The quiet surrounding Dash and I was only interrupted by the gentle flapping of her wings and the crunch of the occasional unfortunate leaf that found its way beneath my boots. I glanced over at Dash from the corner of my eye as she continued to hover alongside me, her head tilted back and her eyes to the stars far above. There was a soft, almost tender smile on her muzzle as she looked thoughtfully up to night sky.

My attention was drawn back forward as I felt myself being drawn back to my own thoughts, thinking back to what had eventually turned into a full get together between all the girls. After my near blunder, I had remained in the back as I watched the girls all fully interact with one another. It was heartwarming and also a bit amusing to watch them all talk amongst each other, and even the occasional ribbing that Dash received.

Even while I myself got the occasional glare from either Rarity or Applejack, I saw even a few suggestive glances in my direction as they whispered quietly to Rainbow Dash or among themselves. I wasn’t so dense that I couldn’t piece together what they were discussing, but every so often I tossed them a wink. What I couldn’t be sure of... in what context were they talking.

Rolling my shoulders, I reached my hands behind my head and flexed my muscles. The additional tension resulted in a few pops to issue from my back, both pleasant and unpleasant.

There was a short laugh from beside me, and I turned and met Dash’s gaze, a smirk as well as a blush adorned her muzzle, “It seems I have to give you a massage tonight, Dom.”

I felt a grin crack across my own lips, before I made sure to say appreciatively, “That sounds pretty enjoyable.” As we walked - or flew in her case- we didn’t break gazes, her deep violet eyes staring back into my own hazel, yet neither of us said a word. The only change was her blush seemed to deepen gradually the longer we locked gazes, and the way she kept staring deeply... thoughtfully even knew there was something she wanted to talk about.

But knowing her, she won’t just come out with it...

Letting my smirk fall a bit, my eyes glanced down, noting the fact she was biting her lower lip, before I asked, “Something on your mind Dashie?”

It was only by the slight pull of her head back that I noticed her flinch at all, but she didn’t shy away and she didn’t respond, right away at least. She looked away for a moment, one of her forelegs rubbing the other how a person would nervously rub their wrist.

When she turned back to me, she wasn’t smiling anymore, but she motioned off to the side, “Y-yeah. Come on, let’s cut through the park.” Even as she said it she turned and began to make her way towards the park, not waiting for a response. I didn’t bother arguing that going through the park would in fact take longer. Instead, I followed my mare who had taken to the ground. As I stepped up beside her, I looked down to her with the intention to get some questions, yet I held my tongue as I saw the conflict of emotions running through her eyes. She seemed embarrassed from what the scarlet blush that stretched across her cheeks and over her blue fur showed, and yet her eyes showed sadness, with something else dashing between uncertainty...

...

Dash and I sat under the tree we had first made out under, but this time, it was night, and the kiss we had shared this time had been short and sweet. Instead of the passion filled and drawn out kisses we tended to share, this one had been incredibly short, nearly a peck in comparison. Now, as I leaned back against the tree, on the opposite side per her request in case of prying eyes, we remained silent; enjoying the others company. She lay sprawled out on top of me, and I idly stroked her back, occasionally and boldly a few fingers through her feathers.

This time as I pushed my fingers down the side of her neck, she sighed, before she pushed her hoof against my arm and stopped me. “Dom... about the town.”

I met her gaze, dropping my hand and pressing it against her barrel. I nodded towards her and asked, “Yeah, what about it?”

Don’t tell me she heard about the gossip...

Her ears fell, before she asked, “What have they been saying about you? With how I have been gone... I haven’t heard anything myself. I remember when Zecora first started to come into town, and I know how ponies in Ponyville react to new ponies... even if you aren’t a pony.”

So... it is.

Despite knowing full well what she was talking about, I let out a soft chuckle as I lifted a hand to the bottom of her muzzle and guided her closer and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, closing my eyes as I felt her lean into it, her muzzle even tilting to the side.

I felt her exhale heavily as I pulled away, her tongue brushing against my lips as she licked her own from how close we still were. I opened my eyes slightly, seeing that some of the worry left her eyes from the brief contact. I wanted nothing more than to pull her back in for a deeper, more passionate kiss, if only to distract and take her mind off of the question she had just asked.

