Octavia bit back harsh words as she entered his chambers. Well. I now know where the Artist Formerly Known as Vinyl Scratch hid the mess, at least...

The DJ's room was even messier than normal. The half that held the storage shelves for all her audio equipment was tidy, especially with half the equipment still being in the hallway downstairs. The rest of the room, however, had forgotten the 'organized' in 'organized chaos', from the pile of laundry in the corner to the stacks of bills and to-do lists and receipts to the overloaded chest in the middle of the room.

The climb upstairs from the utility room to his bedroom had dampened their fires somewhat. The cramped confines of utility room had forced them to stay close, and concentrated their scents so that both were overwhelmed. With bright light and fresh air, they had to face each other. In sort, it was awkward, and even as they entered his room, the silence was oppressive, a measure of silence breaking the flow of the song.

"So, you have to tell me," Octavia said, as she spread out on his bed, to break the silence. His bed was the other small nexus of tidiness in Cole's bedroom. She didn't mean to tease at all, just get comfortable, but when she looked over her shoulder she noticed him apparently studying her cutie mark with great intent.

"Yeah, sure." Realizing he had been asked a question, he shook his head and looked up. "Oh, wait, what? Sorry, Tavi, I..."

Octavia gave a laugh, polite but warm, as she stretched out languidly, for once enjoying a stallion's eyes on her. "It's okay, Cole, really." Octavia rolled on her back, looking up to the faux stallion - and demurely holding her legs together, so that his eyes wouldn't catch a glimpse of her too soon. "Now, tell me: What's it like being a colt?"

"A colt? Well..." He laughed, and rubbed at his neck with an absent hoof. "To be honest, it's kind of achey." He looked into Octavia's eyes. "No shame, okay? We're two grown ponies, we can talk about this like adults."

Octavia nodded. "Of course."

"Well... I kind of... haven't figured it out yet. Walking, that is. To be honest, I'm looking forwards to the spell ending so I can go for a trot again," Cole laughed wanly.

She tilted her head. "Walking."

"Yeah. It's..." Cole grumbled, and turned around. "Well... just look at them." With that, Cole turned, rested his haunches on the bed, and hiked his tail.

Octavia had, of course, seen the like before; even in Canterlot where fancy dress was commonplace, nudity was still ever-present. But she had been raised up right, and she knew not to stare, not to look. "They're dirty," her mother had instilled in her, long before she knew that ponies used them for anything but evacuation.

Cole spread his stance as he explained. "They hang right between your hips, right? And whenever you walk, they kind of slide about, against your thighs and against each other. And they're really sensitive so they always send little feelings. So... well, I'm thinking that unless it's cold or they're sitting down, a guy's wired to always feel at least a little aroused."

"Really? Well, that must be nice," Octavia laughed softly. Her eyes looked over his backside appraisingly, over the bright fur that covered his thighs as well as his... jewels.

"Ugh, no!" Cole scoffed. "I wouldn't wish this on anypony. It's like..." He bit his tongue, searching for the right words. "... it's like being really hot for something, ready to go, but you don't know what. So you calm down because you don't know what it is and can't do anything about it. But you never quite calm down all the way because you can't act on it." He groused, "And that's not 'sometimes'. It's constant. That's so frustrating I could scream. Like, when all the stage fillies were tugging me on stage with them. It was fun and all, but... we couldn't do anything. I wouldn't, but they got me worked up, and when you get them so worked up then do nothing, the fire doesn't go out, just spreads elsewhere inside you. Oh, by the way, that was my state upon waking up, because I toss in my sleep." He groused. "And even then, even when you get off that pain goes away for a little while, but before too long it's building up in you again. It's like... like you have to get off, now and then, just to keep your mind focused. It sucks."

"Oh. Well, that's... disheartening," she offered in sympathy. It took a moment for what he had just admitted to to sink in. "... wait. You..." She tilted her head. "You've already... done it?"

"Uhm... yeah," Cole admitted with a blush, climbing up onto the bed next to Octavia. "Yeah, I have. Yesterday, it hurt so much I could barely stand... so I worked it out."

