Work Text:
The journey had been far too long. The idea of following clues had initially struck Xie Lian as rather novel. Something different. Something, dare he say it, fun. Xie Lian had quickly learned how woefully mistaken he was. The scavenger hunt had lasted for nearly two months. Almost two months of sailing from island to island, trying to find the next clue and praying that it would be their last. The rations had barely kept them going. They'd eventually resorted to relying on Hua Cheng's strong fishing abilities to keep them fed, but even that could only do so much when they were running short of everything else. By the time they finally did find the treasure, it didn't feel worth it anymore. Xie Lian was just glad his crew wouldn't come back completely empty handed for all their troubles.
The next step was to find a port as soon as possible. As much as they all loved the sea, two whole months on the ship with no hot water, mediocre sleeping conditions, and a limited option of meals got to be too much. Given their location, the closest port they were familiar with was Hua Cheng's home. Xie Lian liked that idea. It'd been a couple of months since they had last visited, even before they'd begun their most recent adventure. He was sure Hua Cheng's people would be delighted to see them again. They'd receive plenty of supplies. There hadn't been a single visit that hadn't resulted in an overabundance of gear. They were always so kind and generous. And though Xie Lian couldn't promise anyone the hot water they might be craving, a short stop was necessary for everyone to catch up on some rest that they so desperately needed before moving to somewhere more comfortable to trade in their earnings.
Everything had fallen into place nicely. The crew was grateful for the reprieve, immediately stepping off the ship and making their way to the guest rooms prepared for them. Xie Lian had promised them a couple of days to recuperate before they headed back on the road. It wasn't much, but it would be enough to get them through. And, at last, Xie Lian was given some actual private time with Hua Cheng after so long spent with everyone else. There was just one little problem.
Hua Cheng was acting strangely.
Xie Lian couldn't explain what it was exactly. From the very moment they set foot in those caves, Hua Cheng had been fidgety. He'd been clenching his fists and taking the odd moment to collect himself as though something was really bothering him. Whenever Xie Lian tried to talk to him, he would go quiet, avert his gaze, and even put some distance between them. Xie Lian couldn't understand it. There had never been a time since the day they met that Hua Cheng hadn't done all he could to be close. Xie Lian had been afraid at first, but quickly grew to love his tactile nature. These days, he craved it. So, when Hua Cheng was so distracted and working so hard to maintain some space, Xie Lian wasn't sure how he could feel anything but disappointment.
He tried not to take it personally. Xie Lian was exhausted from their journey. Perhaps Hua Cheng was, too. Maybe that was all it was. So much time on the road had worn him down, and he wasn't quite himself anymore. A good night's rest would do them both a world of good. Xie Lian was sure that was all Hua Cheng would need. They'd be curled up in each other's arms again in no time.
"Where are we going?" Hua Cheng asked tentatively as they slowly made their way through the cavernous halls.
"Where do you think?" Xie Lian gently laughed, "To your room."
"I… uh… is, is that wise?" Hua Cheng kept looking around them, anywhere but directly at Xie Lian, as if looking for a way out, "I mean, there are so many other places we could go. Like, um… oh! I know! Would gege like to see the rock pools?"
"That sounds lovely, San Lang," Xie Lian smiled, "We can do that tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Hua Cheng repeated, sounding disappointed, "Not… not today?"
"First thing in the morning," Xie Lian reassured, "I'd like to see all your favourite things about the caves. Tomorrow."
"I just thought that perhaps we should leave in the morning," Hua Cheng tentatively said, "Wouldn't want to outstay our welcome, you know?"
Xie Lian frowned, trying to comprehend what Hua Cheng had just said. He was their leader. He'd managed to put someone else in that role while he wasn't there, but it had always been very clear that they still saw him almost as their own version of royalty. The very thought that they could outstay their welcome in the first place was absurd. But Xie Lian had indeed noticed that there were fewer selkies to greet them upon their arrival. He'd just assumed that it was because they had other things to attend to. Xie Lian couldn't know everything about selkie culture. He was still learning all there was to know about his husband.
"San Lang. My love," Xie Lian had stopped walking and instead was focusing all his attention on Hua Cheng and the way his fingers were fidgeting with the sleeves of his coat, averting his gaze like a child preparing to be scolded, "We've been on the road for a very long time. I'm sure the other selkies will understand us staying for a couple of nights. Please, I just want to get some sleep," Xie Lian reached for Hua Cheng's hand, noticing the slight shake in his fingers, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Hua Cheng squeezed Xie Lian's hand before letting it go, offering him a tight lipped smile, "If my husband wants to sleep, then that's what we'll do."