The fact that I missed this close and intimate contact with her played a part. Something about her contact was... intoxicating.

Breathing in her scent deeply, I felt her inch closer, almost questioningly. And yet, she instead asked, “So... my question?”

Heh, guess I can’t wiggle my way out of this one...

My smile stretched, before I spoke softly, “When I saw you blushing earlier, I could have sworn your thoughts were on something much different.” Her cheeks lit up, and surprisingly I felt her shift against my body, heat invading my own cheeks as I realized just how close we were; the heat of her body invading my own, and most likely vise versa. I smiled before I shook my head briefly, “Fine.” I let out a dry laugh, “The town is seeing a strange, unknown creature, in an intimate relationship with one of their towns popular residents. All they are saying are speculations, nothing more harmful than words.”

Despite reading the news and hearing about their past exploits from Twilight, I couldn’t find it in myself to believe everything that I was told.

“Dom... we both know you aren’t telling me everything. I thought you promised to never lie to me...” She looked at me, getting both a hostile glare to her eyes, but the way she tilted her head, and maybe the inflection made it seem like she appeared hurt. Whatever it was, the effect was instant, and I felt my heart ache.

“I told no lie.” I responded, knowing without a shred of doubt she was trying to corner me.

“Not telling the whole truth is the same as telling a lie.” She responded back instantly. I blinked, not knowing quite how to respond to such a wise and insightful response from my normally quick witted mare.

I nodded, before relenting to her pleading gaze. “Fine. But know this, it isn’t worth bothering over. Gossip is just that, words.” I couldn’t hold back the sigh, before shaking my head.

Before I went on, she spoke up quietly, “Dominic,” I looked up and held her gaze, knowing how dead serious she was if she didn’t call me ‘Dom’. She reached a hoof up and pushed a bit of my hair from my forehead, a comforting smile gracing her lips as she said, “I know all too well from personal experience, that words aren’t just words. Words can hurt just as much as if I were to crash into a tree. If I break a few feathers, they will grow back. If somepony hurts you with words... that hurts more.”

When did you become such a little philosopher...?

Shaking off my amazement, I nodded and knew; I wasn’t getting out of this. So I did exactly what she wanted, I told her everything. I told her of the days I would hear mares gossiping about how I used the ways of my species to seduce her until I held her mind, almost like a changeling; something I still needed to learn about. I told her how stallions seemed to believe I was using some kind of trick to ‘convert’ her to my ways. Regardless, all the rumors had one thing in common; I was tricking Dash to remain mine and only mine. The one thing I didn’t tell her, was the way they tried to use under the breath remarks to say how I was using her... not just for political, but in ways that I had to fight not to argue against.

As I finished... I couldn’t help but dwell on what I withheld from her. The rumors, while false, had strong backing. Dash spent more time with me than she did any of her friends. And when she wasn’t seen with them or dozing on a cloud, she was either with me, or last seen going into my home. Untrue, but with solid points.

Dash and I remained silent for ten minutes afterwards, neither of us saying a word. Most likely processing the information I had just given her, I knew what must be running through her head.

“Some things are better left unsaid, Dash.” I lifted her muzzle, and I saw tears brimming on the edges of her eyes. I frowned as I saw this. “Let bygones be just that. Now... I believe you were blushing earlier, very much so. What were you thinking about?”

The new line of thought instantly got a reaction, and as her blush returned, she shook her head as a small smile came out. Her charismatic mane bounced as she laughed nervously, but she closed her eyes as she looked down and then asked, “Do you really want to know?”

“Of course.” I answered.

She pressed her muzzle against my chest, and then mumbled softly. I grinned, before shaking her softly.

She grumbled softly, before she said, “I was thinking about what you said earlier.”

My ears perked up at this, and I knew exactly what she was talking about, although I wanted to hear it come from her lips myself. So, I suppressed any humor and asked, “What are you talking about, I spoke about a lot of things earlier. How early exactly are you talking about?”

She groaned, before she said, “You know... when we were with Twilight, and you mentioned,” She paused, and I could practically feel the hesitation, and when she spoke, it was strained, “sex.”

“Ah,” I dragged it out, loving the way she tensed up, “So... you want to have sex? Here of all places?” Despite teasing her, I felt... awkward doing so. Even so, she was reacting... her wings began to unfurl, slowly at first, and then I could feel her breath picking up.

