“No. Keep…keep going. Please. I need to feel you.”
 
 Nico trailed his hand lower, grazing Onyx’s tail tattoo.
 
 “Oh, aah,” Onyx cried out.
 
 “Does that feel good?” Nico brushed the tattoo again, and Onyx’s whole body convulsed.
 
 “Nico.” Onyx’s voice was high-pitched, almost panicked. He struggled to push himself up.
 
 Nico leaned over and pushed Onyx’s head down, bracketing Onyx’s body with his, and tangling his hand in Onyx’s hair. “I didn’t say you could get up. Tell me, does it feel good when I touch your tail?”
 
 “Y-yes.” Onyx’s voice shook, and he choked on a sob. He hadn’t broken into tears like last time, but he sounded on the verge of collapse.
 
 Nico massaged Onyx’s scalp. “Is it okay for me to touch your tail?”
 
 Onyx wiggled beneath him, ass rubbing against Nico’s groin, but he didn’t speak.
 
 “Stop rubbing that needy ass against me. I need an answer. Touching your tail: tell me a color.”
 
 Onyx shivered. “Green.” The word came out breathy, like Onyx was releasing the last bit of air from a balloon, and at last, his tension disappeared, his body going limp beneath Nico.
 
 Fuck. Nico’s pulse pounded. “Good boy. You’re doing so well.”
 
 Onyx leaned into Nico’s touch, rubbing his head against Nico’s hand like a cat. “Is my punishment over?”
 
 “Are you ready to talk?”
 
 Some of Onyx’s tension returned. “Fuck off. You know that’s not what I want.”
 
 Nico smiled. “No, you want me to spank you until you can’t see straight. I bet your demon healing is already soothing your naughty ass.”
 
 Onyx released a strangled sound.
 
 Nico stood, gaze raking over Onyx’s prone form. The tattoo of his wings seemed to glow blue, feathers outlined so intricately they almost looked real.
 
 He was the most wonderful thing Nico had ever seen.
 
 Nico brought his hand down and watched Onyx’s ass bounce. He spanked him until he panted with the effort. Soft pleas fell from Onyx’s lips each time Nico’s hand met his thoroughly pummeled rear.
 
 Onyx lay there and took it, his ass as red as his flushed face, but he didn’t let go. Tension lined his brow. He needed more.
 
 Maybe he wouldn’t ever want to talk about what brought him here, and there was nothing Nico could do.
 
 Nico traced the tattoo of Onyx’s tail, and heat flared along Onyx’s skin. Not the heat of a well spanked ass. Not a blush. Something within Onyx radiated a palpable warmth. His fire? Nico’s breath caught, and he did it again, mesmerized.
 
 “Nico,” Onyx panted. “Nico. Wait. I’m going to… Wait.”
 
 Nico couldn’t stop touching, but he didn’t need to unless Onyx really asked. “Color?”
 
 “Green, but Nico…Nico.” Onyx’s body shuddered. “Fuck. I can’t. Dammit.”
 
 He looked over his shoulder, tears streaming down his cheeks, his eyes burning and wild. Onyx’s fangs dropped as his mouth opened on a moan. His body seemed to vibrate, tensing like he was trying to hold himself together, then with a guttural cry, his face changed.
 
 Onyx’s red cheeks turned lavender—not the lavender cast by the reflection of his burning blue eyes, but a true change in the skin—spreading all the way to his forehead. Two horns sprouted from his hairline, sticking straight up and curving back at the tips. They were such a pale blue, they were almost translucent. Veins were visible at the base, flushing red, then fading to lavender.
 
 Nico forgot to breathe. So much raw emotion, so much passion lit Onyx’s face. Nico couldn’t move.
 
 Before him, Onyx trembled, his burning gaze locked on Nico’s. Something grazed Nico’s hand, and he glanced down.