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Ghoul scanned the dancefloor. It was crowded, unsurprising on a Friday night. He didn’t usually frequent this club. The floor was too clean, the drinks too expensive and the city too close. The people who came here had money, because they worked jobs at the BLI factories in the Inner Zones; the ones they built outside of the dome, because the chemicals caused the skin on your hands to peel even when you wore gloves and because the people who worked in them never grew old, although they blamed the malnourishment in the Zones for that and not the fumes that smelled like lemons and death. These people came here on the weekend to spend their hard earned carbons on a colourful drink and the chance for a little love at the motel next door.
Normally, Ghoul made sure to stay the hell away from here, because it reminded him of the blisters on his mother’s hands, the flesh red and raw underneath the bandages, and his dad’s wheezing when he tried to climb the three steps leading up their run-down porch. He’d had to zip both of their bodybags shut before he turned twelve. The smell of lemons still made him gag.
He pushed the memories away, because tonight he wanted to celebrate. The detonation gig he’d been working on for weeks had gone off without a hitch this morning and the noise, the crash, the sudden surge of energy were still coursing through his veins. The image of the perfect white walls turning to dirt in a cloud of dust flashed behind his eyelids every time he blinked. He wanted to dance, he wanted to lick the sweat of someone else’s body, he wanted to feel powerful and destructive just a little bit longer.
His eyes lingered on the red-head dancing at the center of the room. The hair dye was a vivid colour, not bleached by the sun, not dulled by grease and dust. The little black dress they wore stretched tightly around their body, like it had once belonged to someone skinnier. They probably weren’t the only person here tonight who didn’t belong in the Zones, but they were the only one not trying to hide it.
Ghoul licked his lips, watching their hips swaying from side to side. They turned their head as if they’d sensed his gaze on them, and for a moment it seemed as if they were looking right at him. He knew that getting involved with city officials using their Zone pass to hunt for a cheap thrill on the weekend meant trouble, but he’d always had a weakness for the curvy ones. He imagined sliding his hand up their ample thigh to hike up their dress and pushed himself off the wall to approach the dancefloor.
He made his way through the crowd, people backing away instinctively. The scars on his face and the brightly coloured clothes gave him away, signalling to everyone that he made his living killing rather than dying, and that it was smarter to clear the way.
The music was pounding in his ears, but he paid no attention to the surrounding bodies captured by its rhythm; instead he kept his eyes on the bright red shock of hair that guided him through the crowd like a beacon. He knew what he wanted.
They turned just before he reached them, like they’d followed his path out of the corner of their eye. Ghoul expected them to flinch at the sight of the scar running across his cheek, but they only parted their pink lips in a wide smile, exposing teeth that looked too white and even outside of the city.
He took the last step forward, pressing so close that he could feel the heat of their body against himself.
They tilted their head, bright red strands of hair grazing their pale shoulder, their large silver earrings swinging with the movement.
“Took you long enough.” Their voice was high and mocking, their breath hot so close to his ear. They smelled sweet and sterile, like soap and blooming flowers.
Ghoul laughed hoarsely, surprised by their boldness. The looks thrown in his direction had been meant as an invitation after all and they weren’t trying to hide it, just like they weren’t trying to hide the fact that they didn’t belong in this place.
He placed his hands on their hips and they instantly turned pliant against him, their body pressing closer, soft and warm everywhere they touched. The music was just background noise to him, drowning out the ringing in his ears left behind by the explosion this morning. Neither of them was bothering with courtesy; it didn’t matter that they didn’t even know each other’s names. They were melting under the touch of his hands that were bandaged like his mother’s hands had been, to cover the burns and blisters caused by explosions gone off too soon.
Ghoul tilted his head, burying his face in the crook of their neck to inhale the scent of perfume and sweat. They smelled better than anyone he’d ever met.
He sensed the breathy moan they exhaled as he stuck out his tongue, licking the salt off the side of their neck. They were taller than him, probably wearing heels, and he had to tilt back his head to brush his nose against their jaw. The smell of flowers was stronger here, like they had dabbed perfume behind their ears.
He closed his eyes, the collision of the building playing behind his eyelids, faltering from the bottom up. The fabric of their dress felt silky against his fingertips. He wanted to tear it off. His heart seemed to be beating in his throat.
“Come on.” A hand on his shoulder pushed him away gently and he opened his eyes again. The lights in the club were flickering, making him feel dizzy. They looked pretty when they smiled, their teeth perfectly even, but their lips curled towards the left.
They took hold of his arm as they led him off the dancefloor. They had danced together only for a few minutes, but it didn’t matter, because it was just foreplay anyway and neither of them seemed especially patient.
He expected them to drag him outside, where he’d hike up their dress against the side of a white BLI van, a clean one, the paint not yet worn down by desert sand. But they pulled him towards the bar instead, halfway between the dancefloor and the seated area in the back where couples were kissing and reaching into each other’s pants, trusting that the shadows would keep them hidden and the music would cover their moans.
They leaned against the counter, the sheen of sweat glistening on their skin. They had been dancing for quite a while before Ghoul had joined them.
“What are you drinking, handsome?” They had to raise their voice because of the music, but it still sounded high and melodic.
Ghoul shrugged, eyeing the bottles on the wall. Neither of the brands was especially good, just good by the standards of people who had to save up to afford them in the first place.
“Whiskey,” he said.
The red-head turned towards the bar, raising two fingers with long red nails that looked like claws. “We’d like two whiskeys, please.”
Ghoul smirked because of their city manners that seemed so out of place in a club like this. They turned their head, batting their dark lashes at him. The dim lights were casting shadows across their face.
“So, tell me, what is a killjoy doing so close to the city?”
Ghoul tilted back his head, baring his teeth. “What’s a city chick doin’ so far out in the Zones?”
Their lips curled sideways again and they gave a short nod as if to signal approval.
“My name is Party Poison.” It wasn’t a city name, but they were probably lying anyway. The words rolled off their tongue smoothly, not slurring a single syllable.
“Fun Ghoul.”
Two glasses were placed in front of them, greasy fingerprints left on the outside, the liquid a dark amber.
Ghoul reached into his pocket to fumble for the carbons he’d earned just this morning.
Poison placed their hand on his arm gently. “Let me get that.”
Ghoul snorted and shook off their hand. “Ain’t got much, but the Witch take me if I can’t even buy ya a drink.”
Poison pursed their lips, reaching into their cleavage to pull out a bunch of folded bills that had been hidden between the black dress and their warm skin so far. Ghoul stared as they slowly peeled off two crisp bills and placed them on the counter. He’d never seen so many carbons at once that they came in the form of paper instead of coins. He was pretty sure that the bartender hadn’t either.
“Don’t be proud, sugar. You can’t live off pride alone,” Poison said. “Just let me buy you a drink.”
“I can pay for my own damned drink,” Ghoul huffed, but he hesitated. He didn’t like the thought of someone else paying for him with their shiny city money, but all the coins he could possibly drop on the counter would look pathetic next to Poison’s smooth paper bills anyway.
“Next round’s on you,” Poison offered, although they both knew there would be no second round. Ghoul couldn’t picture them touching one of the dirty glasses at all. They would probably let the whiskey go to waste that would cost anyone else in here a weekly wage.
He watched Poison’s fingers as they slid the bills across the counter. Their nails were obviously fake, some kind of acrylic or gel, highly impractical either way. Only someone who never had to work with their hands could afford to wear nails like this.
He looked up, studying Poison’s dress with the slit at the side revealing their thigh and their brightly painted lips. Everything about them seemed decadent and they were flaunting it, too. The dress was tight enough to show that they never went hungry, their exposed skin was pale and flawless, proving that they’d never been sunburned, never been in a firefight. Their nails were impractical just like their heels that would prevent them from running. Their makeup and their perfume and the shiny earrings served no purpose other than to make them more appealing to any man who would want them tonight. They were a luxury item, not practical, just sweet and pretty and delicious. And luxury items were something for people from the city, people with money and clean hands, who worked in office buildings and brought home paper bills.
They weren’t meant for someone like Ghoul. But the image of the crashing building still flickered behind his eyes and his pocket was heavier with carbons than it used to be in weeks. And just for tonight, he wanted to get his grimy, bandaged hands on something pretty like Poison and pretend that it could actually be meant for him.
He picked up the whiskey and emptied it in one go. It tasted smokey and burned at the back of his throat. His chest felt warm.
He put the glass back down hard before he turned towards Poison. “So, Poison, are we gonna fuck or what?”
They burst into hoarse laughter, the sound taking Ghoul by surprise, because it was deep and raspy and unashamed. It sounded free and wild, like speeding down the highway, like summer storms in the desert.
“Not one for smalltalk, are you?” They brushed back the hair from their forehead, their eyes fixed on Ghoul’s face. “I’d like us to fuck, yes, but I come with a little extra that you should be aware of first.” They lifted their finger in front of their face. Ghoul stared at the red nail that matched the colour of their hair. “So I wanted to buy you a drink and make sure it was okay with you. If you don’t have a problem with it, you can do to me whatever you want tonight. But if it is, I’d rather hit the dancefloor again to find someone more open-minded instead of wasting our time.”
Ghoul growled low in his throat, moving fast to push Poison back against the counter. He placed his hands on the wooden surface, caging them between his arms as he leaned in. He could feel their body heat, their lips almost close enough to steal a kiss.