“N-no! I mean yes, b-but.” She stammered, her eyes going wide as she tried to figure out her thoughts.

“Dash,” I spoke calmly, despite feeling the flush expression I knew I was wearing as well. She stopped and looked at me. “Even if not at this moment... is that a step in our relationship that you want to take?”

She kept still. And then she nodded, slowly.

Swallowing thickly, I felt a wash of heat course through my system, suddenly very subconscious of the fact she was currently straddling me. I nodded a bit stiffly, the motion not quite going as smooth as I had originally hoped. “I will admit... I have thought about it before. Yet I never thought you would want to either.”

She smiled, timidly, before she spoke softly, “I’ve never met a stallion before that... that I wanted to be with.” Her eyes fell as she sat up, and I felt my heart skip a beat. The last time she straddled me like this, was when she was hyped up on salt. As she put her forelegs on my shoulders, I had a perfect view of her body. Strong slender legs, perfectly toned and slim body, and as my eyes trailed down... well, I could find nothing I didn’t like. “L-Like what you see?”

A chuckle left my throat as I nodded, my hands trailing down her sides, before hesitantly coming to rest on her hind legs. Despite how nervous I was suddenly feeling, I let my thumbs press against her inner thighs and drag upwards, leaving little furrows in the soft fur.

God... I never thought a mare would look so... hot...

Rainbow Dash timidly leaned against me, her muzzle pressed up against my jaw as a drawn out breath left her muzzle. Her lips pressed against my throat timidly as she slowly pushed her hips against my own, not quite grinding, but very close. It was like lightning was coursing through my body, and my hands shifted on their own accord. I removed my hold from her thighs to instead place them on her flanks, slightly behind her cutie marks. My fingers tightened, and I pulled her closer. Her response was instantaneous. She gasped softly as she pulled away, before bringing her lips upwards to my own, mashing them firmly against my own as she dove in for our most passionate kiss yet.

My heart skipped a few beats as we began our oral battle for dominance. The hesitation we both felt began to bleed away, being replaced by a burning lust and flaming confidence. I had my full trust in Dash, and her trust was unshakable for me.

I finally knew why this mare was so intoxicating. As I felt her body trying its best to seal our union, I made the connection. Never before in my life did I feel such a strong bond with another, so much love, and then to have it reciprocating in just the same fashion. There was always that hesitation, brief or prolonged. And yet, as Dash pulled away just long enough to gasp for air, I looked into her eyes... and I knew. My only regret, was the fact my clothes were separating us. And it was with that knowledge that I had one last thought.

Is this really going to happen, now...?

One Hour Later

I found it hard to breathe as Dash continued to lay across the top of me, and if her heavy breathing was any indication, she was equally out of breath and just as exhausted. The smile stretched across her muzzle was contagious, and despite feeling wet... soaked really, I continued to lie there with her on top of me. She nuzzled against my chest, giggling softly, before slowly lifting her head up. When my eyes opened up, she looked down at me in pure exhaustion, before she spoke breathily, “That... w-was... awesome.”

“Heh.” I looked down and past her hips, watching the torrential downpour of rain that hammered the ground outside. I shifted my gaze back to my partners, before saying, “Awesome how? Getting caught in the rain, or the fact I missed the bridge entirely and ran into the creek?”

“All of it.”

I scoffed, but laughed all the same as grabbed her and rolled us over. She tucked her forelegs into her body and looked up at me, curious. A blush played across her cheeks, and I looked down as she spread her legs in an inviting fashion, her tail waving a bit, and her wings unfurling at her sides.

Bringing one of my hands up, I pressed it against the base of her wing and did my best to wrap it around the stiff and trembling limb. She gasped, eyes not fully closing.

“D-Dom...”

I peeled my eyes away from her wing back to her eyes, and saw concern etched into her gaze. Her eyes weren’t looking directly into my own, rather above.

“You’re... bleeding.”

Huh?

Pulling my hand free from her wing, I brought that hand up and rubbed at my forehead where she was looking, and when I pulled my hand back saw it was smeared with blood.

“Well what do ya know... wonder how that happened...” I mumbled to myself.