Octavia gave a little grin. Being this frank was... refreshing. "Oh, tell me how that was!"

"Hmm... nah," said Cole, wriggling up and giving Octavia a little nip to her chest, between her forehooves, the kneading of his lips against her making her gasp. "I plan on showing you soon enough..."

She squeaked softly as his kisses traced up her chest, giving a little sigh as his lips met hers. Without the driving beat of the music taking them over, it was far more relaxed. Her forehoof slid up and played with his flank, pulling him gently atop.

He looked at her, curiously. Then frowned. With a glint of blue magic, Cole's glasses came off, coming to rest on a shelf like the rest of her DJ equipment. She had to laugh. "DJ COL-7 is done for the night, huh?"

"Yeah," he grinned, nuzzling up under her muzzle, red eyes bright. "Just us." Gently, his lips came to rest at her neck again. As she tilted her head back, she felt her bowtie unclasping, and could see it floating away in Cole's magic. "What are you...?"

"Sshh," he grinned, an impish gleam in her eye. "It'll be easier to hide later this way..."

"What do you-" She managed to breathe, before his lips sealed at the base of her neck, at the point just between her collarbones where her tie normally rested. It was more than a playful nip or kiss, however, as Cole slowly suckled on her skin, making her whinny in surprise. She could feel him arching slowly against her, his chest sliding softly against hers, smoothing her fur as he slid down and ruffling it up again as he slid up.

"Oh, please don't stop," she gasped, a hoof playing in his mane. Underneath his lips, the skin was extra sensitive but not yet bruised, and his tongue ran in slow circles just on the border, spiraling in to the sorest, tenderest point. He watched her as his tongue teased her there, and could feel her squirming underneath him, her body tensing. Her forelegs were wrapped tightly around him, the knees locked firmly as the hooves slid forcefully against his strong flanks, in time with the little curls of her spine.

"I wouldn't dream of it, babe." He gave a low nicker as he nuzzled up her neck, softly scenting her. Her perfume had faded over the day, giving way to a muskier scent, and he took that in greedily. He didn't even notice the effect it was having on him, but she definitely did. Beneath him, Octavia bit her lip, breathing in deeply.

Oh Luna... he's really... big. I think. Or at least he certainly feels that way...

Cole noticed her growing quiet and looked up to her, a hint of nervousness. "Everything okay up there?"

"Y-yeah," Octavia whimpered, looking down to him and doing a best to flash a smile with her distraction. "It's just... I..." Her eyes darted meaningfully between the two of them. "I take it you're fully functional."

It finally clicked to how he had spent the last two minutes grinding into her belly. Between them, his shaft had slipped free. Once conscious of it, he couldn't get the feeling out of his mind, and how the next push of his hips caused his stallionhood to slide into the soft fur of her stomach, tugging just at the underside. Cole groaned, and nodded, slowing but not stopping his hips.

"Yeah," he grinned a little, rising up to his hooves again, not quite leaving her grasp. "I'm a complete stallion," he smirked, cocking his head as he looked down. "And... well. Take a look."

Her head tilted, and she could see her roommate's erection, hanging below him. It was broader and shorter than it had been in her mind's eye, and its form was almost picturesque. Probably because he had it designed that way.

"This is... that's what you do to me, Octavia. And... truth be told, you've done this to me for a long time. Even when I'm not equipped to be so easy to read."

Looking up into those red eyes, Octavia's heart fluttered. But there was a small problem staring the earth mare in the face.

Oh merciful Luna, there just is no tactful way to say this.

"Erm... Cole."

"Yeah, babe?" There was a swagger to his grin.

"Should your equipment be that color? And glowing?"

Cole blinked, looking down. "Huh - oh. Oh." He laughed a little, and shook his mane. "Remember, Tavi, it's just a spell, not natural. My internal magic is what gives it substance. It looks blue because my magic is blue."

and because I totally didn't think to control for that when I was at the shaper's. Good thing I'm a DJ and not a professional wiza-ack!

Her hoof had gently rest on the very underside, the same that was overstimulated by being dragged forwards and back

"Well, it certainly feels real enough to me."

