, to be his human forever. He was possessive of her, and he and Sigefrid were mutually jealous of each other, but there was a tense sort of understanding between them.

With so many people to love and care for, Serena sometimes felt she had the world on a string. She loved having men to pamper and snuggle with. So what if she was a needy mess? She was unendingly giving, and she'd do anything for those she loved. The lucky ones would see that and appreciate her loyalty, clinginess or no. Those lucky ones would have her love and the benefits that came with it for the rest of their lives.

April 3, 2022 - Post-divorce [SOLO]

Note: This was written in March, but takes place in April.

 

A couple of months after the Blackwoods' divorce, Blaine Menchineel awoke to a knock at the office door. He had been sifting through the paperwork Fr. Blackwood had so considerately left him when moving across the damned country. Wearily, Blaine sat up and stretched. The knock sounded again, more insistently. Blaine stood and strode to the door. He threw it open with a look of annoyance, which softened as he saw who was standing on the other side of it.

"Lady— er, Freya!" he exclaimed, not bothering to hide his surprise. "What brings you here?"

"I have news," she said. "News my ex-husband will want to hear. What are you doing in his office, Blaine?"

"Eh, about that." Blaine scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you when we met, but I was transferred here to train as Blackwood's replacement. Antipope D'August recommended me."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Then you're…?"

"Father Menchineel, yes. Ehm, what is this news you bring?"

She opened and closed her mouth, then opened it again and said, "Nothing of concern to this branch of the church. It's a personal matter between Faustus and I." She blushed, hoping that didn't sound too rude.

"He and Dorian have moved already," Blaine said reluctantly. She balked at the pity in his gaze. "He's put the plans for the new church on hold for the time being, as you were disinclined to accompany him. He… ehm… he's been declared a consort of his friend, the club owner."

Freya could feel the emotions swirling around inside her, bringing her to a state of teeth-chattering dizziness. "You mean Luci," she said. "And his husband— wife— whatever, approved this?"

"If there've been any protestations, I've heard nothing of it."

"You would have," Freya said darkly. "Bash isn't the type to handle replacement gracefully." The air around her crackled dangerously. "Even if he isn't being replaced. You would have heard something," she insisted. A flame burst forth from her, dissipating just before it reached the paperwork on Blaine's fine mahogany desk.

"Shall we take this conversation outside?" he offered. "Conjure you up some tea, perhaps?"

She agreed to follow him outside, but declined the tea. "I can't risk it. Certain herbs— the baby—" She clapped both hands over her mouth, blushing furiously.

Blaine said nothing, but silently conjured a quill and piece of parchment. He wrote a short note and sent it off with a wave of his hand. Within moments, Faustus materialized, frilled shirt pulled out of smart grey slacks, hair uncoiffed. When he saw his ex-wife, he straightened up a bit.

"Freya." His voice carried the barest hint of astonishment. "Yes, Father Menchineel said you need to see me. What for?"

At the sight of him, Freya had to work hard not to break down crying or throw a curse or a fireball at him, or launch herself at him and start beating his chest with her fists like a mortal woman.

"You— you left me in my state to go chasing after a man!" she spluttered, laying aside the fact that it had been she who had left him. "All your pretty promises to love me forever and cherish me! They were all lies, Faustus!"

The expression on Faustus's face made it clear he thought he could say the same for her. "You've had no trouble moving on," he said bluntly, inclining his head to Blaine. "Did you think I wouldn't know about you flirting with him?" he asked patiently, calmly.

"Do not patronize me so!" she snapped. "As if you didn't flirt with Luci all the time, and now you're LIVING with him! I can't believe you!"

"Is this why you had Father Menchineel summon me here?" Faustus asked. "To rehash the same old arguments yet again?"

"No, you ASS!" she snarled. "I'm with child!"

Faustus blinked once, twice, three times in rapid succession. "… Mine?" he asked. He neither ducked nor flinched when she slapped his face.