And then I felt the sting of pain burst like a wildfire just above my eyebrow. I hissed out in pain, and leaned back so I wouldn’t possibly get blood on Dash. Yet in doing so, I discovered two additional injuries. My ankle hurt... like a fuck ton, and my opposite leg stung near the knee. I didn’t bother hiding the grimace as I rolled onto my hip, before letting myself roll to my back.

My libido was entirely gone at this point, instead replaced by a dull ache across certain sections of my body. The most present pain was in my ankle, but my forehead was in a close second.

“Dom?” Dash poked her head into my field of vision as she looked down at me. Her eyes no longer held any lust, only concern. “Are you alright?”

I smiled as I closed my eyes, feeling a chuckle rumble from my throat as I gave her my response, “No... but I’ll live.”

I didn’t bother opening my eyes as the sound of her hooves moving away made itself known. Soon, the only sound I heard was the rain still hammering away at the ground from outside through the still open doorway. The thought to close it with one of my feet was brief, but I simply ‘meh’ed when I found I couldn’t give two shits.

My body is already wet, Dash is wet... my floor is wet. Fuck it. I thought to myself, opening my eyes and looking at the rustic ceiling, before adding to myself. And fuck that bridge...

The sound of clopping hooves came back to my ears, and just as I turned my attention to where it was coming from, Dash popped back into view above me with a small clump of cloth in her muzzle. It dripped slightly with water was she quickly sat on her haunches, and then transferred it from her muzzle to her hoof, and then to my forehead.

I smiled softly through the pain as she tenderly wiped at my forehead, her eyes darting to my own briefly before returning to the task at hand.

Feeling oddly sentimental, I reached a hand up and brushed it against her cheek, and then her neck. Her eyes darted back to my own as I opened my mouth, and said as sincerely as I could, “I love you Dash... thank you...”

Her cheeks exploded with head, and she looked away briefly as a positively radiant smile spread across her muzzle. She even stopped tending my injury as she took in what I said.

When she looked back at me, she smiled and leaned down, planted a soft kiss on my lips, before she pulled away and said, “I love you too... Dominic. Even if you’re a dumb monkey at times...”

I grinned at her remark, before suddenly feeling it morph into a smirk. I brought both my hands up and make scratching motions at my armpits, “ooh ooh ah ah?”

The sound of her laughter washed away my pains if for only a moment. The sight of her rolling her eyes sealed the deal as well, though she did mumble under her breath, “dumb monkey...”

...

Dash and I were currently in bed, though we were doing everything but sleeping. I was more or less watching Dash as she went through various activities, and currently I was watching her preen her wings. It wasn’t something I have ever seen done before honestly, and the simple was she was using her tongue to groom her feathers, and then her teeth to either pluck broken or rearrange troublesome feathers was actually relaxing to watch. Her eyes remained closed as she worked, oblivious to my watchful eyes.

The bleeding had stopped before we had moved up to my bedroom, and it turned out my ankle was twisted as bad as I had thought, but the running in the rain hadn’t helped matters. The pain in my leg must’ve been from the shock of running and hitting the ground, as there were no physical lacerations how I had been expecting.

Once I presumed she was happy with the way her wing felt, she pulled her muzzle free from her wing, stretched it out, and then refolded it to her side. And as she took a deep breath, I couldn’t help but continue to watch my mare, even as she grimaced and performed another drawn out stretch; almost cat like in how her body moved. Chest lowered, forelegs splayed out forward, wings outstretched, and rump in the air.

I found my eyes remaining on her flank longer than I usually let them. It had been so long since I last slept with someone of the opposite sex, but even longer since I felt the desire to literally jump my others bones. Yet, as I traced the supple curves that made up Dashes thighs and flanks, I found myself marveling in just how... full her body looked. The tight roundness was testament that she had incredible muscle mass underneath her blue fur, and yet the fact she had any curve meant it wasn’t just muscle. Even as my eyes left her flank to run towards her midsection, I found even more to appreciate. Dash wasn’t fat in any means, proof in the lean physic that most of her body had.

Before I had any more time to ogle my mare, there was a cough from her, and my eyes instantly darted towards her own. She was smiling timidly with a cute blush spread across her cheeks, and I noted from the corner of my eye that even her tail was twitching now. The sound of her ‘tsk’ing reached my ear, and she shook her head before saying, “I-If you want to more than look, just say it.”