“It ain’t a problem.” He had already noticed the fit of Poison’s dress, the shape of their Adam’s apple and how deep their voice sounded when they laughed. As liberal as the city pretended to be, playing around with gender was pretty unusual for BLI citizens. He assumed that was the reason they came out here, to let their hair down on the weekend, to try on someone else’s skin for the night. “I know how to treat a lady, ‘n I don’t mind going in the backdoor to show her a good time.”
He expected Poison to melt against him, to finally meet him for a kiss, but instead they scrunched up their nose. For a moment, they looked irritated and like they were trying very hard not to laugh. It actually made them look nice, like their mask had slipped for a second and he could see that there was an actual human being underneath.
“That is very reassuring, honey. But not the little extra I was talking about.” They had the audacity to pat his shoulder as if to console him.
Ghoul frowned. “Then what is it?”
Poison tilted their head and grinned, the tip of their tongue tracing the perfectly even row of their pearly white teeth. “My husband,” they said. “He likes to watch.”
Ghoul raised his eyebrows, unable to hide his smirk. Suddenly things fell into place: the way Poison dressed and danced, not trying to hide that they were a pretty thing from the city looking to get railed by a dirty Zone rat. It was part of the game they had thought up with their boring, pencil-pushing husband. It was tame compared to the things that went down in the outer Zones. Ghoul had been to his fair share of orgies already, but this was probably the most exciting and taboo thing someone from the city could think of.
Poison nodded over to the seats in the back. “I’d like you to meet him.”
“Sure.” Ghoul had imagined getting Poison all to himself tonight, but he didn’t mind sharing. He even liked the idea that they would talk about this little adventure with their husband for months to come.
He stepped back, making room for Poison to lead the way. To his surprise, they turned back towards the counter first, picking up the dirty whiskey glass without any sign of hesitation. They downed the liquor in one go just as Ghoul had done, throwing back their head like they were used to chucking drinks fast enough to avoid the taste.
“Let’s go.” They didn’t even wipe their hand after putting the dirty glass back down.
Ghoul followed them as they walked over to the booths. The light here was even dimmer, offering the illusion of privacy to those who couldn’t afford to check into the motel next door. The soft moans and the rhythm of the music made him feel hot and eager to bend Poison over one of these tables out in the open. If they liked being watched, they might enjoy it.
They stopped in front of the last table on the right so abruptly that Ghoul almost bumped into them.
He eyed the man sitting in the shadows. He had expected someone forgettable, plain and boring, a little nervous and slightly embarrassed maybe. But the bald guy sitting in the booth all by himself was none of these things.
For one, he was older than Ghoul had expected, significantly older than Poison for sure. He was surprisingly handsome, though, in a stern kind of way. His dark eyes were piercing and he held himself very straight. There was an air of authority to him that immediately made the hair on Ghoul’s neck stand up. Although he wasn’t dressed in a BLI uniform but a frilly shirt and a dark coat that almost made him blend in, it was impossible to mistake him for anything other than an Exterminator.
Poison slipped into the booth, leaving room for Ghoul while keeping a distance to their husband.
Ghoul hesitated. He usually had no problem with city folks; most of them were just trying to get by underneath their chemical haze. A high ranking pig like this was a different matter, though, even if he was off duty.
“Sit,” the man said.
Without thinking, Ghoul sat down, immediately regretting it. The man’s voice had sounded very decisive.
“So you’re the hubby,” Ghoul said, trying to sound mocking to distract from the fact that he’d just followed his command.
The Exterminator eyed him calmly, his gaze as intense as if he could read Ghoul’s thoughts if he just focused hard enough. Ghoul fought the urge to nervously shift his weight.
“And you’re the guy who wants to have sex with my spouse.” His tone wasn’t directly hostile, but he didn’t smile either, which made the atmosphere feel uncomfortably tense.
“Korse, Fun Ghoul. Ghoul, Korse,” Poison chimed in, drumming their long nails on the table. Their voice sounded light and cheerful, but the gesture was nervous. They were sitting closer to Ghoul than they were to Korse.
“Why are ya hidin’ back here?” Ghoul turned his head, mostly to catch a quick break from having to meet Korse’s gaze. “Can’t even see the dancefloor from here. Thought it’d get ya all hot ‘n bothered to watch ‘em getting felt up by strangers.”
“Poison doesn’t need my supervision when picking a partner for the night.” Korse sounded very formal. Ghoul wondered if he’d managed to get under his skin after all. “They have exquisite taste.”
Ghoul felt his face growing hot, suddenly even more aware of Korse’s eyes on him. For a moment it felt like he was losing the ground under his feet, like he wasn’t quite sure what he’d gotten himself into. Maybe he wasn’t an adventure after all. Maybe he was just a plaything that those rich fucks from the city would discard once they were done with it.
He leaned forward, placing his elbow on the table. If he’d been one to just roll over, he would have done so a long time ago. He could have signed the contract at the local factory when he turned fourteen, just like his parents had done before him, like his uncle had done who took him in after the masked ones carried his parents’ bodies out of their house, like all his classmates did, and all the neighbours and everyone Ghoul had ever known before he packed his bags and hitchhiked across the State to escape the fate the Witch had dealt him at birth.
“I’m down for a threesome if you wanna share ‘em,” he said. “You’re looking good, for your age. But I ain’t getting buttfucked by a stranger, just so we’re clear on that, sweetheart.”
“I can assure you, I have no interest in getting personally involved.” Korse’s voice sounded somewhat condescending.
“So you’re just gonna sit in the corner ‘n jerk off while I give it to the missus? That’s weirder, don’t ya think?”
“My husband derives pleasure purely from watching,” Poison interrupted. “There will be no need to interact. You can just ignore the fact that he’s there at all.”
They were obviously trying to defuse the tension at the table, but Ghoul kept glaring at Korse. He felt something boiling underneath his skin, the same thing that had driven him out of his uncle’s house and made him spend the few carbons his parents had left him on a can of gas and a box of matches before he left.
The image of the crashing building flashed before his eyes again. Three stories, the walls once white and pristine, all collapsing into dust. He’d been filled with a burning anger that left his mouth tasting bitter for as long as he could remember.
“The pills, ain’t it? Heard some folks can’t get it up anymore ‘cause of ‘em. That’s a shame.”
He placed his hand on Poison’s bare thigh, making sure that Korse could see it, his fingertips grazing the hem of their dress. Their skin was soft, just a fine net of invisible bumps made the surface feel a little uneven.
Ghoul was still looking only at the Exterminator. All the pretty, shiny things that weren’t meant for him, he’d take them away from people like Korse. He refused to know his place. He wouldn’t be a dying body to feed their machines. He wouldn’t be a plaything for the night. He’d cover Poison in sweat and cum and make them forget Korse’s name. Three stories, all collapsing into dust.
“But I’ve got ya covered,” he added. “They’ve got me rockhard already.”
“Save it for the bedroom, tiger.” Poison cupped Ghoul’s hand with their own; he could feel their long nails through the gauze covering his skin. They pushed it away firmly, placing it back in Ghoul’s own lap. Their tone was still light, but there was a warning edge to it.
They seemed agitated as they turned towards Korse, the fingers of their other hand drumming an uneven rhythm on the tableplate again.
“So what do you think, honey?” Ghoul couldn’t quite place it, but suddenly the sweetness in their voice sounded fake, just a little too strained to actually be convincing.
“Delightful as always, my love.” Korse reached into the pocket of his coat before dropping a key onto the table. He was now looking at Poison, ignoring Ghoul completely. It was infuriating, but something about the tension in Poison’s shoulders made Ghoul keep his mouth shut for a change. “I’ll just finish my drink and then I’ll join you. Just go ahead and prepare in the meantime.”
Ghoul eyed the glass on the table that was filled with a clear liquid. The glass was dirty, too. It didn’t seem like Korse had touched it yet.
“See you in a bit.” Poison snatched the key off the table, motioning for Ghoul to get up first.
He hesitated briefly, but the idea of getting to be alone with Poison for a bit was tempting enough to motivate him to move.
They took hold of his arm, guiding him towards the exit. They obviously knew where they were going. Ghoul assumed they had been here plenty of times before.
The air outside was cool and refreshing after the stuffy atmosphere inside the club. They didn’t have to walk far to reach the motel next door. It was like the whiskey - fancy only to those who could barely afford it. Ghoul had never been here before. He preferred the backseat of a car or the improvised privacy of a bathroom stall. It felt more honest to him.
Poison checked the room number on the keychain, letting go of Ghoul’s arm. All the doors looked the same, most windows were dark. It was the end of the month.
“He ain’t scared we’re gonna start without him?” Ghoul asked, lowering his voice so it sounded dark and raspy. He eyed Poison’s ass while they bent forward to slide the key into the lock in the dim light.
They turned to throw him a look over their shoulder. Their lips curled sideways again. “We won’t.” The lock clicked soundly as they turned the key.
Ghoul swallowed hard, for another second wondering what he was getting himself into. There was still time to turn his back on the situation and walk away.
Poison pushed open the door. Ghoul watched their silhouette as they switched on the light, their stout thighs, the curve of their ass, their rounded shoulders.
“So he expects us to wait til he feels like joining? I’m no good at doin’ as I’m told ‘n I ain’t good at being patient, either,” he warned, following Poison into the room and shutting the door behind himself.