Xie Lian wasn't a fool. He knew his beloved well enough to tell when something was wrong. He had just hoped that it could be solved with a long sleep. And if it couldn't, that Hua Cheng might be more willing to share whatever was troubling him in the morning, when he might be better able to help. It was obvious that Hua Cheng had no intention of telling him what it was at that moment, and Xie Lian had never been one to pry. Hua Cheng would tell him when he was ready, and Xie Lian would be waiting to assist him in any way he could.
When they arrived at Hua Cheng's chambers, Xie Lian hummed happily, enjoying the familiarity of it. That room truly felt like a second home. They'd shared so many fond memories there, and, much like Xie Lian's chambers on the ship, it had become a shared space. Xie Lian had his own trinkets on the shelves, things that he wanted to display, but that would be far too easily damaged on the ship. Seeing them proudly sitting next to Hua Cheng's shells, bones, and teeth made him unreasonably happy. What a wonderful feeling it was to coexist with your favourite person.
Humming happily, Xie Lian started unbuttoning his vest and shirt, taken aback when Hua Cheng asked, "What are you doing?"
"Would you prefer I wear all of this to bed?" Xie Lian laughed incredulously, but when he turned to Hua Cheng, he could see genuine concern in his gaze. Almost fear. And that shot straight to Xie Lian's heart. Was there something wrong with him taking the layers off? Hesitantly, he asked, "What's going on?"
"Nothing!" Hua Cheng took a deep breath, shaking his head as if trying to snap himself out of a trance, "Everything's normal."
Xie Lian pursed his lips, looking into Hua Cheng's eye and seeing how hard he was trying to make him believe it. When Xie Lian took a step forward, Hua Cheng took a step back. Maybe it was exhaustion. Perhaps Xie Lian was just tired of trying to solve riddles. For whatever reason, Xie Lian gathered up the courage to ask, "Did I do something wrong?"
"What? No!" The fear in Hua Cheng's eye grew, and after only a moment of hesitation, he closed the space between them, taking Xie Lian's hands and saying, "You are perfect. I will explain everything. Once we've left."
Xie Lian watched him closely. He took in the tensing of Hua Cheng's body, the stiltedness of every movement, the slight strain in his voice. It was as though Hua Cheng was holding himself back, but Xie Lian couldn't quite tell what from. It seemed like something was seriously bothering him. Xie Lian knew that if he didn't get a good night's sleep, he might not make it through the trip to the next port. But he also worried about whatever had Hua Cheng so worked up.
"We can take the jolly boat off the ship tomorrow and sail out for a while. Just the two of us. Would that make you feel better?" Xie Lian asked, hoping it might be enough of a compromise.
"I don't know," Hua Cheng admitted, "But we can try."
Xie Lian leaned in to kiss his husband good night, his heart sinking when he shifted away. When they first met, Xie Lian had been the one flinching away from touch like a frightened mouse. Timid. Nervous. He'd always told himself that it was okay, that Hua Cheng understood his fears, and that it would get better in time. Did it hurt Hua Cheng this much? Xie Lian had quickly shifted from fearing touch to craving it, particularly from Hua Cheng. It was difficult to watch his beloved actively avoiding any intimacy and not take it personally.
Kicking off his boots, Xie Lian settled himself on the bed in nothing but his shirt and underwear. He hummed happily and stretched, enjoying the luxury of a much larger sleeping space than they had on the ship. After a moment, he felt the slight dip of the bed when Hua Cheng joined him, and smiled to himself as he waited. But as time passed, Xie Lian quickly realised he would not feel the comforting weight of his husband's embrace that evening. Looking over his shoulder, he could see the glaring amount of space left between them. He could see that Hua Cheng had taken nothing off, only his boots. Xie Lian closed his eyes and tried not to feel the rejection, instead telling himself that Hua Cheng would explain everything in the morning.
But as the time dragged on, Xie Lian grew more restless. He hadn't slept without Hua Cheng in such a long time; he was beginning to suspect it wasn't possible anymore. He didn't want to be a burden. Whatever Hua Cheng was dealing with was important. But Xie Lian was so exhausted, he needed rest. So, he hesitantly murmured into the quiet of the room, "San Lang?"