Her eyes had closed when she spoke, but now they were open. Her cheeks were even darker now, but now she was glaring at me, almost like she was trying to challenge me. Despite this, I let loose a laugh, actually almost sounding like a bark, of amusement. I already knew... she was trying to cover up her embarrassment...

Then again... so was I...

Biting my cheek as I looked at the mare beside me, I swallowed thickly as thoughts and sensations from earlier flashed behind my eyes. And if I was to say anything, it was the same was happening to her.

“Dash?” I said, feeling my throat tighten, a tingling sensation entering my cheeks as well as my gut. Her eyes widened, although a smile was worming itself across her muzzle as she inclined her head towards me. “Would, uh... do you want to have sex?”

I couldn’t help but hit myself repeatedly in my head for how nervous I felt. All that confidence I had earlier was MIA. The fact that I was well into my twenties, have done this on several occasions already, and yet I was acting more like teenager on his first date.

Dash, for her part, seemed more than ready. Her wings were flared, her tail was twitching every other moment, and her gaze had seemed to go from coy... to oddly almost predatory. That was honestly a huge turn-me-on.

She shifted her weight, before seeming to stiffly saunter across the bed a few steps towards where I was lying. Her lips mashing against my own as she continued to move so her body was over my own. I brought my hands up and caressed her body, running my fingers over her firm muscles through her silky fur. I ran my fingers from her jaw down her neck, and then stopped above her withers.

Her chest bumped against my own, and she parted her lips from my own as she slid two of her legs over my body. I grinned as I traced delicate lines down from her shoulders down to her wings. The more we went on, the more comfortable and natural this was feeling.

Her hooves settled on my shoulders, and then she sat down in my lap. The smile on her muzzle said it all; along with the way she seemed to grind her hips through my garments. I felt a wave of heat transfer into my body, bringing with it a shiver of pleasure that ran up my spine. The same seemed to happen to Dash from the way her body seemed to lock up. Her hips shifted back, causing both of us to gasp.

I felt both a wave of pleasure, but just the same I felt a horrible amount of pain as well. I cringed as I released her wings, instead to grip empty air so that I wouldn’t cause any pain to Dash. She didn’t seem to notice my pain yet though.

“D-Dash, ah!”I reached down as her eyes shifted to my own, she finally seeing the state my face was in.

I grabbed her rump and lifted, immediately feeling pressure lift and the horrible pain in my leg starting to turn to a dull throb.

“Dom, are you alright?” She asked, lifting herself off and looking towards my leg. The blush was still very much prominent on her cheeks, but there was now something else drawing her mind.

Giving a weak chuckle, I shook my head and said, “I don’t think so... eh-heh.”

“...M-Maybe we should wait until another time. You’re hurt.”

I wanted to argue, but stopped myself. I wanted this just as much as her, but I found myself forced to realize the fact of the matter. I was hurt some way from earlier... and no matter how Dash and I did this; the injury would hamper, or prevent us from truly enjoying ourselves.

Fate is a cruel mistress.

With a sigh of defeat, I nodded, before saying softly to myself, “Damn... this sucks...”

Dash huffed, before moving away until she was lying beside me again. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at me, even though it was clear she was just as flustered as I was feeling. And yet she tried to play it off by saying, “You got me all excited, only to ruin ruffle my feathers.” She blew a raspberry, turning away indignantly, “so uncool...”

I shook my head as I looked away, massaging my still tender leg, before shooting back my own response, “What’s uncool, is having your way with me, hurting me, and then leaving me over here to fend for myself, all while you are watching.”

From the corner of my eye I saw her eyes narrow as her tail thrashed. I turned and met her gaze, seeing the longing look in her eyes. I felt my cheeks pull into a grin as I made a show of trailing my eyes down her body, and added, “This is your fault... for being so beautiful.”

Heh... que the extra cheese...

Dash looked away for a single moment, before she reached over and prodded my arm, “Hurry up and get better...”

I scoffed, before pulling the covers up a bit.

Fuck that bridge...

Author's Note

Sorry for the Delay, making my way back into the Rhythm...