The curtains were already drawn and a white fur jacket was hanging on the coat rack. Apparently, Poison and Korse had already been to the room before. The bed was still neatly made, though.
“No, he expects us to use the time to prepare.” Poison slipped off their heels, wincing as they placed their bare feet on the carpet. Ghoul noticed the blood on their heels, the flesh red and raw where the skin was chafed.
They turned to meet his eyes, their expression different than before, their smile less sweet. “That means you’re supposed to take a shower and I’m supposed to work myself open.”
Ghoul licked his lips, eyeing Poison closely. “And he wants to miss out on that?”
“He wants a hot guy sliding right into his slutty spouse. Not the dirt under your fingernails and the struggle to make it fit.”
“Ya might be better off taking him to the tech shop.” Ghoul grinned. “Since apparently he wants to see droids fuckin’.”
To his surprise, Poison laughed. The hoarse sound caused a warm tingle to run down his spine. Their laughter sounded real and raw and he felt a weird sense of pride for drawing it out of them. It felt disruptive, like the first subtle tremble before a building collapsed.
“Besides, I already told ya.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I don’t like being bossed around. Don’t like being cleaned up like a toy before use either.”
“Well, the shower is mandatory, if you want to get any of this.” Poison ran their hand down their body until they reached the hem of their dress.
Ghoul scoffed, but he trailed the movement of their hand with his eyes, down their waist and hip.
“Ya really wanna risk that?” He forced himself to look back up at Poison’s face. Their lipstick was smudged on the right corner of their mouth. “I could just head back out there.” He nodded towards the club. “Find myself a honey for the night who’s gonna be a lot less trouble. Someone without a creepy husband tellin’ me what to do.”
“Yeah, but you aren’t going to do that.” Poison’s voice sounded deeper now as if they were paying less attention to their pitch. “I’ve seen you taunting him back there. You think this is exciting. You want him to watch. You want to fuck me better than he can. That’s why you aren’t going to walk out of here. You could find someone else, sure. But it would be boring in comparison and you know that. So stop trying to kid yourself and just go take that shower like a good boy.”
Ghoul exhaled sharply. He would be better off leaving, but Poison was right and he felt too proud to walk out now. It would feel like leaving the field to Korse.
“Fine.” He reached for the hem of his shirt and stripped it off over his head, staring at Poison as he dropped it onto the floor. Briefly, their eyes flickered across his tattooed chest, toned from working and fighting in the desert.
“I’ll take that shower.” He kicked off his shoes as he undid his belt, still holding eye-contact as he stripped off his pants and underwear in one smooth motion, so he was standing in the middle of the room stark naked.
He expected Poison to avert their eyes or to blush like a proper city prude. Flirting on the dancefloor wasn’t the same as being alone in a room with a naked killjoy. They should be nervous if not scared. But Poison seemed perfectly calm as they studied him from head to toe before giving a brief nod of approval that made Ghoul grit his teeth.
Something about them was hard to read. Korse seemed harsh and in control, but his coldness had felt like a defense mechanism, like there were cracks underneath the surface Ghoul would manage to find if he just kept scratching. Poison on the other hand stayed all smiles and mocking tone, their surface smooth and soft, impossible to break. Yet they seemed almost desperate to please their husband. Ghoul couldn’t think of a reason for that. He doubted it was love.
He left his clothes lying crumpled on the floor as he walked over to the bathroom, entering without shutting the door behind himself.
The sink in front of the mirror was lined with a variety of cosmetic products, so he assumed that Poison had gotten ready here before heading to the club.
Slowly, he started to undo the gauze covering his hands. The latest burns were healing well, but the skin on his palms was still reddened and sensitive to touch and sunlight. He left the bandages that were more grey than white at this point by the sink before he stepped into the bathtub.
He would have fought harder, if taking a shower hadn’t been so tempting in the first place. Paying for a room with running water was one of the luxuries he usually didn’t indulge in.
He didn’t draw the shower curtain, making sure he was still fully visible as he turned on the water. The spray was more of a gentle trickle, but the water was hot and the stream steady.
He closed his eyes, turning his head to make sure all of his hair was getting soaked. He opened his eyes again when he heard footsteps, the running water barely creating any noise.
Poison entered the bathroom, turning towards the sink. He had expected them to give him privacy, but they didn’t seem to mind sharing the space. They were barely looking into his direction at all.
Ghoul used the dispenser on the wall to squeeze soap into his sore palm. There was only one kind, hair and body all in one. It smelled of eucalyptus.
He soaped his hair while Poison fumbled with a small medical kit. Ghoul made a point out of not paying too much attention as they placed their foot on the edge of the bathtub, cleaning the blood off their heel. They didn’t even wince as they disinfected the cut, placing a skin-coloured bandaid over the wound afterwards that made it nearly invisible.
Ghoul rinsed his hair, taking his time to massage his scalp, feeling the tension fade from his sore muscles slowly.
“Don’t use up all the hot water,” Poison said. “I’ll want to shower once we’re done, too.”
Ghoul blinked, wiping his eyes to make sure he wouldn’t get soap into them as he turned to look at Poison who was leaning towards the mirror in order to fix their smudged lipstick. The glass was turning foggy; they had closed the bathroom door behind themself when they’d entered.
“A cold shower ain’t gonna kill ya.” Ghoul scoffed. “City folks like you can’t handle shit. Ya wouldn’t be able to handle one night out in the desert by yourself. You’re all pampered.”
He squeezed more soap into his palm and made a show out of lathering his body thoroughly, humming contently to emphasise how much he was enjoying the hot stream of water on his skin.
Poison scoffed and put the lid back on their lipstick. They weren’t looking at Ghoul directly, which bothered him more than he liked to admit. They seemed uninterested in setting the mood now that they had lured Ghoul back to the motel room, like they were simply preparing for a business exchange.
“And it wouldn’t kill you to not be a dick.” They turned their head to finally throw him a reproachful glance while taking off their earrings.
Ghoul met their eyes, sliding his hand down his body to wash his balls while holding their gaze, trying to provoke Poison into a reaction by reminding them what exactly it was they were getting ready for.
“It would be a lot less fun that way, though.” He grinned suggestively.
Poison batted their lashes. “And that’s exactly how I feel about hot showers.”
Ghoul laughed. Even if Poison riled him up, he couldn’t help but admire them a little. He had never met anyone from the city who’d been able to give him that much counter before.
Poison turned away again as Ghoul rinsed the last remaining soap off his body. He kept his eyes on Poison, though, who now reached up under their short dress, revealing more of their soft, pale thighs. Without any sign of hesitation, they slid their panties down their legs, letting them drop to the floor around their ankles.
Ghoul’s dick twitched as he stared at the flimsy piece of black lace between Poison’s bare feet. They had really just worn that, something so delicate and impractical, not meant to be functional but pretty, another city luxury that Ghoul had never even dreamed of before. The lace was probably still warm from being pressed snugly to their skin, it probably still smelled like them, too, of flowery perfume and musk.
Poison stepped out of their panties carelessly, not bothering to pick them up.
Ghoul switched off the running water. He cleared his throat. His mouth felt dry.
“Hand me a towel, will ya?”
Poison turned, their smile almost sweet as they picked up a towel and held it out to Ghoul. Their movements were smooth, the shifting of their weight subtle. He imagined their body underneath the dress, now completely naked, the silky fabric stretched across their bare ass.
He swallowed hard before accepting the towel, Poison’s eyes never once left his face while the water dripped down his naked body.
He started towelling off his long hair, watching as Poison bent over, bracing themself against the sink. He watched as they reached down between their legs and it took him a moment to realise what they were trying to do. It seemed like they were trying to remove something; something that judged by the angle had to be buried deep inside of them.
Ghoul licked his lips. “Ya need help with that, sugar?”
Instead of answering, Poison let out a little grunt, shifting their position to prop up their leg further. The hem of their dress rode up, allowing Ghoul to catch a glimpse of their butt cheeks. Their hand was still buried between their legs.
He moved on to dry off his body, his dick half-hard already from watching Poison squirm. He had no idea what was taking them so long and he wondered if maybe they weren’t trying to remove anything, but were rather fingering themself open right here next to him. Their breathy grunts sounded frustrated rather than turned on, though.
“Son of a rabid coyote, fuck ‘em damned nails,” Poison suddenly cussed and straightened themself. “Gonna claw my fucking asshole bloody with these motherfuckers. Destroya, stupid city cunt who gave ‘em to me never had anything up her fucking hole, I’m tellin’ ya.”
Ghoul stood frozen, unable to process their change of tone right away. Poison’s voice sounded darker now as they slurred their words in the typical accent of the Zones. They grabbed the nail on the right pointer and ripped it off forcefully with a low growl. The nail underneath looked white and thin, damaged by the torn-off glue. They didn’t even flinch.
“You’re desert candy,” Ghoul finally concluded.
All the little things that hadn’t seemed to match up at first fell into place: how unfazed they had seemed by his attempts to provoke, how they’d downed the whiskey to not let it go to waste, the little bumps on their thigh where even the expensive doctors from the city hadn’t managed to smooth out the scar tissue completely, how eager they seemed to please Korse.
Poison looked up abruptly. “Call me that again and Imma punch ya hard enough to make you see the Witch.”