At first, he wondered if Hua Cheng was already asleep, but quickly learned that that was not the case when he replied, "Hm?"
"I know it bothers you to be close right now…" Xie Lian tried to keep the pain from his voice. He knew it wasn't Hua Cheng's fault. Whatever was going on, he would never act this way on purpose, and Xie Lian didn't want to cause him any guilt for something he was sure Hua Cheng couldn't help. Taking a steadying breath, Xie Lian whispered, "And I know it's selfish… but I don't think I can sleep without you…"
At first, he was met with silence. Xie Lian didn't expect anything. At most, maybe Hua Cheng would let him hold his hand. But eventually, he felt the bed shift and a strong arm wrapped around his waist. Hua Cheng didn't press nearly as close as they usually did, but like that, Xie Lian could feel his warmth. He could smell his comforting scent. Already, he felt the tension ease in his body.
"I'm sorry, gege," Hua Cheng said, "Is that better?"
"Mn," Xie Lian resisted the urge to shift back into his warmth, afraid to push Hua Cheng too far. Instead, he took Hua Cheng's arm and hugged it to his chest, letting that small point of contact be enough to soothe him, "Thank you, San Lang."
"Sweet dreams, my love," Hua Cheng murmured, and Xie Lian was finally able to close his eyes and succumb to slumber.
Xie Lian felt like he'd been asleep for days by the time he woke. A long, deep sleep was something he'd needed for weeks, and finally, he'd been able to achieve it. Ordinarily, he would've allowed himself to just lie there and enjoy the laziness of a morning on land. No responsibilities. No chores to check on. No need to keep tabs on the winds. An opportunity to truly do nothing.
But something was very wrong.
The arm Xie Lian had been hugging all night was bunched up in his shirt, his grip so tight that Xie Lian couldn't possibly hope to free himself without tearing the fabric. Hua Cheng had moved closer in the night, and Xie Lian could feel his body shaking violently against his back. He could feel the heat radiating off Hua Cheng, so much more than the usual warmth he'd become so fond of. He could hear Hua Cheng panting and whimpering into the pillows, as though he was trying to muffle the sounds.
"San Lang?" Xie Lian gently called, and the arm that'd been wrapped around him quickly retreated. Xie Lian turned over to get a good look at him, fear and concern flooding his body the moment he saw how sick Hua Cheng looked. His shaking was so strong. The heat from his body was like a furnace. Sweat beaded down the side of his face, eye clenched shut, and sharp teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he stifled more sounds. Xie Lian's only response was to panic, "San Lang!? What's wrong? What can I do?"
"I can't… can't be here. Need to leave, I need to leave," Hua Cheng mewled, roughly gripping the bed sheets, "Hah! It's too much. It's too much. Please, I can't…"
"You can't what?" Xie Lian moved closer, brushing the damp hair from Hua Cheng's forehead, "What's too much?"
"You!" Hua Cheng cried in a mix of frustration and helplessness, "You're so much! I-I'm not… I swear I'm not… I can control myself. I-I can," Hua Cheng growled under his breath, "You just smell so fucking good, fuck…"
"Wha—" Xie Lian took in Hua Cheng's body language. He was doubled over as if in pain, shivering and panting. He would flinch whenever Xie Lian tried to touch him, but didn't pull away. It was what he was saying that didn't make much sense. It was far more unhinged than usual, like all his thoughts were rushing so rapidly that he couldn't quite stick to one. Xie Lian watched as Hua Cheng ground his hips into the bed, swallowing thickly as he asked, "What the hell is going on?"
"T-Told you to leave, we should've just left!" A tear slid down Hua Cheng's cheek, and Xie Lian could only assume it was from the exertion, "Can't be here… not now… need to get out, we need to get out, gege, you need to go!"
"No!" Xie Lian yelled sternly, hoping it might snap Hua Cheng out of it enough to start making sense, "I will not leave you when you're like this. You need to tell me what is going on right now."
Hua Cheng mewled, "Could… could sm-smell it the second we arrived. The pheromones."
"The pheromones?" Xie Lian frowned, trying to put the clues together. But he'd noticed nothing out of the ordinary when they made port, "What pheromones?"