"Tavi, be... careful," Cole hissed through his teeth, his shaft jumping with his heartbeat. "That's really sore..."

"Come now, Cole," Octavia purred, looking up, her carefully groomed hooves tracing down the underside. "You didn't think I was going to let you have all the fun now, did you?"

Cole's hiss became a squeak as her hoof slowly traced back up, feeling his heat against her. An earth pony had incredible constitution and dexterity, and for Octavia, her coordination was her livelihood and her life; the tracing of her hoof was feather-light as she explored him, tracing over his length.

"Octavia..." he whimpered, closing his eyes and leaning his head forwards. His breath was slow, but seemed shallow; her hoof slid back up to the tip again, where she circled the flare in the back of her hoof, his bare skin against hers.

As she looked up into his eyes, and saw the way pleasure and no small amount of nervousness played on Cole's face, she couldn't help but think about the last time she had been with a colt. She had been in college, and he had been just out of it; he was strong and handsome and gentlemanly, everything her paperbacks told her a stallion should be. They had courted in the old traditional way, and dated as the traditions of her station dictated. After a few months (for propriety's sake), they had begun making love. Emphasis on making; the timing, actions, and even the words spoken during sex were as if dictated by some recipe. Insert Tab A into Slot B while holding Limb C in Limb D. The sex was informative, to say the least, and almost as perfect as a storybook romance could call for; and for a while, she had thought it was what it meant to be in love.

But that colt - his name was long forgotten - had never looked quite like Cole did right now. His face has been painted on, a thin smile that never changed, the expression that was only romantic on the cover to a paperback. His face had never contorted with passion or concern, because that was the way proper ponies conducted themselves. In stark contrast to that picture of masculine formality, Cole bit his lip and panted with a bright whine as her hoof slid back to the base of his sheath, a tug at the bunched up skin there before caressing those sensitive orbs.

Vinyl - no, he wants to be called Cole - was different. This was no formalized courting, no storybook seduction; Cole had seized the moment on a whim. Cole didn't want her because it was a stallion's duty to have a mare below him. Nor was it because he wanted to give his exotic new equipment a thorough workout. Cole had made no great plan when he taught her dance. He just wanted to be with her, and may the fates decide the outcome.

"Lie back."

Cole breathed, the oversensitive stallion whimpering near the edge. "What...?"

She looked up to him with a smile, and tousled his hair. "If you want, that is. I want to try something."

"Okay, babe," he smiled, and Cole rolled onto his back, forelegs tucked against his chest and hindlegs spread wide, the picture of relaxation. His shaft rest heavily against his belly, completely erect now from her careful stimulation.

"I've heard mares talking about this," she whispered, crawling up against his underside. "And I think... I think I can do a pretty good job of it. But tell me how it goes."

Cole nodded, looking down. He could see Octavia's violet eyes meeting his, ever cautious. It was adorable, in its own way, but he felt ire at himself at her caution. Like she needs permission from me to do anything after I humped her like some drunk frat pony. "Go ahead..."

Down below, her nose softly nuzzled just under his sac, feeling its weight. It feels real here, too... She took a deep scent of his musk there and nuzzled over his shaft, brushing her lips against them, her breath warm under his fur there. Feeling pleased with his reaction, she continued her way up, teasing with a tongue.

"Careful," Cole gasped, giving a little groan. "I'm... really worked up, hon. You might... make me... rrrgh..."

"Is that so? Well, then," Octavia purred, a devilish gleam in her eyes. "I wonder what you'll do when I do this..." Her tongue found the ridge along the underside of his shaft, and gave a languid lick up its stout length. This touch was far less gentle, as she cradled his malehood with her tongue.

"Oh... urgh, yeah," he nickered, his pants deep. Arching back, he pushed his head into the bed, eyes disappearing into his huge blue mane.

Well, the mares at the spa haven't led me wrong yet, she groaned gently, letting her lips trace up. So we'll just see how my Cole likes this...

She brought herself up to her hooves again, standing atop the reclined unicorn so she had a little more room to work. He was crying something, but she was a mare possessed, and the content of his words hardly registered on her ears. Underneath her, his shaft bounced with his pulse, the skin darkening angrily with need.