"Yes, YOURS!" she bellowed. "Whose else would it be? And don't you DARE cut your eyes to Blaine again! He and I were never more than friends!"

"Neither were Luci and I, till you chose to divorce me," Faustus pointed out.

"I… gave you EVERYTHING!" she raged. "My brother DIED so that I could be with you! You took my innocence, you took me away from my family! I loved you more than anything, but it still wasn't enough for you, was it? You lusted, you PINED after Luci, and Trent, and Luci's spouse and who KNOWS who else? You stopped protecting me from Nathaniel's insults long ago, and— and— you never deserved me, Faustus Blackwood!" she finished, with an impressive stomp of her little foot.

Faustus couldn't help a small chuckle from escaping him. As angry as she was, she still had a strangely endearing way about her.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" she roared, aiming a fireball at him. He mostly dodged it, but stumbled, and it singed his shoulder.

"I'll take my leave," Blaine said, bowing out quickly.

"I stopped defending you against Nathaniel because he stopped insulting you in malice," Faustus tried to explain. "I got the impression he was ribbing you, in a sort of— how do the mortals do it?— pulls her hair and runs away, manner. As for Serena, I've explained to you that I'd no intention of actually shagging her—"

"Have you?" Freya asked abruptly, cutting him off. "With either 'Serena' or Luci?" The discomfort on Faustus's face as he hesitated told her all she needed to know. She scoffed. "Of course you have."

"Not the way you're thinking," Faustus said placatingly. Freya narrowed her eyes at him.

"What other way is there?"

Faustus took a breath. "Serena— Sebastian— brings home girls who've flirted, yet doesn't sleep with those girls solo. Each young lady chooses someone she'd like Sebastian to share her with."

"Thank you. I don't require more details." Freya's lip trembled. "How often have you been that man?"

"Eh, three times," Faustus muttered, toeing the pavement uncomfortably. "As have the rest of us."

Freya was curious despite herself. "Who?"

Faustus sighed. "Luci, Maze, Trent, Nathaniel, Catherine, Helena, Dorian, Louis, and someone called Dan or Danny. Xander and Sigefrid have a talent for making themselves scarce when the girls show up."

Freya did some quick calculations in her head. "Thirty!?" she exploded. "Bash— Mr. 'I can't date Cat because I'm actually gay'— has brought home THIRTY WOMEN!? And you all SHARE them with him? That's disgusting, Faustus!"

"Yes, well, it turns out you've something in common with them," Faustus said dryly.

"What could I possibly—" Then it hit her. "Ohhhhhh…. No! Faustus! What the FUCK!?" She slapped him again, hard! "And how many of THOSE are yours!?"

"Easy, girl! I've pupped no-one," he said, raising his hands. "None other than you, and Constance when she lived, of course. They're all Sebastian's."

Her disbelieving scoff mirrored exactly the one he had uttered when he had learned the same.

"All thirty girls have gotten paternity tests, and each of the tests indicate Sebastian is the father."

"Wow. WOW. It's a good thing you never fucked him or you'd have probably, somehow, magically come up pregnant too."

"Don't be silly," Faustus said lightly. "He doesn't penetrate men."

"Except Trent."

"Yes, except Trent."

They shared an awkward sort of smile.

"Well, Freya, I'm happy to give you the support you need, but I would either require you to move to the ladies' flats with me—"

"Wait… What?" Freya tilted her head quizzically.

"Ah, yes, I've not explained. Sebastian bought an apartment complex for the mothers. Each of us has been assigned as caretaker for the women we shared with him, so therefore each of us is in charge of three units and three ladies. Actually, Luci declined to take care of his ladies and reassigned them to Xander."

"He compelled Xander?" Freya asked with interest.

"I was not present for that conversation, nor have I asked. Though I do seem to recall eavesdropping on Xander and Sebastian discussing raising a baby together, so it's likely he volunteered."

