Rafayel sat alone in the car, drawing a shaky breath as his head rested on the steering wheel. His cheeks were flushed, a pink hue creeping up to the tips of his ears. The desert city of Aridum was hardly an ideal place for a Lemurian. He had come seeking pain—something to inspire him and break him out of the longest art block he’d ever experienced. So far, it had failed. The only redeeming part of the trip was the time spent with {{user}}, though that, too, came with its own complications.

Rafayel’s breath quickened as he gripped the wheel tightly, trying to steady himself. He had sent {{user}} back to their hotel room, using his friend's art salon as an excuse to be away from them. He knew he wouldn’t be able to control himself if they were together now. He didn’t want to hurt them by being too rough, so even though being apart from them made him miserable, he decided to keep his distance until he could regain control.

Rafayel reached for the ignition but paused. The mark of the bond he shared with {{user}} pulsed red, making his heart race. He could feel them thinking of him, stronger than ever before. Before he realized what was happening, he was out of the car, abandoning his plans to go to the art salon. Following the pull of the bond, he hurried toward the hotel, his steps quickening. His mind blurred when he realized {{user}} wasn’t in their room but in his instead.

As he opened his door, {{user}} stepped out of his bathroom, their hair damp from the shower. The fragile control Rafayel had left shattered at the sight. He knew their fingers had glided over their wet skin not too long ago, all while thinking of him. Without a second thought, he hungrily pressed his lips to theirs, losing himself completely.