He looks tender and sore... well, we'll just have to kiss it better.

Her lips traced the edge of his flare carefully, and she could feel him shudder, his nicker loud and unashamed. Seeing his hooves hook onto the head of the bed for support sent a thrill through her; she found she enjoyed having that kind of power over him. Even a little puff of air blown across the oversensitive skin made him groan, and she followed each soft blow with a kiss, the warmth and wetness soothing the sting.

"Octy, you're-" His pant became a whinny halfway through, and his head tossed, his horn dragging forcefully across the sheets. "Oh Celestia-"

This wasn't anything like the teasing hooves that had goosed him on stage or the or casual brushes with wings that 'accidentally' slid across him. Octavia was experimenting, and she was determined, and neither fact lent themselves to mercy. It certainly didn't hurt that an earth mare had far more experience with her lips than a unicorn ever did. As she took his tip in her muzzle, she paused, simply enjoying the feel his pulse against her tongue. And... the taste.

This isn't so bad. Bitter and salty, but not nearly as bad as they made it out to be...

Her hoof worked up his shaft as she cautiously began to nurse on his tip. His breath was growing ragged, and one forehoof managed to stop shaking enough to stroke through her hair and down the back of her neck. That salt kept flowing, from his tip to her tongue, and her tongue slid about the ridge encouragingly.

As she saw him curl up under her head, his hooves shaking just as hers had moments ago, she gave a soft swallow, pursing her lips to hold the tip firmly, bringing her tongue along the narrow channel that split the flare, gently pushing into it. Oh, Luna, I think I could come to like this-

"TAVI!" Her lap along his slit far too much for the overteased colt; he whinnied as his hips bucked up towards her shoulders. His hooves weakly pulled her down as he shot into her mouth, his spray dense and bitter.

oh the spa ponies lied about this part

Her hoof stroked down as he shuttered once more, giving Octavia another spurt of his musky seed in her muzzle. This one was far weaker, and his breath seemed to be returning to him.

There's no way I can- I can-

She gently stepped away, leaving him in the vacuum of his release as she stepped into his bathroom. His bathroom was even messier than his bedroom, but she didn't have time to complain as she emptied her mouth.

On his bed, Cole's release had saved him from the overstimulation, although a dull ache still throbbed. Tavi had unknowingly tortured him with her teasing. His heart and breath began returning to normal, shuddering. A bit of his own seed matted his fur, but he didn't recognize the feeling. The sound of running water barely registered in his ears.

That was... so awesome.

When he realized his roommate was gone, Cole groaned and gingerly got himself up out of bed. Seeing the bathroom door open, he nudged the door open with his horn and stepped inside. "Octy...?"

Octavia quickly emptied the cup of water in her mouth, the most recent of many. She had also wet down her mane, getting herself composed again - although that fire still burnt in her eyes.

Man, if only she could know how hot she looks...

"I- sorry," Octavia smiled wanly, as she set the cup to rest. "It turns out that... I had been misinformed. I don't think I'll ever get used to that taste."

"Well, you won't have to. The spell fades in a day or two, remember?"

Then I go back to being a mare, and you go back to being utterly uninterested in me.

"And it's kind of good you did, too," the DJ continued. "Things kind of went... wrong."

"Wrong?" Octavia followed behind Cole as he led on to the bed

"Yeah. I... kind of short-circuited back there." Cole bit his lip. "Grown ponies, alright? I came, but not because it was perfect, but because you were doing so many things to me, with your lips and tongue and hoof, that I was... well, overwhelmed. Remember, Tavi, this is all new equipment to me. I was still just trying to figure out what everything does, then suddenly you crank it all to 11 when I was expecting a 3 or 4. No wonder everything blew out." Cole blinked, then grinned at his own double entendre.

Octavia winced, then climbed back onto his bed, looking to him. "Ouch. So... does it still hurt?"

"Yeah, a little," Cole grunted, as he sat down next to her. Leaning over, he nuzzled a little against her neck, and gave a happy sigh. With a smile, she leaned up to give a kiss to his horn before nuzzling her muzzle under his, nickering in contentment. For a moment, they just swayed next to each other, shoulder to shoulder and flank to flank.