"The others!" Hua Cheng cried out, that aggression slipping back into his voice as he tried to explain despite all the difficulties he was having controlling his body, "When… when the women go into heat, i-it makes the men crazy, fuck we go crazy, gege!" He whimpered, murmuring under his breath, "I didn't realise it was mating season already, I thought we had more time, I didn't know, we shouldn't have come here, we never should've come, should've just gone to the next port…"
It started to click into place, though Xie Lian had never seen anything quite like it before. He didn't know how seal reproduction worked. He didn't know they went into heat. And he hadn't considered what that would mean for a selkie. It sounded like the men only reacted to the scent of the women. Taking Hua Cheng back to the caves in the middle of mating season had set him off. If they kept him away from other female selkies, he would've been just fine, but Xie Lian had unknowingly sent him to the one place the pheromones would be most potent. He'd been so insistent that they stay for his crew to get the rest they needed, he hadn't realised that something like this could happen to Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng had been avoiding touch. Avoiding any kind of closeness. All because he didn't want to lose control. And Xie Lian had so brazenly requested the intimacy to help him sleep. He'd been torturing Hua Cheng all night and hadn't even realised it.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" Xie Lian asked, resisting the urge to touch Hua Cheng again.
"Gege… gege needed sleep," Hua Cheng shuddered, "I can't be like those people objectifying you, gege. Touching you when you don't want it... hurting you."
"You're not doing that," Xie Lian insisted, "You're my husband. I love you."
"I can't. I can't use you like that," Hua Cheng said, sounding almost desperate.
Xie Lian could see he was scared, but for the wrong reasons. Hua Cheng didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Hua Cheng didn't want to force himself on Xie Lian. But what he wasn't seeing was how much Xie Lian loved him, how it hurt to see him suffering so much, especially knowing how simple the remedy would be. How… enjoyable it would be. They'd done plenty of things in the bedroom before, but Xie Lian had never seen Hua Cheng like this. He was curious. And knowing that just his presence could rile Hua Cheng up so much was exciting.
"I want you to. Use me. Let me make it better," Xie Lian urged.
"Gege…" Hua Cheng whined, making no moves to claim him, and Xie Lian was sure that it was because he was still afraid Xie Lian wouldn't want it.
Xie Lian tugged off his underwear, watching as Hua Cheng stared at him in awe. He carefully rolled Hua Cheng onto his back, settled in his lap, and shifted experimentally. Rubbing his ass down against the obvious erection in Hua Cheng's pants, Xie Lian observed the way Hua Cheng tensed beneath him, listened to the desperate panting and moaning of a man who had already been pushed beyond his limits.
"Oh my," Xie Lian bit his lip, trying to stifle the fond laughter threatening to slip, "Did I already make you come, San Lang?"
"Gege… I… It's not…" Hua Cheng stammered, as if searching for an excuse to make it okay.
"It's alright," Xie Lian assured, still gently rocking on Hua Cheng's lap, "Just tell me when you're ready to go again."
Xie Lian was taken by surprise as Hua Cheng grabbed his thighs and pushed up, forcing Xie Lian into the bed as he pinned him down. His grip was so much tighter than usual, nails biting into Xie Lian's skin as he warned, "You shouldn't tease me like this."
"Why?" Xie Lian asked, a little giddy from the thrill of being manhandled so easily, "What will you do?"
"If I start, I don't know if I'll be able to stop," Hua Cheng admitted, taking a deep breath and moaning into Xie Lian's neck, "Fuck, you smell incredible…"
Xie Lian shivered, exposing his neck, "What do I smell like?"
"Sand. And sweat. And salt. And sex," Hua Cheng licked Xie Lian's neck and whispered, "I want to taste it. I want to make you smell like me."
Xie Lian groaned, trying his best to stay still and let Hua Cheng have the control he clearly needed. He'd never heard Hua Cheng talk quite like this. There was always a possessive nature to him, especially when they let their desires take over. But this was a different level. These were thoughts Hua Cheng kept buried beneath the surface, some other part of him that he was scared or ashamed for Xie Lian to know. Perhaps it was because this part of Hua Cheng stemmed from his seal side. Hua Cheng often shied away from those things, afraid it might make things awkward or confusing. But Xie Lian liked it. No, he loved it. He'd never wanted someone to own him, but with Hua Cheng, it felt so good.