Ghoul scoffed. “It’s what you are, though.” He finally wrapped the towel around his waist to cover himself. “Something sweet for the big man from the city, for him to chew on and spit out when he’s done with you.”
“He won’t spit.” Poison grabbed the nail on their thumb and ripped it off with the same vicious movement.
Ghoul bared his teeth in a mocking grin. “And yet you’re the one who seems to be swallowing, babe.”
Poison’s nostrils flared as they inhaled sharply. Ghoul had finally found the cracks in their surface, the ones he could use to pry them open and break them down. He stepped out of the bathtub, making sure he wouldn’t slip on the damp tiles.
“I’m doing what I gotta do.” Poison raised their leg, reaching down under their dress again. Ghoul studied their profile.
“And what’s that? Getting all cushy with that city bastard? Taking their pills, singing their praise? Class traitor.”
He felt queasy as he watched Poison pulling something out of themself, seemingly without effort this time. Only their breath hitched briefly and then their hand reappeared from underneath the dress, holding a silver plug between their fingers, perfectly shiny and smooth and slick with lube.
Ghoul stared at the toy as they placed it next to the sink, wiping their fingers on the front of their black dress. He thought of their hole, eased open and wet with lube and he wanted to press them against the sink and fuck them right here. He wanted to remind them of their place, of what the desert felt like, free and wild and raw. He wanted their voice to turn hoarse as they cried out curses no one in the city had even heard of before. He wanted to break down their pretty facade like another building crashing down, he wanted to destroy what they had built.
He exhaled slowly, the anger bitter on his tongue. He’d always looked down on desert candy, the people who married into the city, who took their chance on a supervisor from their factory or a pig they’d met on patrol, who traded their roots for a comfortable life. He didn’t know if he wanted to walk away or if he wanted Poison more badly than before.
“A fucking Exterminator, too,” he spat out. “How can ya live with yourself?”
“Well, I’m living.” Poison turned to face him, leaning back against the sink. Their dress looked rumpled. “I was starving. I was freezing. I was tired of fighting for my life all the damned time. I told you, you can’t live off pride alone. So I swallowed mine ‘n I don’t regret it.”
Ghoul snarled and took a step closer, not sure if he was trying to intimidate Poison or if he wanted to touch them. “You’re scum.”
“What choices did we have?” Poison met his eyes, their long lashes caked by mascara, their iris a mesmerising shade of green. “Die in their factories making minimum wage? You didn’t want that. Picked up a gun instead, ‘n I’m sure you did things you ain’t proud of either.”
Ghoul swallowed. He remembered the first time he’d pulled the trigger on something other than a practice target. His hand had trembled. He still dreamt about that day sometimes.
“You’ve got blood on your hands. And I’ve got these.” Poison held up their right hand, the three remaining bright red fake nails looking even more absurd in comparison to their natural ones. “We ain’t that different, honey.”
Ghoul shook his head. “Suit yourself, but this shit ain’t for me. I’m out.” He tried to reach past Poison to pick up his old bandages, but they stopped him short.
“Let me help with that,” they offered, their voice surprisingly calm. “Ya don’t want it to get infected.”
Ghoul hesitated, but he sighed and held out his hand when Poison picked up their medical kit. Clean gauze wasn’t always easy to get by.
They got out a wound ointment first, taking hold of Ghoul’s hand and using their thumb to massage it into his palm. Their skin felt incredibly soft, but he could feel the long nails digging into the back of his hand. Their touch was gentle, though. They had barely touched him at all so far and the care with which they did it now surprised him. They kept their eyes focused on Ghoul’s hand, allowing him to study their face.
They looked concentrated as they cut off a generous piece of gauze and started wrapping it around Ghoul’s hand. Their motions were practiced and secure, like they’d patched up wounds like this a million times already. Ghoul used to do it for his mother, when her hands were too shaky to do it herself after a long shift.
“How’d ya meet him anyway?” He was surprised how soft his voice came out, too.
“I was working the fringes. You know, those abandoned buildings right outside the Lobby?”
Ghoul hummed. Years ago, BLI had built housing units for Zone workers at the fringes of the city, now abandoned because the citizens of Battery City couldn’t handle that much despair right on their doorstep. He’d heard rumours that it was where adventurous citizens went when they grew bored of their droids and wanted to buy a little skin on skin instead.
“It’s technically within city limits, even though the desert sand is blowing in through every crack.” Poison scoffed. “Anyway, they arrested a bunch of us that night. Kept us in their damned cells for days. Korse was in charge of the interrogations.”
They were almost done wrapping Ghoul’s hand, pausing briefly to gaze up at him with a mischievous grin.
“He wanted to know what I was doing at that place. So I told him exactly what I was doing, how I was doing it and who I was doing it with. He liked that. I could tell.”
They looked back down, fastening the end of the bandage, so it would stay securely in place. Their tone was light, downplaying their own agency, but Ghoul was pretty sure that they had read Korse like an open book.
He lowered his bandaged hand, now wrapped in bright white city gauze, fresh and clean. Underneath, it was still the same old wounds, though.
He held his other hand out to Poison wordlessly.
“I liked him, y’know?” They rubbed the ointment into Ghoul’s other palm without hurry. “He’s smart. Handsome. Dangerous, just a bit.”
Ghoul remembered the authority in Korse’s voice and his piercing gaze. He understood what Poison meant. He seemed secure, capable of keeping someone safe.
“He’s kind, too,” Poison carried on. “And funnier than you’d expect. He was a catch.”
They cut off another piece of gauze. Their voice sounded surprisingly fond.
“He’s still an Exterminator. It’s fucks like that keepin’ us down. You’re okay with switching sides? Don’t ya remember where you came from?”
“I remember what it’s like to suck a stranger’s dick to afford food.” Poison’s hands were still steady, but they pulled the gauze tighter abruptly.
“Ain’t all that different now, is it, sugar? Still whoring yourself out for a mealticket. Hubby’s paying now, but it seems you’re still suckin’ a lotta dick to keep him happy. Only difference I see is that now you’ve got a pimp.”
“It’s different.” Poison’s voice turned sharp. “I choose my partners, I decide what we do. I get to sleep in a proper bed and usually …” They threw a quick glance at the bathtub. “... I get to take a hot shower afterwards.”
Ghoul felt the slightest pang of guilt as Poison fastened the second bandage.
“Besides,” they added, inhaling deeply. It seemed to calm them down a bit. Ghoul lowered his hand. “The show is for him. The dress and the voice and the stupid fucking nails. The candy.” The last word sounded bitter and dry.
Ghoul drew his shoulders up slightly.
“But the sex, the fucking …” Poison paused and Ghoul looked up, meeting their eyes. The word hung between them and he could feel his heartbeat in his throat. Poison was glaring at him, not angry but challenging, like they were daring him to take the bait. It was the same look they’d thrown him across the dancefloor. “... that’s for me.”
They grinned, their smile tilting towards the left. Ghoul swallowed.
“I’ve got too much desert in me to be caged inside those city walls. I need to get my needs met every now and then.”
It took Ghoul a moment to process the words, but then he tilted his head towards the motel bedroom. “You mean, he doesn’t …?”
“He wanted a desert slut.” Poison’s grin turned cheeky. “But he’s got a city cock.”
Ghoul laughed. He tried to ignore the glee bubbling up in his chest.
“He wanted a whore ‘n got a wife instead. You know how repressed these city folks are.” Poison leaned forward, lowering their voice as if to confide a secret to him. “Madonna whore complex so good, he can’t get it up unless someone else is fucking me.”
Ghoul let his eyes trail down to Poison’s pink lips, down to their exposed shoulders, their curves underneath the tight dress. He placed his freshly bandaged hands on their hips, giving the soft flesh a deliberate squeeze.
“You’re saying he’s payin’ for all this?” Ghoul thought of all the money that must have gone into creating this version of Poison. The payment for the marriage license, the money for surgery, removing the scars and marks of growing up in the desert, the straightening and whitening of their teeth, the clothes, the makeup, the perfume, the food and the showers and the silk sheets, the hairdressers and nail salons and all the other luxuries. “‘N he doesn’t even know what to do with it?”
Poison laughed quietly, that hoarse laugh that sounded wild and free.
“He’s nothing but respectful,” they confirmed.
Ghoul growled low in his throat, stepping even closer while keeping his hands on Poison’s hips, so he was pinning them with their back against the sink. The damp towel around his waist was pressing against Poison’s thigh.
He’d been excited by the idea of cuckolding Korse before, but now he felt positively riled up by the fact that he and Poison were actually alike. Underneath the city looks they were wild and untamed and Korse would never be able to access that part of them. Even if he didn’t agree with Poison’s life choices, they shared a hunger, a determination to wrestle more from life than what the Witch had dealt them.
He leaned in, so close that their lips were almost touching. “I ain’t gonna be respectful,” he whispered. “I promise.”
He felt Poison’s hot breath against his lips as they exhaled softly and his stomach somersaulted with anticipation. Just then, the door of the motel room fell shut soundly.
“Fuck.” Poison turned their head abruptly, pulling back right before their lips could touch.
For a moment, neither of them moved, standing perfectly still as they listened to the footsteps next door.
“You sure this is what ya want?” Ghoul whispered, lowering his voice so the words would stay between them.
Poison nodded, turning their head further, their lips now definitely out of reach. “Just want us to have some fun,” they said quietly. Next door, something was dragged across the floor.