Cole wrapped a hoof around hers, and much to his surprise, Octava returned the gesture. He gave a little squeeze, and closed his eyes. Celestia, I never want this moment to end...

"Cole?"

Her voice cut through his prayer, and his eyes opened, looking down. "What is it, babe?"

"Well, the sun is coming up..."

Here it comes.

"... so could you pull the curtains tight? I don't want this night to end yet," Octavia said, leaning in close against him.

Cole smiled, and nodded, kissing her forehead as his horn glowed blue. The meddlesome sunlight was blocked out by the drawn curtains and the table lamp was switched off, leaving the room dark save a lee light in the bathroom.

"This better, hon?"

"Perfect." She leaned in against him, and felt a foreleg wrapping her in the shadows, leaning back into his chest, fur against fur. She tucked his muzzle up against him again, and gave a soft kiss there, which he returned softly before nuzzling over her neck. She gave a little squeak at that but let him entwine their nuzzles, swaying together once more.

He truly would make the perfect stallion.

As they rest there, her body snug in his warm grasp, she was acutely aware of his breath on her neck, his scent filling the room. She couldn't help but imagine him moving against him, his flanks sliding atop hers, his arousal against her... She gave a little whicker as the thoughts played out, and her hindlegs squirmed.

"Everything alright?"

"More than alright," Octavia cooed, her voice comforting. "But... I was hoping you'd do something for me. If it's not too much trouble."

"Anything," he agreed quickly, a hoof sliding over her flank. "... if it's not too long, that is. We eventually need to sleep."

"That we do," she giggled, feeling a little loopy herself. "I was hoping you would hold me."

Cole blinked. "Err... Tavi? I've been holding you since the sun came up."

"That's true," she cooed... and with a grin, she stood up, stepping out of the bed. She didn't know how well he could see her black fur in the pale light, but the sight of her tail hiking as she set her hips was unmistakable, and she hoped the look in her eyes was needful enough. Cole's jaw dropped at the sight, and from the pale blue glow, Octavia could see his interests was piqued. She grinned softly, and tilted her head.

"But I was thinking something more traditional."

Silently, Cole rose from the bed, leaning close to take a scent directly from Octavia's nethers. She tensed from his breath on her skin - oh Luna I didn't know it was possible to be this aroused - and couldn't help but bray as his hoof rested on the small of her back, tugging him up atop her.

"Something like this, I imagine?" Cole whispered into her ears, the DJ's other hoof wrapping about her neck so he could pull himself atop. His strong body was far heavier than hers, even disregarding the transformation, and she swayed a little in his grasp as he got situated, his hips up atop hers.

And, she realized with a little shiver, his shaft growing once more, now rising between her thighs.

She whimpered as he pushed up, foreleg wrapping her tightly as his hips came to rest against hers. She could feel his shaft throbbing gently against her belly, against her mound, as his muzzle came to nuzzle her neck. "Feeling better?" she joked gently, tilting her neck forwards a little so her roommate could have access. That, of course, was part of the more traditional lovemaking she had learned.

"It's coming back to me," he crooned, his grin audible as he nibbled at the side of her neck. His hoof around her neck never loosened, but the hoof around her chest slowly slid in small circles on her chest as her breath rose and fell, tracing small patterns in the fur. Behind her, his haunches had begun to move, slowly, arching his rising shaft.

Oh, this truly is nice, she sighed happily, arching up against him. It feels even more picturesque than... uhm... oh Luna...

Taking advantage of her distraction, Cole had slid a hoof back dangerously low on her belly. As the heel of Cole's hoof slowly arched at her teats, careful not to brush the sensitive skin with his own cracked nail, he nibbled up under her ear. "Sensitive there, are we...?"

"Yes, I..." Octavia whimpered, feeling like she was wilting under him. "Oh, Luna..."