Hua Cheng trailed his hands under Xie Lian's shirt, fingers splayed against his stomach, and Xie Lian could barely breathe when Hua Cheng whispered in his ear, "I want gege to be the one carrying my baby. I want to make your belly round with my child. God, you'd look so beautiful…"
His breath caught, taking in what Hua Cheng was saying. Xie Lian knew that it wasn't possible. And he knew that Hua Cheng did, too. Neither of them wanted children. The life they had was perfect just the way it was. But Hua Cheng was being driven by his rut. His rut was telling him he needed to reproduce. And since he loved Xie Lian as much as he did, the choice of who would bear his children was simple. Xie Lian had never even thought about such things. As a man, it didn't seem worth wasting a moment on. But it was the way Hua Cheng said it. It was like a claim of ownership. Like he'd work tirelessly to make it happen. The thought of Hua Cheng fucking him again and again, doing all he could to defy logic and reason, and grant them both a child…
Xie Lian couldn't believe how much it turned him on.
If this little fantasy helped Hua Cheng through, then Xie Lian was all too willing to play along, turning his head to murmur against his jaw, "You'll have to fill me with your come, then. I want every last drop."
Hua Cheng grinned, "Oh? Gege wants me to get him pregnant?"
Xie Lian was lost in his own lust filled haze, reaching for Hua Cheng's belt and unbuckling it as he said, "I want you to keep trying. As long as it takes."
Hua Cheng's laugh told Xie Lian all he needed to know: that this really was just a little fantasy, that the rut hadn't driven Hua Cheng so crazy he didn't know the realities of their biology. But the fantasy was sexy, and they were both willing to indulge it to help Hua Cheng through such an uncomfortable situation. Xie Lian had never seen Hua Cheng so horny. He wondered how many rounds it would take to calm him down. Would it ever stop? Were they going to be stuck in a cycle as long as they were in those caves with those pheromones? How long did a selkie's mating season last?
Watching Hua Cheng strip off every layer, Xie Lian bit his lip, completely entranced. Hua Cheng always had an incredible body, but the rut had left him slick with heat and sweat, and Xie Lian couldn't explain his desire to lick him. To taste the perspiration on his skin. His abs looked somehow more defined by the sheen of his body. He looked stronger. Impossibly sexier. Xie Lian couldn't understand how no one had fallen head over heels for Hua Cheng before.
Helping Hua Cheng pull off his own shirt, Xie Lian shivered when he was handed Hua Cheng's coat. Hua Cheng commanded, "Put it on. I want to fuck you while you wear my pelt."
Xie Lian moaned, immediately doing as he was told. Wearing that coat had always been one of the greatest honours. It was so warm, and wearing it enveloped him in Hua Cheng's scent. It was like he was everywhere all at once, intoxicating him in ways only he was capable of. For a moment, Xie Lian thought he understood the feeling those pheromones were producing in Hua Cheng, shrugging the coat on and sinking into the bed. He watched in satisfaction as Hua Cheng finally pulled off the last of his clothes.
Hua Cheng was still a little off. His fingers shook as they trailed over Xie Lian's chest, as if he were still holding some of his desires back, as if he believed it was still too much. Xie Lian suspected it was because Hua Cheng was taking his time. Because he wanted to give Xie Lian the best possible experience instead of just fucking him like the rut was urging him to.
Knowing that every second Hua Cheng held himself back was more discomfort, Xie Lian spread his legs, whining and begging, "Please, San Lang. I need it now…"
Hua Cheng tensed. His cock pulsed as precome dribbled down the head, and Xie Lian's throat went dry just watching it. How much did Hua Cheng have in him? How much could Xie Lian take? He'd told the others they would stay for a couple of days. Would he be Hua Cheng's sex toy until they decided to leave? Fucked day and night until these desires were satisfied?
Hua Cheng moved to pull away, gently saying, "I need to prepare you first."
He could hear the strain in Hua Cheng's voice. He could see the shake in his fingers and the way he gritted his teeth through heavy breaths. Because he didn't want to wait, either. Because his body was screaming to claim and to take. And as much as Xie Lian knew he might regret how overzealous he was being, he also knew that this would soothe the ache in Hua Cheng. So, instead of allowing Hua Cheng to ease him into it, Xie Lian wrapped a hand around that thick cock, letting the precome soak into his fingers as he stroked along the slick shaft. He drank every gasp, every moan as Hua Cheng urgently rutted into his hand, finally getting some of the relief he'd been craving. He kept stroking, murmuring encouragement as Hua Cheng pistoned into his hand like a man possessed, drooling and groaning into Xie Lian's neck. And slowly, Xie Lian moved his hand, guiding Hua Cheng to his hole.
