Ember's

Ember lay back on her bed and sighed. She pushed a thought out to the unicorn stallion at the desk outside. Still no clients, Far?

No ma'am. Looks like it's going to be a slow night.

Ember shifted restlessly. Slow nights were bad nights. Her body's need was making itself known. If no client came to give her what she required, she would have to make do with other means of relief. She licked her lips, her tongue passing slowly over her long, sharp fangs, and considered asking Far Gaze to leave his post and join her. But that would be giving up on the possibility of a client, and it was early still. Somepony might turn up yet.

Meanwhile she would do what she could by herself. It wasn't the same, but it was better than nothing. She let out a long sigh and she slid one perforated hoof down her stomach, licking her lips again in anticipation. Her hoof slid smoothly over her chitin, caressing its way down her body. Her covering of chitinous plates wasn't as sensitive as pony skin would have been, but there was something about doing this in her own form. Few ponies were interested in her the way she was. She understood, but she still appreciated the rare occasions when she could enjoy herself as herself.

Her hoof ran lightly over her ovipositor—tucked against her lower stomach in its sheath—and found its way below, to the wet lips of her marehood. She let out a low moan as she touched herself. She was already burning with need, just that first touch enough to make her drip with moisture, the liquid oozing over the greenish flesh that her probing hoof revealed within her slit. She moved her hoof slowly, drawing it out a little bit, stroking steadily back and forth. Her breath came faster as she worked. Her eyes slid closed as she tilted her head back.

She moved her hoof a little faster, her juices slicking it as it slid up and down between her legs. She was panting hard now, her thighs clenched about her hoof, her back arched.

Suddenly she rolled over onto her stomach. She spread her legs and lifted her filmy turquoise tail, as if welcoming a stallion who wasn't there. She imagined one, calling on years worth of memories containing many different stallions. Someone young and eager, perhaps, like that unicorn colt the other night had been. She remembered what it had felt like when he'd mounted her. Her hoof slipped beneath her to continue stroking her marehood. She bucked her hips down onto it, grinding against it, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she did so.

She pushed harder, her hips moving faster still, holding nothing back now. Her mind filled with images of past lovers; she could almost feel the weight of a stallion on her, filling her. Her body strained, seeking release, her hoof working as fast as she could make it. Finally she was there. Her body shuddered, and she let out a soft cry as a wave of pleasure swept through her.

A moment later it was over and she relaxed, lying still on the bed. She let out a deep sigh. The burning need that had filled her was sated for now.

Ember rose and used a bit of magic to clean herself off. That done, she trotted out into the sitting room and flopped down gracelessly on one of the several luxurious couches there.

Still nobody, I take it? Ember asked Far.

She could hear his faint chuckle in her head. No. I assure you I'll tell you as soon as somepony arrives.

Ember sighed. She felt fine for now, but her need would return well before the night was over if she didn't sate it with something better than her hoof. That was sometimes annoying, but it was what she had chosen. She preferred the constant need to the alternatives.

Ah, there's someone at the door, said Far Gaze.

Ember's ears perked up. She straightened herself, checking that she was arranged in a pose that was both seductive and non-threatening. Once satisfied with that, she closed her eyes to look through Far's.

He was watching a stallion enter the reception room. Ember smiled. She quite enjoyed mares, but she did rather prefer stallions. He was a big one too, maybe not a full-blooded draft pony, but certainly rather on the large side. That was good. And he was fit as well, his muscles showing clearly through his light green coat. An earth pony, which meant no wings or horn to play with, but that was just fine. She licked her lips in anticipation.

Seen through Far's gifted eyes, a hazy aura hung over him. By now Ember could interpret the colors of an aura nearly as well as Far himself. It was mixed, but overall the colors weren't good. This was a stallion with problems. Well, that was hardly surprising. Ember found herself hoping that this would be one of the simple ones, one of the ones where a good rutting to take his mind from his troubles was all he needed. She needed it too. Already the ache between her legs was stirring again.

She drew her attention away from the reception room and concentrated on her breathing, cooling herself with deep, slow breaths. Whatever her own needs might be, the stallion's needs came first. She had sworn to that when she first began her business here, and she hadn't gone back on it yet.

The door opened and her prospective client stepped in. He looked just as good in person as he had through Far's eyes. He wasn't surprised to see her. Some of her clients were, some weren't. This one obviously had expected to find a changeling queen sitting in the middle of the room.

"Welcome," she said. "I'm Ember."

"Bell Pepper," he said with a short, uncertain nod. Now that he was here, she could taste the emotions rolling off of him. Right now it was mostly nervousness. There was also a strong acid tang of guilt with it. She wanted to sigh. Guilt meant that he wasn't just stressed about something. Guilt meant an issue he would need to work through first, probably. There was also an intense need. He was not aroused, exactly, but there was something he longed for, almost desperately. She knew that emotion well.

"So, you know what I am."

"Yes. You can be... anyone."

"Indeed. Who do you want me to be?"

The guilt grew stronger. He looked away from her for a moment, then back. "My wife."

Ember suppressed another sigh. "I cannot exactly mimic someone I have never met," she said instead.