Her flesh there was weak, in front of the hips but below the firm bands of muscle above, and it gave under his rolling hooves. His heel rocking against her flesh there stirred her in ways she didn't know possible; more than just flicking of lips or hooves against skin, she was being kneaded, and her entire body was reacting. "I've never... ever..."

"You've never? You should," he whispered, as his heel bottomed out in her again, tugging slowly back up her belly before sliding down for another go. "It... won't quite get you off. But it'll definitely get you in the mood to." He gave a little pursing kiss to the side of her neck. "Especially when you can rub it like this..."

Pulling his hoof back up and over her heart, Octavia realized that the tip of his stallionhood was poking up against her, in that same sensitive area as his hoof just was. When he rocked his hips, the motion dragged his shaft back and forth across the fur there. The dawny fur of her teats wasn't thick enough to stop skin from brushing skin, and she yelped at the sensation.

"Cole! I..."

"Sssh," he comforted into her ear. "It's okay, babe. I'm here."

"No, it is not okay," Octavia groaned, another husky shudder as he pushed forwards again, his shaft making another tracing path against her belly. "You've... you've been teasing me to the breaking point, Cole, and..." She whimpered again as he drew back, moaning. "I feel like I'm burning up! I can't take this anymore."

"I need you, Vinyl."

He came to a stop above her, his hooves motionless, not even panting. For a moment, she wondered if she had said the wrong thing. The fact that she had flubbed the name again just barely registered when he growled, huskily - "Lie back. Hips on the edge."

She gave a little pant, and a disappointed little whine as he slid back, off of her. When she hesitated, however, he leaned forwards and gave her cutie mark a little nip. "We're going to do this my way."

Because if you regret this tommorow - if this is the only chance I ever have to be with you, Octavia Philharmonica - then there is no way I'll do it without looking you in the eyes.

Octavia nodded softly, and slid up onto the bed. She gave a low, throaty whine as she sprawled out, but as Cole looked to her, he made a turning motion with a hoof. "Roll over onto your back, babe... this isn't the time to be shy."

She swallowed at the implications. "What do you have in mind...?" Octavia whimpered, as she rolled onto her back, lifting herself onto her forehooves awkwardly. Cole smiled, and used a tilt of his horn to spread her demurely-closed knees apart, his muzzle tracing her inner thighs. More than anytime else in her life, Octavia felt weak and exposed, this stallion who didn't even exist a few days ago now about to mount her.

There was a wild glint in Cole's red eyes, and he grinned maliciously as his front hooves came to rest on the bed to either side of her hips. "Payback," he cooed, as his lips met her mound.

Octavia gasped and arched back, his lips pursing over her mound. Her musk was strong there - my, my, Octy, now this isn't very ladylike - and he drank, rolling his lips over. His tongue kneaded gently there, rising slowly over her mound before descending again, pressing his tongue in just a little on the return trip down.

DJ COL-7 looked up, making sure Octavia was still okay with it. Octavia wasn't propped up anymore; her forehooves were resting loosely on her chest and her head was tossing slowly from side to side. He took that as a good sign, but just to be sure...

"How's that, babe?"

Octavia almost managed to squeak a response between ragged breaths.

"Just going with what I know," Cole crooned smugly, his tongue stroking just a little higher. "For example, if I touch here..."

Octavia's back arched tightly, like a cat's, moaning outwards as he gave her nub a gentle tease. It wasn't a constant press, but just the occasional soft tap here, before his lips slid down; another tease with his tongue on her nub sending another little shake up her spine. None of her suitors before had ever graced their lips on her mound, and the feeling was delicious.

Cole rose a little on the bed, but Octavia wasn't free of his lips. One hoof dug slow circles in the inside of her thighs, little darts in and out in time to the song he had composed, the song Cole had already started to think of as their song. He nuzzled upwards again, before his lips latched onto her angry nub; a soft whicker resounded through his lips as he tugged upwards again, before pushing down, his tongue lapping there needfully. I'll show you what it means to be left hanging off the edge, babe...

It didn't take long; she was already on edge thanks to the last two hours they had spent 'celebrating.' Her musk rose again and again, but each time his lips kneaded it back down into her, his tongue tracing back up. She shook from his lips, but every time the earth mare rose, her unicorn brought her back down again: a gentle nibble here, a lick there, lips pursing there, or the teasing trace of a hoof elsewhere.