As Hua Cheng thrust forward, Xie Lian moved his hand away, and the feel of his cock burying all the way inside in one swift motion made Xie Lian see stars.
On any other occasion, Hua Cheng would've chastised him. He would've stopped and made sure Xie Lian had been properly prepared. But Hua Cheng was too far gone, too overrun by the need to fuck, and come, and breed. Instead of stopping to check on him, Hua Cheng seemed to lose all control the very second he felt Xie Lian all around him. He took Xie Lian's hands, pinning them roughly to the bed, and continued his relentless pace, fucking hard and deep, and impossibly fast. Xie Lian could barely breathe between feeble whimpers and whines. Such a sudden press with no preparation had hurt for just a moment, but the lubrication of Hua Cheng's come-drenched cock had worked to ease the pressure until all pain instead became a blur of overwhelming pleasure.
"Sah! San Lang… F-Fuck, oh fuck," Xie Lian began to babble, barely able to keep up with the speed and intensity of every violet thrust.
Sex with Hua Cheng had always been incredible, but it had never been this. Never so much intensity. Never so primal. As though Hua Cheng had fully embraced the animal part of himself and allowed it to take all the things he'd been trying so hard to resist. Hua Cheng's teeth were sinking into Xie Lian's neck, holding him down even at that point as he continued to plough roughly into him again and again. As if he were afraid Xie Lian might try to leave before he could finish. But why would he? Why would he ever want it to stop? The harshness of Hua Cheng's treatment had brought out something Xie Lian hadn't expected. In some strange way he couldn't quite yet understand, the pain made it better. It made him crave more. Maybe he was mad. Or perhaps he was just addicted to Hua Cheng's cock. Whatever it was, he just knew he needed more.
It was when Hua Cheng growled into his neck, a low guttural sound vibrating through his body, that Xie Lian finally came. He clenched around Hua Cheng, barely able to breathe as he tensed and went still inside him just long enough for Xie Lian to know he was coming, too. Xie Lian wasn't sure he'd ever felt so satisfied, melting into the bed and humming happily as Hua Cheng began a slower, more languid pace. He could feel the wetness inside him only when Hua Cheng moved, could hear it with every thrust, and just the sound of it made Xie Lian tingle pleasantly.
Hua Cheng whimpered, whispering into his throat, "Not enough… not enough, it's not enough, need more, gege, I'm so sorry, it's not enough…"
"Shh, it's okay," Xie Lian cooed, "You're still hard, I know. I can feel it. It feels good."
"Feels good?" Hua Cheng echoed, surprised. He sighed into Xie Lian's skin as he settled into a more comfortable rhythm, "Really?"
"Mn, I like it," Xie Lian tangled his fingers in Hua Cheng's hair the very second his wrists were released, and gently teased, "I don't care how many times you have to come. If you want to make a baby, I'm gonna need more than that."
He thought it would just be playful banter, but it brought that unrelenting need to reproduce right back to the surface. Hua Cheng's thrusts became a little more insistent, "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Hua Cheng murmured, hot breath ghosting against Xie Lian's neck, "Do you enjoy it? Making me suffer?"
"What? No, San Lang, of course not," Xie Lian tried to make his touch more soothing, encouraging Hua Cheng to let everything out whilst avoiding pushing him too far.
"Yet you always put your hair up in those tall ponytails that make me want to bend you in half and use it like a leash," Hua Cheng bucked harshly into him as he spoke, like he was feeling every word he said, "You make it so easy for me to tear off those scarves and bite your perfect neck…"
Xie Lian trembled, eyes fluttering closed as Hua Cheng nibbled along his tattooed skin, "Mn, I like when you do that…"
"When you get sweaty from working on the ship, or you stretch, and your shirt rides up. Or fuck, when you wear that vest that shows off how tiny your waist is," Hua Cheng groaned, his hips growing more frantic the more he worked himself up, "And now you're talking like this? How can I be expected not to fuck you right there on the deck? Is that what you want?"
"San Lang…" Xie Lian gasped, reaching down to grip Hua Cheng's ass and encourage every thrust.