“Okay.” Ghoul pressed a quick kiss to Poison’s neck, the only part of them he could currently reach. He inhaled the sweet smell of their perfume. “What do you want? Imma do it.”
He wouldn’t have offered the same to someone from the city, he would have been selfish, treating Poison like a pretty toy he got to borrow for the night. But things were different now that he’d caught a glimpse of the person underneath the mask. It felt like they were on the same side, conspiring to trick the rich guy from the city, the two of them against a system that wasn’t built for them. The kinship made him feel weirdly tender.
He pulled back to get a good look at Poison’s face, waiting for an answer.
They tilted their head, pursed their lips, apparently listening for a moment. The footsteps next door had died down. “He likes it when you talk to me like he isn’t even there. Call me a whore, insult me. Treat me like I’m fucking worthless. That does it for him. Seeing someone so far below him use his prized possession so carelessly.”
Ghoul’s hands were still resting on Poison’s hips. He circled his thumbs in a light caress. Their pitch had changed again. It was high and flirty, like they were trying to tempt him.
“What ‘bout you?” Ghoul asked. “What do you want?”
Poison frowned, for a second looking irritated, like it hadn’t occurred to them to separate their own desires from the things Korse wanted for a long time already.
“I …” They broke off, still looking puzzled, like they genuinely needed to think about it first. “I want you to make him feel like he’s missing out.” They lowered their voice until it sounded husky. “Push his buttons, make him so horny he can barely take it. Then tease him for not being able to fuck me himself.” Something dark was seeping into their voice, their eyes were narrowed. They sounded resentful in a way Ghoul hadn’t expected. “Make him feel pathetic.”
Ghoul grinned and took a step towards the door, giving Poison space to move. He would have liked to steal a kiss before going out, something that was private and just for them, but at the same time, he was eager to get started. Poison’s words gave him such a rush that he felt dizzy.
“Wait.” Poison held up their hand, stopping Ghoul from opening the door just yet. They bent down to pick up their lace panties.
“Leave ‘em.” Ghoul extended his hand, not sure if he actually wanted Poison to take it or if he was just gesturing. “I like your Zone lingerie better.”
Poison snorted with laughter, but they straightened themself, leaving their underwear crumpled on the floor. “Fine.” They met his eyes, their smile surprisingly genuine. As thrilling as the set-up was, for a moment, Ghoul wished it would only be the two of them tonight.
But before he could articulate that thought, Poison opened the door and slipped back into the motel room, leaving it to Ghoul to hurry after them.
The lights had been dimmed, making the room feel somewhat cosier and the run-down furniture a little less shabby. The room was even darker in the corner where Korse was sitting in the armchair, half-hidden in the shadows. He had taken off his coat, but was sitting very upright, looking rather on edge.
Poison’s high-heels had been placed next to the door and Ghoul’s clothes had been picked up from the floor, now waiting for him neatly folded on the bedside table, right next to a bottle of lube and a bunch of condoms.
He raised his eyebrows, weirdly amused by Korse’s arrangements. He didn’t stir at all as they entered, like he was trying to fade into the background. Based on what Poison had told him, he probably wanted to be ignored completely, sitting there like he was watching the private screening of an x-rated movie.
“So here we are,” Poison said, stepping in to block Ghoul’s view to draw his attention back on themself. “You’ve finally got me all to yourself, Fun Ghoul.”
They tilted their head, cocking their hip. Their tone was exalted and they were raising their voice in a way that made Ghoul feel like he was standing on the stage of a kinky improv theatre. Briefly, he wondered just how often they’d performed this exact script before. It sounded rehearsed.
“The question is just - what are you going to do with me now?”
Ghoul hesitated. He felt irritated by how quickly Poison had shifted gears. He was still hung up on that moment in the bathroom, their little frown when he’d asked what they wanted, their hoarse laughter, real and authentic, and the feeling of closeness that was suddenly gone. Ghoul wanted it back.
He took a quick stride towards them, obviously taking Poison by surprise, because they stood frozen as he cupped the back of their neck, pulling them in without wasting another word. The clashing of their lips was awkward. Poison clearly hadn’t expected the kiss and they felt stiff in his arms, their mouth stern and unmoving and they let out a startled noise, before they finally melted against him.
Their lips parted, their lipstick dry and sticky, but their mouth finally soft and slack against his. Their arms wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him in. Without their heels, they weren’t that much taller than him anymore and he wrapped his other arm around their waist, prying their lips apart further until he was met with warmth and wetness.
Poison sighed into his mouth, stumbling backwards as Ghoul pushed them towards the bed.
They bumped into the bedframe, Ghoul felt it against his knee before he lost his balance. They tumbled onto the mattress without letting go of each other, their bodies still entwined. The towel around his waist slipped out of place, but he didn’t care, he was too focused on running his hand up and down Poison’s side, smoothing out the silky dress, feeling the curve of their hip, the softness of their body.
His kiss was getting more aggressive, still clumsy and uncoordinated, his tongue pushing in between Poison’s perfect teeth. They tasted of whiskey and lipstick and sugar.
He shifted his weight, breaking the kiss only to adjust his position. Poison looked up at him, scrunching their nose in a way that looked both disapproving and amused. Ghoul was leaning over them, so their face would be hidden from Korse’s view.
“You smudged my lipstick,” they said quietly. Their tone was accusing, but laugh lines were showing around their eyes. Ghoul hadn’t gotten close enough to notice them before.
He took hold of Poison’s chin, rubbing his thumb across the corner of their mouth where the lipstick was smeared.
“Don’t worry, sugar, you’re still pretty.” Poison’s expression softened and for a brief moment, they looked so vulnerable, that Ghoul almost wanted to avert his eyes to give them privacy. He cleared his throat. “Prettiest thing in the club. Wanted ya the moment I saw you.” He raised his voice, holding eye contact with Poison. “Every guy at the club did. No wonder with the way ya danced. Showing off what a slut you are, like ya were tryna get some right there on the dancefloor.”
Poison gave the briefest nod, so subtle, it was only meant for Ghoul’s eyes, encouraging him to keep going.
“I’m lucky you chose me. Would hate to be one of the suckers missing out on this. I just know you’re gonna be an amazing fuck, baby.”
The corner of Poison’s mouth curled into a soft smile.
Ghoul leaned down, still holding on to their chin as he placed another kiss on their lips, gentler this time, slow and deliberate. Poison parted their lips immediately, kissing back lazily until Ghoul felt almost dizzy.
He was confused when Poison pushed him away by the shoulder. “Kissing’s nice and all that,” they said, loud enough for Korse to hear. “But it’s not the only thing this mouth can do.”
They pushed Ghoul back further, rolling him onto his back so they were able to slide off the bed. There was something practiced about the way they sank to their knees, taking hold of Ghoul’s knees to drag him closer to the edge and spread his legs. It felt like they were back on track with the script he had briefly interrupted with his unscheduled kiss.
Ghoul scrambled into a sitting position, so he could look down at Poison kneeling between his legs, the slit at the side of their dress spread open wide and exposing most of their thigh. They had their back on Korse and Ghoul’s dick twitched eagerly at the thought that he might be able to peek underneath their dress only to realise they were already going commando.
Poison pulled aside the towel that was only loosely covering Ghoul’s crotch at this point anyway. They reached out, wrapping their soft hand around his semi-hard dick. Ghoul inhaled sharply. He had expected a little more foreplay, maybe some kisses on the inside of his thigh, some light strokes to put him in the mood. Instead they just leaned forward, closing their lips around the head of his cock.
Another gasp escaped him, overwhelmed by the feeling of Poison’s hot, wet mouth. His dick started filling out immediately, throbbing in their hand as they sucked him deeper into their mouth without hesitation.
He closed his eyes, trying to gather himself while Poison worked their tongue like they were trying to get him off as quickly as possible.
“Fuck!” He opened his eyes again, for a moment staring ahead blankly before he realised that he was looking right at Korse. He had almost forgotten that he was still there. He was still sitting very upright in his chair, his gaze fixed on Ghoul.
Ghoul knew that he should look away, ignore him as Poison had advised him to, but something hot was pooling in his stomach, a mixture of fear and anger and glee, and he just couldn’t back down. So he met Korse’s eyes, glaring at him from across the room while Poison knelt in front of him with his dick in their mouth. Korse didn’t look away either, his calm making the hair on Ghoul’s arms stand up while his dick grew even harder. Korse’s eyes looked dark, his strong eyebrows were drawn together.
Ghoul reached down, running his hand through Poison’s red hair before grabbing tight. He didn’t force their head down, just held them steady, the gesture possessive and controlling. He was still holding Korse’s gaze.
“Ahh.” He let out an exaggerated moan. “They’re fucking great at this. Do you even know how amazing their mouth feels? Or do ya only read the reviews?”
He hoped for a reaction, but Korse’s expression remained stoically indifferent. He sat with his legs crossed, his hands placed on the armrests of the chair, betraying neither anger nor excitement. It was unsettling and spurred Ghoul on even further.
He looked down at Poison. They were bobbing their head eagerly, their lipstick smeared all over Ghoul’s shaft where it wasn’t covered by their hand. They still hadn’t eased up in the slightest, making it difficult for him to concentrate. He was beginning to see stars at the edge of his vision.