"Cole... please!" Her pant was bright and needful, and almost loud enough to be a scream - her composure nearly lost. "I can't take this any more... please, you have to...!"

"Alright, babe, relax." He shushed as he rose up on his forehooves. His grin was broad and victorious as he leaned back to show off for her, feeling even for the overstimulation earlier. Sexy revenge is the best revenge.

"I'm right here." He waited a moment, both to let Octavia catch her breath and for Octavia to look up to him, before he continued. As he spoke up, he showed off his body, every muscle, every bone - every needful little twitch. It was showing off, yes, but every moment in his life was full of showing off.

"This is it, Tavi. I need you to guide me in, because we're going all the way this time... okay?"

Octavia nodded with a heavy pant, and let one of her hooves come to rest on his shaft again. Her groans were replaced by a low hiss as his shaft finally teased directly against her, whimpering. "Oh, it's more than okay. It's... oh, Cole..."

In her firm grip, Cole pulled his hips back, letting his tip tease against her belly one last time before he pushed forwards. His flare refused to give for a moment, and he was afraid he had done something critically wrong, that they just wouldn't fit together -

And then they linked.

For both of them, the evening had been full of teasing and experimentation. Octavia, because she was unused to sex as anything but the formalized consummation of a courting relationship; Cole, because he wasn't used to having a glowstick mounted between his legs. Both of them were worked up, and as they finally joined, neither of them could do even as much as speak, their heartbeats racing together and coming into sync, just riding that crest and over it.

Cole was the first to breathe again, a hoof listlessly drawing little notes in the fur of chest. "I'm... going to move now, okay?"

Octavia smiled up to him, eyes sparkling with tears. Her breath was still caught in her throat, but she nodded gently, and took his hoof in hers, guiding it from her chest up to over her heart. "I-I'm ready," she groaned, her smile warm.

Gingerly, without leaving her, Cole rested his body atop Octavia, forehooves straddling her chest and holding her still as his hips started to arch, fur sliding against fur as he moved in slow, shallow motion.

His lips met hers, and she returned the kiss, carefully wrapping her forelegs about him. Their breath tangled in the kiss, and it wasn't a slow, sensual kiss - both of them broke it off repeatedly in order to breath or moan out, only for the other to seek it out again, making connections, lips pursing around lips and tongues lapping about edges.

"Octy, I..." Cole grunted, as the pressure built within him. It felt completely different this time, however; it was slower, yes, but instead of being rushed to orgasm, he was taking his time, dragging his flare slowly within her, a little shallow stroke before he pushed the fullness of his shaft into her. He was going to empty completely in her. "I... I'm..."

"You must," she whispered, one hoof pulling his head onto her shoulder, as she nuzzled his; she panted over his shoulder, now, as he once more pushed up right into her. With a hoof over his spine and a hoof over his neck, she couldn't very well arch up anymore, although that didn't stop her from trying; the shaking had to go somewhere, and it went into her hooves, tremulous against his fur. Around him, Octavia felt like she was being filled with little bolts of lightning; every motion was careful, a tug up or a shallow stroke before Cole moved in again, eliciting another delirious squeak from her.

Oh Celestia she's so cute when she...

Cole felt his mouth go dry for the second time tonight, but not due to fear. "Octavia... I..." He whined, and laid back a fearful little whicker as his tension came to a boiling point, his hoof wrapping around her neck, tugging her muzzle towards hers. His eyes met hers for a brief moment, and he wanted so much to say just two more words, to admit everything, to bare his heart to her -

And then his world exploded.

To Octavia's eyes, there was nothing left of a mare in the way Cole moved, as his forehooves greedily scooped her up and held her possessively. Octavia gave a bright gasp, but Cole's scream was deep and sudden - the call of a stallion claiming his mare. It was all she could do to hold on, to catch Cole as he threw himself on her, to fight through her own fatigue and intoxication and arousal. His deeper, claming thrusts gave her just enough leeway to come back down to earth as he moved, and her hooves circled around his mane, stroking adoringly.