"If gege wanted my come, all he had to do was ask," Hua Cheng whispered against his ear.
A switch had definitely gone off in Hua Cheng; any of his usual inhibitions were long gone. He was saying things he would never usually admit, but Xie Lian quite liked hearing it, knowing the effect he was having on his husband, even when he wasn't trying, and how sexy Hua Cheng must've thought he was. It was thrilling, and a little empowering to know just how often Hua Cheng thought about him.
"I love you so much it makes me crazy," Hua Cheng breathed, nuzzling into Xie Lian's neck as he dug his fingers into Xie Lian's waist and forced him down onto his cock again and again, "I never knew I could be like this…"
"Like what?" Xie Lian asked, barely containing every feeble whine as he was impaled on Hua Cheng's erection, clinging desperately to him for purchase, "Hah, fuck!"
"I'd kill for you," Hua Cheng whispered, a low, dangerous tone taking over his voice that went straight to Xie Lian's cock, "I'd kill anyone who dared to look at you," He whimpered, becoming more and more frantic in his movements as he bore his soul, "I don't want to be like them, my gege isn't an object to be owned. But… Fuck, gege… you're mine!"
Xie Lian shuddered. He knew exactly what Hua Cheng was trying to say: that he was afraid of being as bad as all the people who had tried to own him, to kidnap him, and use him as a tool. To turn him into something he wasn't. But just as much, Hua Cheng's selkie instinct was to claim his mate. It wasn't ownership. Not exactly. But Hua Cheng seemed to have trouble differentiating it in his own mind, somehow lumping himself in with the hordes of terrible men who had tried to take Xie Lian for their own gain. But there was one difference with Hua Cheng, something that set him apart from all the others, something that meant he could never be like them.
"'M yours," Xie Lian confirmed, "They forced me, but I want to be yours."
Hua Cheng was panting into his neck between broken moans, holding Xie Lian like he was afraid he might disappear. Xie Lian could feel the trembling in his touch, like he wanted to keep holding on as tightly as he could, but he was afraid of being too much. Such a ridiculous thought. He'd never be too much. If only he knew of all the depraved thoughts Xie Lian himself kept hidden away, how much he craved to be Hua Cheng's most prized possession, the shell he displayed most proudly of all.
"You don't even know— hah! H-How crazy you make me," Xie Lian pulled Hua Cheng closer, nipping his ear and whispering thoughts he'd always done his best to keep concealed, "You're mine. I'd cut down anyone who tried to keep you from me."
"Gege…" Hua Cheng groaned, and Xie Lian could feel him shaking, could sense he was close to the edge.
"The only treasure I've ever wanted. I'm so greedy for you, San Lang," Xie Lian could feel Hua Cheng's muscles tense, his fingers digging deeper into his sides, and mewled as he admitted, "Wanna taste every drop of your love. Wanna destroy anyone who forces your gaze from mine for even a second… Your attention, your praise—f-fuck! Your cock, it's all mine."
The second Xie Lian uttered that final word, Hua Cheng folded over him, his hips moving slowly and deeply inside him as he came. Murmured words of adoration like a prayer were uttered into Xie Lian's shoulder, though he couldn't make them all out. Only that Hua Cheng needed him, loved him, that he would fell cities in Xie Lian's name if that was what he wanted. The magnitude of Hua Cheng's devotion couldn't possibly be overstated.
Xie Lian hummed happily, feeling the wetness inside him every time Hua Cheng's cock moved, and just the thought of Hua Cheng filling him more and more made him unreasonably happy. He didn't know how long ruts were supposed to last, but he rather hoped they could do this again, that he could truly understand how far Hua Cheng would go in the height of such passion and need. Still, Hua Cheng kept moving, though his pace was much slower than it had been at the start, as though he were only remembering every now and then that he needed to keep shifting his body. He was still hard. Xie Lian could feel it. But that was okay. If he needed more, he would have it.
Hua Cheng was still mumbling so quietly that Xie Lian couldn't catch any of it, but there was a desperation to it, as if he couldn't stop talking; he needed to get everything out. And Xie Lian began to worry if perhaps this was distress. So, he softly hummed a melody from his childhood as his fingers danced along Hua Cheng's back, hoping to soothe him, and smiling when Hua Cheng nuzzled into his neck, only occasionally rocking into him.
"Does that feel better?" Xie Lian gently asked.