“You’re a cocksucking pro, sugar,” he complimented. “Can tell you’ve got a lotta practice. Must miss that, eh? Surrounded only by ‘em limp city dicks. That’s why you come out to the Zones, to find a nice hard cock to choke on.”
For the first time since they’d gotten down on the floor, Poison looked up at him directly. They rolled their eyes at him, managing to look mildly annoyed even with their pink lips still wrapped firmly around his dick. Ghoul saw the laugh lines around their eyes betraying their grin, though.
From the corner of the room, he heard faint rustling.
He smirked, adjusting his grip on Poison’s hair. The strands felt silky and soft between his fingers, perfectly maintained.
“That’s it, baby, open up that throat for me,” he encouraged and Poison actually lowered their head further until he hit the back of their throat. Their eyes shone wetly, but they didn’t gag. “I know you’ve got experience. Bet ya can swallow a whole cock like it’s nothing.”
Poison sunk down lower on his dick and he could feel their throat fluttering around him. He cursed under his breath, not even trying to hold back his moans.
“That’s what I’m talking ‘bout. Your throat’s so tight. Fucking amazing.”
Poison hummed around his dick and he could feel the vibration sending a jolt of pleasure through him. They seemed to enjoy the praise, but then they had asked him to let Korse know exactly what he was missing.
“Best blowjob of my life, I swear,” he rambled on, thrusting up his hips shallowly. Sitting on the bed, he wasn’t able to fuck Poison’s mouth, which might have been the reason they’d chosen this position in the first place. He leaned back, his eyes flickered towards Korse. The shift in his body language was so subtle, Ghoul couldn’t tell what exactly had changed, but he seemed a little less composed already.
He looked down with a groan as he felt Poison pulling back, his flushed cock slipping out of their mouth, now glistening with spit. Their lipstick was smeared for good and the tears in their eyes had smudged their mascara.
“What ya doin’?” Ghoul growled. “We ain’t done here yet.”
Poison cocked their head, leaning away from Ghoul. “I still have plans for you.” Their voice sounded raspy.
Ghoul chuckled, sliding his hand down to Poison’s chin, forcing them to lift their head. “Oh, I get the problem now. You’re afraid Imma leave as soon as I blow my load in that pretty mouth of yours. But don’t ya worry, darling. Imma go again after. Imma fuck you the way ya like it.”
Poison seemed to hesitate, but they leaned forward just slightly, their wet lips parting.
“We’ve got all night. Imma take my time with you. For now just finish what you started.”
He could actually watch them become more pliant as he talked, the tension fading from their body as they leaned in and took him back into their mouth. He moaned softly.
They were going about it differently this time, bobbing their head slowly while taking visibly deep breaths through their nose. At first, they had seemed determined to get him hard as quickly as possible to move on to the next step on their agenda. But this time they focused on licking and sucking, their eyes fluttering shut, making them look almost dreamy and like they were actually savouring the moment.
“That’s good, sweetheart,” Ghoul praised, placing his hand back on Poison’s head, this time massaging their scalp gently for encouragement. He felt like his brain was slowly dissolving into mush and he wasn’t sure if it had more to do with the fact that Poison had done as he’d told them to, or with the way they were currently swirling their tongue. “Sluts like you need to get fucked, I get it. But I promise, Imma fill both of your holes tonight, Imma take care of you.”
He looked up, gazing directly at Korse again. He felt bolder now, because he had disrupted Poison’s schedule, had gotten them to change their plans, which meant he was the one in control. It made him feel powerful, it made him think of crashing buildings, crumbling into dust.
“Too bad your hubby’s too much of a coward to join us,” he said loudly. “Bet you’d love to get stuffed from both ends at the same time. Maybe I should bring a friend next time.” Poison moaned loudly around his cock, loud enough for Korse to hear for sure.
“Wouldn’t be a problem finding someone,” Ghoul carried on. “They’ll all want a turn when I tell them what a great cocksucker you are.”
Poison moaned again, the vibration sending another blissful shiver through Ghoul’s body. The rhythm they were setting was still slow and steady, but he could feel the heat building between his hips already. His breath was coming heavier, his muscles were tensing.
“You’re doin’ so good, I’m close,” he warned, swatting away Poison’s hand to wrap his own fingers around his cock instead. “Don’t swallow yet.”
Poison blinked slowly, keeping their lips locked firmly around the head of Ghoul’s dick. Their cheeks hollowed as they kept sucking gently, otherwise keeping perfectly still.
Ghoul fisted his cock, the shaft pleasantly slick with Poison’s drool, easing the friction. He jacked himself fast and hard, his mind empty except for the desperate need to get off. His dick throbbed and pulsed in his grip as the orgasm finally hit. His body was flooded with bliss, his toes curled and his mind went blank, leaving him to moan and shudder as he spurted rope after rope of cum into Poison’s warm, waiting mouth.
It took him a moment to catch his breath, feeling disorientated, his body warm and tingly.
He pulled out of Poison’s mouth, his dick growing soft and sensitive.
“Show me,” he commanded. He wasn’t usually as bossy with his partners, but he enjoyed watching Poison follow his instructions. He enjoyed the thought of Korse watching them do it.
Obediently, Poison opened their mouth, sticking out their pink tongue so he could see the white cum pooling on it. The sight sent a small jolt of pleasure through him and his dick gave a tired twitch.
“Okay.” He grabbed Poison’s hair again as he got up from the bed, forcing them to turn. They followed his movements without hesitation, letting themself fall forward onto all fours. “Now show him.”
He expected Poison to protest, because he knew that it was against their established rules. He’d pushed it before by acknowledging Korse directly, but this was taking it a step further.
To his surprise, Poison crawled forward as soon as he let go of their hair though, moving awkwardly on their hands and knees. He stared at their ass as they crawled; the dress had only ridden up further. He himself didn’t move, he just stood there naked, watching as they stopped in front of Korse. Ghoul couldn’t see their face, but he assumed they were still sticking out their cum covered tongue.
He looked at Korse, whose eyes were transfixed on Poison. From where Ghoul was standing, he could now see that his pants were tenting, but he kept his hands on the armrests of the chair. He looked paler than before.
“Now swallow,” Ghoul said.
The room was so quiet that he could hear Poison’s gulp, followed by the sound of Korse’s sharp inhale. It sent a shiver down his spine, making a satisfied warmth glow in his chest. He could see the first cracks in Korse’s controlled exterior, the first tremble of a building about to collapse.
“Okay, doll, ‘s your turn now.” Ghoul stepped forward. Korse was still looking only at Poison, but they turned their head as soon as Ghoul touched their shoulder.
He held out his hands. For a moment, they just stared up at him blankly, their lips puffy, their makeup ruined. But then they caught themself, allowing Ghoul to help them to their feet. They seemed wobbly, holding on to his arm like they weren’t quite sure their legs would carry them. Their knees were red with rug burn.
Ghoul guided them back towards the bed, feeling strangely tender. He stood behind them, reaching for the zipper of their dress.
Their shoulders tensed immediately. “I can keep wearing it,” they said hoarsely.
Ghoul placed his palm on their back gently. “I wanna see you.” He reached for the zipper again.
Poison inhaled shakily, but this time they didn’t protest. Very slowly, Ghoul unzipped their tight dress, revealing the pale skin underneath.
“Gonna strip away the city,” he growled, just loud enough for his voice to carry over to Korse. He stepped in closer, burying his face against the side of Poison’s neck. The smell of flowers was the strongest here, sweet and dizzying. He kissed their skin. “Take away all the fancy stuff. Can’t change what you’re underneath. Just a filthy desert slut.”
He was standing so close to Poison that he could feel their exhale. He kissed their neck again, sliding the silky fabric of the dress down their body. Underneath, their skin was warm and smooth.
The dress dropped to the floor, leaving Poison standing in front of the bed completely naked. Ghoul took a moment to take in their backside, licking his lips at the sight of their round ass, so different from the bony Zone rats he usually hooked up with.
He gently pushed them onto the bed and Poison followed the wordless instructions of his hands, letting Ghoul guide them onto their back. He had expected to find them hard and leaking already, but their dick was still mostly soft, their pubes neatly trimmed.
He crawled up to them, cupping their cheek before leaning down to kiss them once again. They seemed almost as startled as they had the first time, parting their lips only after a second of hesitation. Ghoul licked his way into their mouth, tasting himself on their tongue.
He moved on to their neck quickly though, placing more kisses down their throat, sucking on their skin where their neck met their shoulder, the smell of flowers almost overwhelming.
Very slowly he moved his hands across their body. They felt soft, his fingers sinking into the flesh before it met muscles and bone. The gauze covering his palms had to feel rough against their smooth skin.
They were breathing heavily, but kept perfectly still. Ghoul kissed their neck once more, brushing his lips against the shell of their ear. This time, he felt them shudder underneath him.
“Stay in character,” he whispered. “Thought he wanted a slut.”
He placed his lips back on their throat, sucking hard enough to leave a bruise that would serve as a reminder to Korse for days to come. This time, they moaned, tilting back their head to grant him better access. Their voice sounded high-pitched and a little exaggerated.
He didn’t let it irritate him, though. Instead, he moved down their body slowly, placing wet, open-mouthed kisses on their skin that tasted of soap and salt. Up close, he could see the little imperfections the city hadn’t managed to erase entirely, the stretch marks, the faint memory of a scar on their arm clearly inflicted by a knife.