"Oh." Freya blew out a breath as she and Faustus sat down at the edge of a fountain. They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Faustus said,

"I know you've made connections here. This is an awkward situation with no clear resolution—"

"I could stay with Blaine and raise the baby here," she said quietly.

Faustus's mouth puckered. "If that is what you wish, why would you tell me about the baby in the first place?"

"I do not know." It was her turn to shift about awkwardly. "I thought it was the right thing to do. I don't know if that's what I want."

Another long pause. Then, "You've lands given to you in the settlement. The caretakers of the honeymoon castle in Prague, for example, would be more than happy to assist you. I'm not worried, Freya. You make friends wherever you go."

"I also make enemies," she pointed out. "People who hate me for no reason. Ursula. Nathaniel. In fact, if Nathaniel is living in the mothers' complex, I DON'T want to go there." She fisted a hand in her skirt angrily.

"He's fond of you," Faustus pointed out. "He was against the divorce."

"So I've heard." The set of Freya's jaw made it clear she didn't believe that. "He may be cute, but he was always a jerk to me. I'd never even consider someone like that." She gave a little harrumph and stuck her nose in the air, crossing her arms to emphasize her point.

Faustus smiled wistfully again. "You should get your rest," he said. "I'll stay with you." He took out his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Texting George to have him take over my girls."

"There's no need. Father Menchineel can look after me." Was it a test or did she speak true?

Faustus gave her a long look. "I shall stay," he repeated. "Father Menchineel has paperwork to see to. He has Ambrose's help, but I imagine they're overwhelmed even so."

Freya scoffed. "That must be the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

"So be it."

March 23, 2022 | Xander x Serena [SOLO]

 Xander wrapped Serena in a bone-crushing hug, burying his face in her long blonde hair. She wasn't cruel enough to starve him for a week on purpose, but she had been distracted playing house with her pet biker's club.

"I missed you so much, my Bonded," he whispered. Without waiting for a response, he brushed her hair off the side of her neck and bit her, not bothering to kiss around her veins like he normally did. He was too hungry.

For her part, Serena clung to him, relaxing as always in his hold. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him, too. Being at the beck and call of a group of sick bikers took a lot of time and energy, especially when her two favorites had night terrors.

Xander could, of course, come to the clubhouse at any time to find her and feed on her, but he hadn't been. He had stubbornly waited for her to come back to him, tired of waiting outside while a grumpy, leather-clad man went to fetch her. He had initially assumed this was her way of getting back at him for leaving her alone for a month and then threatening to break up with her. But she wasn't like that. She was warm and loving and wore her heart on her sleeve. Maybe she just thought her bikers needed her more.

When he had had his fill, he ceremoniously licked her neck to heal her, even knowing her body would heal itself. She cooed at him like always, reaching up a hand and stroking her fingers through his soft black hair. She pulled back slightly to look in his eyes, and he knew what she was going to ask before she even had to try to form words. Yes, he would make love to her tonight.

Seeing the confirmation in his eyes, which had gone black with lust, Serena wasted no time walking him to their bed. She pulled him down on top of her and kissed him feverishly. His hands roamed her body. He was surprised to find she still insisted on wearing her dance belt to bed. He pulled back, frowning.

"You don't need to dress like this to get my attention," he said bluntly. "I first tasted you as Sebastian. I fell in love with you as Sebastian. I've already taken back...." He trailed off; he had already taken back what he had said during their awful fight, and she claimed she had forgiven him. Why did she act as though his words still scarred her?

She frowned at him. "You need to work on your pillow talk," she retorted. "Do you want me tonight or don't you?" Her voice was steely, and the threat was clear: If he rejected her tonight, she had other options. Who knew when she would return?

He glowered at her. He had seen Sigefrid literally throw her down the stairs once, yet she had genuinely and easily forgiven him. Why could Sigefrid throw her around like a rag doll, yet Xander couldn't say something in the heat of anger?