"I could describe her? It... it wouldn't have to be exact."

"I see. Very well, go ahead."

"She's a unicorn. Kind of average build. Her coat is cream colored. Hair is pink. Her cutie mark is a golden bell."

Ember nodded, forming a mental image of the pony in question. She willed her transformation magic to life, and a moment later green fire had swept over her, replacing her native form with that of an ordinary pony mare.

"Is this close enough?" she asked, her voice now a soft alto.

"Y-yes," said Pepper. The emotions from him shifted. Guilt was still there, strong and sour. Fear, also, came from him, bitter and acidic. Love was there too, though, sweet and delicious. Ember pulled a thread of it in from him.

It was enough to know that she could not go ahead in good conscience without knowing more. "You love her," she said softly.

The stallion gaped at her. Hesitantly he nodded. "Yes. We... we've only been married a year now, but I love her like I've known her all my life."

"Then why are you here, and not with her?"

"There are things..." he swallowed, the fear stronger. A thread of shame came from him as well. "There are things I can't do to her."

Ah. So that's how it is. Ember was suddenly nearly certain she knew where the problem lay. "What sort of things?"

"I have... fantasies. I saw a picture once, in Playcolt. It... I... It made me want things. Or no, I always wanted them, I just didn't quite know what they were. But I can't! I just can't do them to her. I'd hurt her. I could never hurt her." He was flushed now, the emotions he'd held within bubbling to the surface, their flavors becoming stronger, clearer.

"Describe these things," said Ember gently. "In detail. Start with the picture you saw, if that helps."

A flash of red-hot desire came from him, spicy and strong on Ember's tongue. His cheeks were flushed and his ears were twitching as he started speaking. "The picture I saw was of a mare wearing a saddle and bridle, with her... her back hooves tied down. She was looking back over her shoulder, holding out her reins. I... I pictured my wife there, like that. I imagined that I took the bridle, and used it to tie her head down, so she couldn't move. I... In my mind, I yanked her head around roughly and called her things. Horrible, crude things. I pulled up her tail, I didn't wait like I always do until she was ready and lifted it herself, I just pulled it up and took her. Slammed my cock right into her." He was breathing hard now, his eyes wide and distant. "I... I bit her mane too, pulled on it hard, and called her more names, and just... just took her. I... I heard her screaming, and she fought the bridle, and said no, and I did it anyway. It was so vivid, thinking about doing that to her. I want to hurt her. I want to say terrible things to her. I want to do terrible things to her. But I can't. I know... you probably won't let me hurt you either, but I could..." he paused and licked his lips. "I could say things. You could... pretend to say no. I could just take you anyway. Couldn't I?"

He shivered, and Ember could see that he was aroused, his cock standing free of its sheath beneath his barrel. The sight, coupled with the lurid description he'd just given her, sent a wave of need through her. She wanted him desperately. She could almost have leaped on him and taken him as carelessly as he had described wanting to take his wife.

Instead, she spoke, her voice betraying none of her need. "Have you ever wondered why a picture like that would be in a magazine like Playcolt?"

He blinked at her. Obviously he hadn't wondered that prior to this moment. "I suppose it's because of sick deviants like me," he finally said, his ears going flat back.

Ember smiled at him and shook her head. "Playcolt is not exactly a fringe publication," she said, her tone gently chiding. "It is vastly popular, and I can tell you that it never publishes anything that won't appeal to most of its readers."

"But... the picture?"

"Wanting to have a mare in such a position is normal," she said. "It's one of the more common fantasies out there. You share your urges with many, many other stallions. It's perfectly ordinary, and perfectly natural. And," she added with a little wink, "as a female, I can assure you that it is also normal, natural, and incredibly common for mares to fantasize about their stallions doing such things to them. If you told your wife your fantasies, it's quite possible that you'd discover she shares them."

"I... I couldn't. I could never actually do any of this to her. There's no way I could ever hurt her."

Ember gave him a compassionate look. "Pepper... if you do those things to me, tonight, and then go home to her, do you think that won't hurt her?"

"She won't know. I know it's not right, but I'd never tell her."

"She won't know, but you will. The guilt will always be with you. You'll be miserable. Do you think she won't notice? Do you think she won't care? If she loves you as much as you love her, she'll be miserable too, to see you so unhappy."

Pepper's head sunk, his ears drooping low. "She does love me."

"You would hurt her, if you did this."

There was a long silence as he stood there, the very picture of misery. "I know," he finally said. "But I have to. I saw the picture months and months ago. I think about it more all the time. I'm going mad with wanting this. I have to do something about it."

"Yes you do. But that something isn't with me. At least not now. You have to tell her what you want."

"She'll be horrified."

"It's possible. But it's not very likely." Ember gave him a little wink again. "I said this once already, but I'll say it again. Most mares have similar fantasies. It's incredibly common, even more common than it is among stallions. Nearly every mare I've ever met has at least a little bit of an interest in sometimes having rough sex like you describe. Bridles, name-calling and all, might I add. And I can tell you that I do see quite a few mares here, it isn't only stallions who come to me, so I know what I'm talking about."

Pepper's head came up just enough for him to look at her. "You mean that?"