He kissed his way down their chest. Everything about them was soft, their curves and their skin and their silky hair. Just touching them already felt like a luxury.
They kept squirming underneath him, arching their back and letting out breathy moans.
Ghoul looked up. His hair was drying quickly, but the very tips brushing against Poison’s skin were still slightly wet. Poison was looking at the ceiling rather than returning his gaze.
He reached up, rubbing his thumb over their pink nipple that looked oddly vulnerable next to his bandaged hands. His nails were dirty.
Poison’s chest heaved and he could see a blush spreading down their neck. The colour made them look more alive, less like a porcelain doll or a droid.
He pinched their nipple and they finally did look at him, their cheeks pink and their eyes dark because of how wide their pupils were blown.
“He can dress ya up in all that fancy shit, can buy ya those flimsy little lace panties ‘n shiny jewelry.” He had lowered his voice, not caring if Korse could hear him or not. This time, his words were meant for Poison. “But he can’t get ya to look like this. All turned on.” He licked a broad stripe up the centre of their chest, stopping just before he reached their collarbone. “You’re prettier like this.”
Poison exhaled softly. Their exaggerated moans had mostly died down, but their expression looked weirdly stubborn as they stared up at him.
Ghoul trailed his hand down their body again, running it over their thigh, bringing up their leg so he could lean over them more comfortably. Under his fingertips he felt the uneven pattern on their skin that he now recognised as a delicate web of nearly invisible scars.
He ghosted his fingers across their hipbone until he met their hot dick that had grown harder in the meantime. Poison’s breath hitched as he wrapped his fingers around their smooth shaft. He stroked them, his touch so light it barely offered any friction at all, just coaxing and teasing them. He could feel them growing in his hand, the tip turning wet with pooling precum. His own dick twitched in excitement.
Poison’s breath was coming hard and they were no longer staring at Ghoul like they were trying to challenge him. Their eyes had become unfocused, their lips were parted and they seemed to struggle to stay still.
They kept squirming until they obviously lost patience, thrusting up their hips aggressively to chase Ghoul’s touch and rut into his hand.
“And now, sweetheart …” Ghoul said with a wide grin and pulled away his hand abruptly, leaving Poison out to dry. “... you’re finally with me.”
Poison growled, a low and animalistic sound that sounded so much more raw and wild than their fake moans that it made Ghoul’s stomach drop.
They grabbed the back of his neck, long fingers digging into his skin. They pulled him down while shooting up, clashing their lips together hard. Their kiss was aggressive this time, they weren’t waiting for Ghoul to take initiative. They pried open his mouth, their teeth sinking into his bottom lip, sending a sharp pain down his spine before their tongue pushed into his mouth.
For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. He was dizzy with the way Poison kissed him, their hand firmly holding him in place. His knees felt weak, like he wouldn’t be able to keep himself upright much longer, like a building that had just lost its foundation and would come crumbling down any moment now.
He managed to pull back, gasping for air, pulling Poison into a sitting position.
“Hands ‘n knees,” he commanded. He could finally sense them, the real person underneath the city get-up, the person with a laugh like desert storms. He needed to have them right now.
He scrambled out of the way, pulling Poison forward, so they were on their knees facing Korse in his chair. He tugged away a strand of silky red hair behind their ear.
“Want him to see the look on your pretty face when you come on my cock,” he said.
Poison barked out a short laugh, their grin tilting towards the left and for a second, Ghoul saw something flash up behind their eyes that looked hard as steel.
They let themself fall forward onto their lower arms, arching their back and spreading their thighs; offering themself up to be fucked without the slightest hint of shame.
Ghoul licked his lips. His mouth felt dry as he crawled up behind Poison, staring down at their raised ass. It was round and pale like the rest of their body, the most flawless butt he’d ever seen outside of droid porn, not as shiny but very human. He gave it an experimental slap, watching the flesh jiggle and the blood rise to the surface, colouring their skin a pretty shade of pink.
He placed his hands on their ass that felt exactly as soft as he had expected and pulled their cheeks apart with his thumbs to expose their hole. He whistled at the sight of the pink opening that already looked puffy and slick with lube from being plugged earlier.
“You’re pretty back here,” he observed and looked up, staring right at Korse. “Do ya even know how cute their lil’ hole is? Ya ever bothered to check?”
Korse kept his lips pressed together into a thin line as if he could fade into the background if he just stayed quiet.
Ghoul looked back down, the drying lube glistening in the dim light. It looked so alluring that he couldn’t resist; he leaned down and licked a broad stripe across Poison’s hole, tasting soap and feeling the muscle flutter under his tongue.
Poison jolted, letting out a surprised squeal and he had to tighten his grip on their ass to keep them steady.
“There, there.” He barely raised his head, instead letting his hot breath ghost across their sensitive skin. “Ain’t used to this, are you, sugar? When’s the last time someone ate you out? I know your husband ain’t got the guts to do it. Bet those fuck ‘n run types you meet at the club got no patience for it either. But I’ve got ya. Just sit back ‘n enjoy.”
Surprisingly, Poison did relax, sinking forward even lower while stopping to squirm.
Ghoul dove back in, starting slow, with broad licks to warm them up, keeping their buttcheeks spread for better access. Their sphincter twitched against his tongue, the muscle clenching and unclenching. Just thinking about them tightening around his cock like this made him grow hard rapidly.
Poison’s moans were muffled, like they were hiding their face between their arms. He imagined them flushed bright red, unable to face their husband.
He used the tip of his tongue to tease their swollen rim, circling and sucking and licking as Poison shuddered. Their skin tasted clean and salty, the lube flavourless. He moaned into their ass, letting them feel the vibration of his voice while making a show out of how much he was enjoying this.
They were opening up for him, he could feel their muscles relaxing, allowing him to push his tongue into them. Their hole quivered around him as he licked his way inside.
Poison moaned and it sounded completely different from the high, breathy moans they had let out before. The sounds they were making now were dark and guttural. They made Ghoul think of the low grumble of collapsing bricks. They’d been so controlled until now, so clearly sticking to a pre-determined schedule, so obviously putting on a show. But they hadn’t planned for this, they probably weren’t used to it. Finally, they were falling apart.
He moaned again loudly, flicking his tongue, dragging it back and forth messily. His jaw was already sore, drool ran down his chin because he was getting so sloppy with it. But he wanted to prove that he didn’t mind getting down and dirty. He wasn’t posh, he didn’t know how to talk pretty and there was dirt under his fingernails, but destroya, at least he knew how to fuck.
Poison started rocking back against his face. Ghoul’s fingers were digging into their body hard, but he didn’t attempt to stop them, instead letting them grind back against him as if they desperately needed his tongue deeper inside.
Only when he ran out of breath did he finally pull back, gasping for air as he stared down at Poison’s hole, now slick with drool. They had opened up just far enough for him to catch a glimpse of their pink insides and his dick throbbed urgently, for a moment making him forget everything but the desperate need to sheath himself inside of them.
“Fuck, could keep goin’ forever,” he growled. “Think ya could come with just my tongue in your ass, baby?”
Poison whined. Their hands were fisted into the sheets, their whole body looked flushed.
Ghoul chuckled, leaning back down, sliding his tongue over their twitching hole. He was feeling the soreness in his jaw more acutely now, but he couldn’t get enough of their hoarse moans. He wondered if he could rile them up enough to have them beg for his cock.
He slipped his tongue back into them. They were so relaxed now that he was met with little resistance. Their moans picked up again immediately.
He hummed against their skin, inhaling the smell of disinfectant soap, flowers and musk. For a while, he allowed himself to get lost in it; their smell, their voice, the clenching of their sphincter around his tongue, the soft mattress against his knees, their smooth skin under his hands.
He kept going until Poison’s whines grew higher and they started shifting their weight, spreading their legs even wider as if they were trying to make room for more. Ghoul assumed this was the closest they would get to begging.
He sat up, letting go of Poison’s ass to wipe his wet chin with the back of his hand. He could still taste their skin when he licked his lips.
“Seems like ya need something bigger, eh?” He turned towards the bedside table to pick up the lube and one of the rubbers. He tapped the wrapped condom against Poison’s ass to make them turn their head. As expected, their face was flushed bright pink, their eyes looked glassy.
“I should use one of ‘em.” Ghoul held up the condom. “Given how many cocks you’ve already taken. But I bet a slut like you prefers to take it raw. What do ya think?”
He looked at Poison expectantly, but they just stared back blankly.
“Or are ya scared to catch something ‘n pass it on to your precious husband?”
Poison’s expression hardened instantly. “Fuck me raw,” they said.
“Good girl.” Ghoul patted their ass with a wide grin before he looked up at Korse. He held his gaze as he tossed the condom over the side of the bed carelessly, waiting for a reaction that he was sure would come this time. Korse’s expression seemed more grim indeed, but he made no attempt to stop Ghoul as he popped open the bottle of lube.
He poured a copious amount directly onto his hard and aching cock, even though it made him shudder. His bandaged palms weren’t ideal for spreading the lube, so he made sure to use plenty of it until it was dripping from his dick and down Poison’s asscrack.
He adjusted his position until the slick head of his dick was pressed right against their hole. He was already able to tell how warm and tight they felt. Instead of using blunt force, he kept the pressure steady, feeling their muscles relax until they opened up enough for him to finally sink in.