As he emptied his last into her, he buried his muzzle into her neck, panting deeply. Words tried to form, but he couldn't do more than groan. So he did, his hooves slowly stroking over her flanks, alhough one was soon met by hers, holding his weakly.

I never knew it could feel like this...

After a few moments, Cole finally slid out of Octavia's hooves. A stallion's natural afterglow was dragging him down, but he wasn't out yet, and he slid up onto the bed.

"Thank you, Tav," he nickered, leaning in to kiss her lips. She smiled and met his kiss gently, almost as tired as the unicorn. She gave a happy sigh, and nuzzled up under his muzzle... but then frowned.

Well, now. Figurative midnight. Time to leave the ball, Cinderella...

"I... guess that's it, then," Octavia sighed, as she brought her forehooves up. She paused there, reluctant to leave the bed, but also feeling it wasn't her place to stay. Perched on the edge of the bed, she turned towards Cole.

"Cole... tonight, you made me feel more special than I have in... years, really." She smiled wanly. "You may not look like some storybook prince... but I think you are, in every way that matters, the gentleman."

She laughed a little. "Listen to me, waxing poetic when I'm so tired I can't even see straight. I don't even know if these words are coming out right." Climbing up and out of bed, Octavia walked unsteadily to the doorway, giving him one last look. "Good-night, Cole-Seven."

Her head fell as she turned to go. And farewell, my prince...

"No- wait! Hold up, Tavi."

She hadn't even taken another step. When she turned, Cole had reached out a hoof to her, still seated on his bed. He still looked a mess. So must I, she supposed.

"It's... it's late enough as is, anyways. We're already going to miss most of the day. So... if you want, I mean..." He patted a hoof next to him, inviting her back. "... our night doesn't have to end yet."

She wavered, hesitant. Everything about her told her to be detached, be professional. It was... an experiment, surely. A drunken fling. Just a whim, a kinky little spell allowing two lonely mares to work out some frustrations.

But then, why couldn't she turn away from his eyes?

This stallion Scratch, or whatever he is, will be gone soon. Maybe even tomorrow. Are you ready to tell him goodbye forever?

"Well... I suppose I could stay... if you insist." She smiled, and climbed back into bed, sorely crawling up next to him.

Cole didn't miss a beat, and the moment she was in reach, gathered her into his hooves. Octavia squeaked in surprise, but gave him a content smile, giggling as his hooves vigorously wrapped her and cuddled her. She looked up and had to grin, seeing his sleepy, goofy grin meet hers, feeling his hoof stroke along an ear.

Maybe I'll be Sleeping Beauty instead.

"Thank you for letting me sleep here, with you," Octavia sighed, as she nuzzled into his chest. "It..." Her voice was pitched as if she meant to continue, and there was something thankful and adoring in her eyes, but the tired look in her eyes was soon glazed over by fatigue. When he kissed her eyes shut, they did not open again.

Cole gently pulled Octavia's smaller form up against him, and cradled her in his hooves, rocking gently. As sleep increasingly claimed her, and her breath and pulse had stilled. He waited a few minutes like that, just savoring the feeling of the mare he had longed after for so long being there in his arms.

"You really are beautiful when you let your guard down," he smiled wistfully, a hoof brushing her hair out of her eyes. She was already asleep, her breath deep and slow, a warm contented smile on her face. Cole had been up nearly twenty-four hours at that point, which combined with the physical and emotional afterglow to make sleep seem like a fantastic idea. With a sigh, he cuddled Octavia just a bit closer to him and tugged his quilt up in the grip of his magic, enclosing them together. He thought he heard the earth mare whisper something, and he rested his muzzle over hers, answering her just before sleep claimed him as well.

"I love you, too, Tavi."

Author's Note

So... thanks to many, many requests, I wrote the clop scene out, instead of moving right along to the next scene. And special thanks to Artimae for his help in proofing!

Please, feel free to point out errors. This is my first time writing clop, and if I'm making any mistakes, I'd like to catch them now, before I repeat them.

The title of this chapter is from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, also known as the Ode to Joy.