"Yes. I don't know your wife, but I know mares. There's a small chance she won't be interested. There's a much larger chance she will. And even if she's not, if she really does love you, she won't hate you for wanting this. She'll find a way to help you."

"What if she doesn't? What if she does hate me?" whispered Pepper.

"If she hates you merely for having a fantasy, then she never loved you after all, and it's better to know that now, rather than later."

"But what do I do if she does? I can't even imagine telling her this."

"Can you imagine coming to me every time you start fantasizing for the rest of your life? The fantasies will come back, you know they will. Can you imagine having to hide this secret from her forever? Can you imagine always living a lie, making both of you miserable, and she'll never even know why? That's what you face, if you don't tell her."

"I... I guess you're right. I just... I can't help but be certain she'll be horrified. What will I do if I lose her? I love her so much."

"You have to trust her. If she really does love you she'll find a way to make you happy, even if it horrifies her at first. If she doesn't love you enough to try, then you come back to me, and I'll give you your every fantasy, but I won't do it when it will make you miserable."

He sighed, sitting suddenly on his haunches. "I thought... I thought I was just going to pay for a good time."

Ember chuckled. "Well, you should have gone somewhere else then. I live on love, Pepper, not on guilt."

"Oh."

"I'm glad you came to me, though. You'll tell your wife, won't you?"

"I guess I will."

"And then either you two will have the most mind-blowingly amazing sex you've ever had in your lives," said Ember with a grin, "or you'll find out that you are just not compatible, which is something that's better to know now than after years of misery trying to make something impossible work."

"Heh. I guess so."

"I know so. Now go out there and tell your wife how much you love her, and how much you want her in all your fantasies, even the wild ones."

Pepper straightened a little. "Put like that, it doesn't sound so bad."

"That's because it's not bad. It's good."

"I'm not completely sure I can believe you..."

"You can. Now go." Ember let go of the mare's form and reverted to her own in a flare of green fire. "If you need to come back, I'll be here. But you probably won't. The stallion at the desk will give you your money back." She made a shooing gesture towards him. He gave her a slightly shaky smile and retreated out the door. She heard him refusing Far's offered refund. Apparently he thought that what he'd gotten was worth the fifty bits, even if it hadn't been what he'd originally wanted. Ember smiled a bit at that.

When Pepper was finally completely gone, Ember flopped back on her couch with a deep sigh of frustration.

You did good, said Far, sounding amused.

Life is utterly unfair to me sometimes, Ember replied wryly. He was so dang hot! And his little fantasy! She squirmed on the couch. Just thinking about it was making her soaking, now that she wasn't fighting it.

Far laughed in her mind. Well, maybe he'll be back.

I doubt it. His wife would have to be crazy to not be interested.

You never know.

Eh. I'm not going to wait. Put the spell-alert on the front door and get back here, you, she said, getting to her feet and walking into her bedroom.

If you insist, said Far, still laughing.

I do. Ember went into the closet attached to the big bedroom and started rummaging around.

What are you looking for? asked Far as he set the spell that would let them know if anyone came in the front door.

What do you think? The bridle and the hoofcuffs, of course!

Oh, so it's going to be like that, hmm?

Yes, it's going to be like that! Now quit laughing at me and get back here, unless you want to be the one wearing them.

Yes ma'am.

***

It was several hours later, and Ember and Far Gaze lay entwined together in her bed, both of them feeling drowsy, content, and quite worn out. They had done everything from Pepper's fantasy, and quite a few more things besides. As they lay together, basking in the afterglow, the magical chime that meant somepony had just come in the front door sounded.

Far groaned and rolled over.

"I'll go get it," said Ember. "I've worn you out rather thoroughly."

"I won't argue," murmured Far drowsily.

Ember stripped the worst of the sweat and other fluids from her carapace with a spell, then trotted out through the sitting room and into the reception room beyond. Somewhat to her surprise she saw Bell Pepper standing there. "Pepper?" She blinked at him, testing the air to see if he tasted of despair, but instead found an intense flavor of contentment mixed with gratitude.

He didn't look like he'd been rejected either, she realized. The tangled mane that at first had looked like he'd been running his hooves through it in distress suddenly looked more like the sweaty results of something much, much more fun. He smelled faintly of sex too.

"I wanted to say thank you," he said.

Ember laughed. She drew in a generous share of the wonderful, delicious emotional energy he was giving off, but she wasn't going to keep him here. "You're more than welcome. I'm glad it worked out well for you."

"Did it ever!" said Pepper, grinning.

"Well, if it did, then what are you doing here? Go on, go back to her. If you have the energy in you to walk down here, you should be getting ready for another couple of rounds!"

Pepper laughed. "Maybe. Though she was asleep when I left. But... thank you. Thank you so much."

"I didn't do that much."

"You did."

"Well. Okay then, you're welcome. Now get going."

He nodded and, with one more wave, turned and left. Outside, the streets were gray with pre-dawn light. It was almost sunrise. Ember yawned. Her needs had been met for the night, and her client satisfied as well, even if those had turned out to be two different events this time. Now it was time for her to go to bed and rest.

Hopefully tomorrow would be another busy day.