"It won't go away. The pheromones are all through the caves," Hua Cheng mumbled, "But I think that took the edge off for now."
Xie Lian laughed fondly. Whenever they had sex on the ship, he was usually the one lasting the longest, requesting more when Hua Cheng needed a break. It didn't surprise him at all that Hua Cheng needed to recuperate after such exertion. He kept trailing his fingers along Hua Cheng's back in hopes of soothing him.
Hua Cheng hugged Xie Lian to his chest and said, "I-I'm sorry, I can't… I don't want… Just the thought of pulling out is…"
"Shh, it's okay," Xie Lian reassured, "I don't want it, either. I like it when you stay inside."
It helped that Hua Cheng was still hard, still able to comfortably stay plunged into Xie Lian's ravaged hole. But even so, he looked exhausted, like he could fall asleep just like that, occasionally rocking into Xie Lian even in his dreams. He'd begun trailing delicate kisses along Xie Lian's neck, whispering with such unbidden fondness, "I need gege stuffed with my babies. Can't let you lose a single drop."
Xie Lian shivered, trying not to let those words go to his cock when he asked, "You're not upset that I can't really give you a baby?"
"No," Hua Cheng assured, "I don't really want kids. Spending time with the ones we see at port is more than enough. But the rut… it makes my head fill with this haze… and it's like I need to get you pregnant. I can't explain it. I've never felt it before."
"You say that like you've never had a rut before," Xie Lian laughed, the sound trailing off when Hua Cheng looked up at him, and he realised that might actually be true. "How is that possible? They're supposed to be a regular thing, aren't they?"
Hua Cheng looked so shy as he tried his best to explain, "Whenever mating season came up, I'd leave the caves and find somewhere to be alone for a couple of months. I'd still feel the rut, but without the pheromones, it wouldn't be as intense on my hormones. It was… irritating, but bearable. This is the first time I've been able to feel the full effects of it."
"I put you through all of this, and you didn't even know what would happen…" Xie Lian murmured, trying to process it. He'd thought Hua Cheng knew what to expect. He thought Hua Cheng would be able to tell him exactly what he needed and how best he could help. It made more sense now that Hua Cheng had been trying as hard as he had to control his urges. Controlling them was all he'd ever known. He'd been capable before; he'd just never had so much working against him until now. He couldn't know what a rut at full strength would cause him to do. And he was likely afraid of somehow hurting him. Xie Lian ran his fingers through Hua Cheng's hair, "Oh, San Lang. I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay," Hua Cheng assured, rolling his hips and letting out a contented sigh at the feeling, "Just promise you won't leave me alone."
"I'll never leave you," Xie Lian promised.
"Did you mean what you said before?" Hua Cheng asked, "About me being your treasure?"
Xie Lian blushed. He had thought it for a long time, but he'd always kept such embarrassing and selfish notions to himself. Because much like Hua Cheng, Xie Lian was worried he would sound as though he were treating Hua Cheng like an object when that had never been his intention. It was just that all the things that made up who Hua Cheng was as a person made Xie Lian happy. And for whatever reason, he was unbearably possessive of it all. He'd never known that feeling before. He'd never thought it possible to be so easily frustrated when people needed to talk to his beloved, but even those brief moments without Hua Cheng's loving gaze did things to him. He knew it meant nothing. But every second without Hua Cheng's attention was a second Xie Lian wanted back.
Tentatively, Xie Lian said, "I was never a prince. They say it's in my blood, but it's not. Piracy is. Pirates are greedy, selfish, treasure crazed creatures. It took a long time, but I found mine. And I don't know why, but if anything ever takes your attention from me… It's so hard to be good. Because that's a piece of my treasure they're taking. They're stealing from me. It belongs to me. It's mine," He took a shaky breath and whispered with complete conviction, "You're mine."
"They could never take a single piece. Because even when I'm looking at them, I'm thinking about you. I'm yours," Hua Cheng promised, pressing their lips together as a whole new wave of lust seemed to wash over him.
Xie Lian moaned into every kiss as he felt himself fucked into the bed all over again, greedily claiming every taste of his lips, every drop of his lust, clinging to him desperately in his unyielding need to take what was so rightfully his. He smiled as Hua Cheng cradled his face in his hand, holding his hip steady with every urgent thrust. Xie Lian decided he could definitely handle more of these ruts if it allowed him to drown in the spoils of his husband.