The heat of their body felt incredible, clenching down on him tight and soft. Ghoul didn’t rush it, he entered them slowly, spreading them open inch by inch. The lube eased the friction and he could tell that Poison was taking deep breaths to stay relaxed. They kept almost completely quiet, their panting muffled, because they were hiding their face against the mattress again, their hands still fisting the sheets.
“Destroya,” Ghoul muttered when he finally hilted, lube dripping down his balls that were firmly pressed against Poison’s ass. “Took all of that without a hitch.” He looked at Korse as if he needed to let him know specifically. “Practice makes perfect, eh?”
He readjusted his grip on Poison’s hips, making sure he had a good hold on them before he pulled back almost as slowly. The slide felt amazing, Poison’s body clenching him tightly. He was glad that he had orgasmed earlier or he would already be rutting into them desperately.
Instead, he thrusted back in without haste, fucking them slow and deep, setting an agonising pace while looking at Korse. He wanted him to see this, wanted him to see how Ghoul fucked his spouse, how he took his time with it, savoured it.
But Korse wasn’t looking at him. His eyes seemed to be fixed on Poison, the way they arched their back, how they moaned into the sheets, their voice whiny and breathless.
“They’re so fucking tight,” Ghoul said loudly and felt Poison clenching at the sound of his voice. “Fucking amazing. Like they’re tryna milk my cock.”
He followed his words up with a deep moan, still forcing himself to keep his pace even. He wanted this to last, wanted to force Korse to sit still and watch Poison shiver and moan for hours if he could.
“Can’t even describe it. Gotta feel it for yourself.” He dug his fingers onto Poison’s hips harder, pulling them back on his cock to change the angle.
They let out another guttural moan, the kind that had escaped them while Ghoul licked them open already, except it was louder and more shameless this time. Ghoul immediately doubled down on his efforts, grinding into the same spot over and over again relentlessly.
Poison trembled and their voice cracked, their moans now raw and real, mixed with little grunts and gasps.
Ghoul looked down as he picked up pace, watching their ass jiggle under the impact of his hips slapping against them. He was starting to feel breathless, heat building between his hips as he watched his flushed dick disappearing inside Poison, the smacking sound of flesh nearly drowned out by the volume of their moans.
“That’s how they like it.” His words were directed at Korse, but he was staring at Poison, their round shoulders, their messy shock of red hair. “They love getting fucked. They fucking love it ‘n you can’t give it to ‘em. Need to come out here just so they can feel a cock inside ‘em.”
The words were tumbling out of his mouth breathlessly, because he was so focused on keeping the rhythm of his thrusts steady.
He briefly checked on Korse, but he seemed even more mesmerised by Poison than before.
“Look at him,” Ghoul ordered, following a sudden impulse. “Look at him, baby, so he can see how much ya love getting fucked by another man.”
He hadn’t expected Poison to actually do it, but they pushed themself up on their elbows immediately, raising their head to look at their husband. Korse’s expression didn’t change, but Poison’s body reacted instantly, clenching down on him hard. For a moment, they just locked eyes while Ghoul kept pounding into them, their body jolting with the impact of his thrusts.
Maybe it was the embarrassment of being watched that sent them over the edge, maybe it was something else entirely. Still looking at Korse, Poison’s body spasmed around Ghoul, clenching and unclenching on his dick until his vision went white and he had to fight the heat building inside him rapidly.
He cursed under his breath, desperately grinding into Poison’s prostate while they came, their moans cut off with an almost surprised gasp. He could tell they were coming hard, just by how long they clenched and pulsed around him before they went limp, letting their head fall down between their arms again.
“Untouched,” he praised. “Ya really fuckin’ love it.”
Keeping one hand on their ass, he pulled out his hard dick with a squelching sound, grabbing Poison’s leg to guide them onto their back. He wanted to mark them, he wanted Korse to remember what they looked like covered in his cum.
Poison rolled onto their back. They had come so hard, cum was sticking to their chest. They kept their legs raised and spread as if they expected Ghoul to plunge right back into their used and swollen hole, but instead he grabbed his dick to fist it quickly while looking down on them. The position they were in created visible belly rolls, emphasising the luscious shape of their body. Their face was bright pink and sweaty.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Ghoul flicked his wrist more quickly. He was already so close, he could feel the heat and bliss prickling under his skin. He looked at Poison, their smeared lipstick, their skin glistening with sweat. He thought about the scars on their thigh and the hoarse sound of their laughter.
With a loud gasp, he finally fell over the edge, the bliss knocking him out as he shot ropes of cum across Poison’s chest and belly. The white formed a stark contrast to their flushed skin and Ghoul kept stroking himself until he was completely spent, until his dick softened and Poison’s body was perfectly glazed.
Then he sat back on his heels, trying to catch his breath. His ears were ringing again, feeling weirdly plugged the way they had right after the explosion this morning. He thought of dust rising from the ruins of a collapsed building.
Poison finally lowered their legs, just lying on their back and panting heavily, obviously trying to gather themself as much as Ghoul. The orgasm had been so intense, it felt like he had to piece himself back together.
A rustling sound made him look up. Korse got up from his chair somewhat awkwardly. His movements looked stiff as he took a step towards the bathroom.
Poison tilted back their head so they were able to look at their husband upside down. Ghoul caught the way Korse’s eyes trailed over their body for a second, covered in sweat and cum.
“If you would excuse me,” he said, his voice pressed and oddly formal, before he turned back towards the bathroom. Poison followed him with their eyes. Neither one of them was looking at Ghoul.
“The usual?” Poison asked.
Korse paused, his hand already on the doorhandle. “Give him all of it. His performance was quite satisfactory.”
Ghoul watched Korse slip into the bathroom, shutting the door behind himself firmly.
“Satisfactory, I should fuckin’ think so,” he muttered and looked at Poison. “He’s gonna jack off in there now or what?”
Poison shrugged. “Witch fucking knows.”
They rolled onto their side to grab the damp towel Ghoul had dropped earlier. They wiped the cum off their body, suddenly appearing busy as if they wanted to get things over with already.
Ghoul felt dizzy. He hadn’t exactly expected them to cuddle afterwards, but with Korse gone and Poison already cleaning up, the scene was falling apart sooner than he had expected. He felt like an invader, like he shouldn’t be here, sitting naked on the bed of a motel room rented by some rich city folks. He refused to get kicked out of places just because they weren’t meant for him, though.
“You’ve got a smoke?” he asked nonchalantly.
Poison scrunched their nose, dropping the dirty towel back onto the bed. “Nah, I quit. He doesn’t like the smell.”
Ghoul scoffed. He had thoughts about Poison molding themself into the perfect fantasy for a pig like that. Now that he wasn’t as horny anymore, those thoughts were a little harder to ignore again.
“So Imma just go then?” he made sure, already snatching his clothes from the bedside table. Thankfully, he was used to getting dressed in a hurry.
Poison shrugged again and got up from the bed, seemingly unbothered by their own nudity as they walked over to the coat hanger. “Once he’s done in there, Imma take a shower and then we’ll probably head back to the city straight away. The mattresses at this place are dogshit.”
“City’s made ya soft.” Ghoul felt tired. He would have liked to sleep in a proper bed tonight in this warm room that had already been paid for, but he was too proud to ask if he could spend the night after they left.
Poison threw him a quick glance over their shoulder as they reached into the pocket of Korse’s coat, but they didn’t comment. Instead, they returned to the bed silently, sitting down to watch Ghoul tie his boots.
Eventually, he looked back up.
“Here.” Poison held out the thing in their hand. “For you.”
For a moment, Ghoul just stared at their hand, trying to process what he was seeing.
He had thought the bills hidden in Poison’s dress were impressive, but it was nothing compared to the thick roll they were holding out to him now. This much money shouldn’t exist in one place. If Ghoul watched his expenses, it would easily get him through the rainy season.
“What’s that?” he asked sharply.
“For your service,” Poison clarified. “He enjoyed it. We were pleased.”
Ghoul felt something flaring up inside his chest and warming his cheeks. He couldn’t tell if it was anger or shame. He despised himself for even thinking about what that money could buy.
“Keep it.” He slapped Poison’s hand away, their long, painted nails suddenly infuriating him. “I’m not a fucking hooker.”
Poison didn’t pull back their hand, even though he had slapped them pretty hard. “I know.” Their voice didn’t waver. “But you’re hungry ‘n cold most nights. And he ain’t gonna miss it.”
Ghoul hesitated. He suddenly felt dirty, craving another shower to wash off Korse’s gaze. It didn’t matter how much he had tried to challenge him, in the end his service had been satisfactory anyway. And yet it would be nice to not count his carbons for a couple of months, to stop worrying for a while where the next meal would come from.
“People like him, they buy,” Poison said. “Folks like you ‘n me, we’re always selling something. Least you can do is not give it to ‘em for free.”
Ghoul licked his lips. He knew that Poison was right. Korse wouldn’t care if he took the money or not. The only one who cared about making a point was Ghoul and it wouldn’t be of much use to him once the nights grew colder.
He met Poison’s eyes. There was a determination written across their face that he hadn’t noticed before. It made Ghoul think of a detonation again, but not of collapsing bricks or dust, not even of the first cracks tearing through the foundation. The determination in Poison’s gaze made him think of that brief moment, right before someone activated the trigger.
He swallowed. Then he extended his hand. “Can’t live off pride alone, eh?”