She frowned back. "Okay. I'll take that as a no," she said quietly. But before she could move, Xander pinned her to the bed and kissed her ferociously, a low growl sounding from his throat, claiming her. She immediately melted, going to wrap herself around him, but he stopped her and somewhat more forcefully than necessary removed her underwear.

"When I fell in love with you," he growled, "I fell in love with ALL of you. You don't need to hide anything from me. Is that understood?"

She blinked at him, clearly surprised. Apparently, it had not been.

"You should spend more time here, with me," he continued, his grip on her body hard, possessive. "Luci, Trent, and I accept you and your body exactly the way you are. Sleeping with a couple of straight bikers can't be healthy for you, mentally."

She blinked again. "Have you been spying on me?" she asked. He couldn't tell if she was incredulous or flattered.

"Does it turn you on?" he growled. "I know you have a fetish for stalkers."

Serena's brow crinkled slightly and she brought a hand up to cup his cheek. "Xander... you turn me on. You don't have to compare yourself with others. I love you. I don't understand why you don't come to me and ask me to feed you. You did for a few weeks and it was nice, but then you just... stopped."

Xander's face flickered. He had no explanation for that, not one that wouldn't lead to another fight. So he kissed her and proceeded with making love to her. She sighed softly and melted into his grasp.

March 16, 2022 | Serena and Maze, and Xander makes three [SOLO]

 Serena and Maze had a good laugh over wine about the various bad dates they'd had.

"Dollar store Doms are the worst!" Serena giggled, in response to Maze's story about a prince of wherever who had assumed Maze would sub for him just because she was a woman.

"It's fun to put them in their place," Maze shrugged.

"Oh, yeah. Mm," Serena agreed. "One guy I hooked up with in stealth, he was weirdly threatened when he found out about me. Then he said he wanted you to sub for him. I said you wouldn't, and he said, 'She will for me.' Oh, and he also expected me to be, like, cowed by the size of him. Please. Size doesn't make the man."

"You would know," Maze said. They clinked glasses.

Xander slinked in and made himself comfortable between them. "How fare my favorite girls this evening?" he asked.

"Fine," Maze said. Serena cooed and snuggled up to their boyfriend.

"How are you, Xandy?" she asked, clinging to his arm. Xander pulled her into his lap and kissed her neck. She squealed in delight and relaxed in his arms as he bit her and drank deeply. Maze watched them, amused. Serena's idea of femininity was vastly different to Maze's idea of femininity, but somehow that moe crap worked for her.

When Xander had had his fill, he gave Serena's neck the usual healing lick and kissed her cheek. She smiled tenderly at him. Maze rolled her eyes and poured herself a glass of Xander's favorite Scotch, then knocked it back.

Xander edged closer to her. "The next measure is mine," he growled.

"Tuh," Maze retorted, but she had a half-smile on her face as she poured him a glass. Xander took it from her with a kiss and sipped it slowly, savoring the taste.

Maze didn't have much of a problem with the fact that the world's clingiest drag queen had essentially stolen her boyfriend. She liked Serena, and it hadn't escaped her notice that she was one of the rare few women Serena actually enjoyed sleeping with. Everyone enjoyed sleeping with Maze, but Serena's enjoyment was notable because Serena was hugely indifferent to sex with women, and as outright bitchy to the other woman she liked fucking. Beneath her tough exterior, Maze got along with people who got along with her, and Serena at least made the effort. When it came to Xander, they balanced each other out. Serena was warm and openly loving, but had a husband and a handful of other boyfriends. Maze was standoffish and cloying affection made her gag, but she wasn't seeing anyone other than Xander and Serena. The latter was more chill towards Maze, for which Maze was grateful. She couldn't handle Serena's golden retriever energy directed at her.

Her own relationship with Xander was complicated. When they'd met, Maze had been the only woman in the room who hadn't been pursuing another man. Xander had latched onto her and she'd gone with it. She'd taken him off to hunt humans and have some afternoon delights of their own when their group got too violent or randy.

[add more?]

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 | 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"