Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Late summer afternoons were always difficult, Lahabrea reflected.  The term was nearly over, the time for relaxation and celebration coming fast, and on cloudless days like this one, the weather was almost irresistibly lovely.  He could not truly fault the nearly half of his students staring or glancing longingly out the windows.  Yet neither could he let their attention wander freely, not if they were to pass his stringent exams.  He released a soft sigh.  Some fresh air and sunshine would do them good, he supposed.

"Let us relocate to the stands."  His proclamation was greeted by surprise and then growing excitement.  "Gather at the large training field, near the pavilion.  I will meet you there."

The students rose from their desks and filed out, chatting amongst themselves.  Lahabrea spent a moment longer, reviewing his notes to be sure he remembered to cover the relevant material, then began gathering up his papers.

Azem whirled, slicing his blade in a backwards arc.  It sang through the air before clanging into the blade descending toward his back, staggering his opponent backward.  He followed the swing, feet leading his turn as he drew his sword back to guard, presenting his shield instead.  He caught the next blow and turned it aside, seizing the opening to strike—one clean thrust directly to the heart.  The aetherial construct evaporated, and Azem reclaimed his aether, spinning around.

Two more of the constructs raced toward him, cutting different angles.  He narrowed his eyes, studying them.  The wicked spear carried by the rightmost one posed him the greatest danger, but the axe-wielder would harry him relentlessly, making it difficult to take the lancer out.  And it would go down much more slowly.  He backed away to the left, circling to keep them both in sight as they approached.

The axe-wielding construct lifted its heavy weapon, swinging it around in a whirling attack.  Azem grinned, ducking low and to the side, slipping past and taking the lancer behind it by surprise.  A furious exchange of blows ensued, Azem turning and side-stepping to keep the lancer between him and the axe-wielder until he could dispatch it.  He faced down with the remaining attacker through the evaporating remains of the other, and grinned.

They met with a clash, trading blows.  As Azem had anticipated, this one did not go down as fast as the lancer had.  In fact, it didn't seem to be going down at all.  Azem panted, blinking away sweat, peering closely… aha!  The faint wind-like caress of a healing spell wound around his opponent.  His mistake, really, for dismissing the threat the fourth construct posed.  He bided his time, fighting his way around until he had eyes on the healer.

At the next opening he struck, staggering the axe-wielder, then half-closed his eyes, focusing.  Holy energy answered his call, and he channeled it through his sword, sending it to sear and burst upon the healer.  Once, twice, three times… with the fourth spell it fell, dissolving.  With the healer dealt with, it did not take Azem long to wear down his final opponent, finishing it with a long diagonal slash and reclaiming the last of his aether.

He straightened with a sigh, wiping sweat from his brow with one arm…  He frowned.  Apparently he had gathered a crowd.  Engrossed in the battle as he had been, he hadn't even noticed.  Not that it was unheard of, but this was a rather larger group of onlookers than he was accustomed to drawing.

"Ah, Azem!  I should have recognized you at once."

He turned at Lahabrea's voice, brows rising.  "Esteemed Lahabrea."  He glanced once more at the crowd.  "Are these yours?"

"Indeed."  Lahabrea strode over to him.  "My apologies.  I had no idea you were using the grounds.  We shall relocate to a smaller training field and leave you in peace."

"That will not be necessary.  As you may have noticed, I just finished my exercise.  Please, feel free to avail yourself of the space."

Lahabrea studied him through the mask.  "If you insist, then."

"I do.  In fact," Azem grinned, "if you like, I can serve as your practice dummy.  I assume this is the advanced binding magicks class?"

Lahabrea, already beginning to turn to his students, refocused on him abruptly.  "You assume correctly."  He folded his arms, fingers tapping on his elbow.  "I take it you have no other pressing duties?"  At Azem's nod he smiled.  "I would not wish to bully a student with my magicks, but I am sure you can handle it.  If it is truly your wish, then I accept the offer."  His smiled broadened.  "It should prove to keep their attention rather better than demonstrating on a created combatant, to be sure."

Azem chuckled.  It reminded him of his own studies.  He had always preferred those classes which involved practical application.  Doubly so when that meant they would go outside, or to one of the grand gymnasiums in more inclement weather.  He glanced at the students in the stands.  A good number of them seemed to be watching him.  He had given them quite the show, he supposed, and surely they had begun to wonder why he yet lingered.

Beside him, Lahabrea removed his mask and affixed it to the front of his robes.  This prompted a stir among the students.  Of course; for demonstrating on a construct he would have no need to remove it.  Against a fellow Convocation member, however, he would need every edge.  Doubly so given Azem's particular skill at arms.

"Let us start at some remove.  I will try to bind you.  You may evade the bindings, shatter them, or attempt to disrupt my concentration by attacking me, though I would be most grateful if you would refrain from injuring me in the process.  I will start out slow so they may watch the particularities of battle casting.  I would request that you do the same for me out of deference to the students."

"Of course," Azem assured him.  "This will be fun."

Lahabrea gave him a look of tolerant exasperation, for once entirely unhidden by his mask.  "Are you ready to begin?"

Azem turned, jogging a good distance away.  He had seen Lahabrea's aetherial shackles in action on a few occasions—though never before turned on him—and he knew maneuvering room would be key.  In fact, he'd do well to keep his distance; Lahabrea would probably try to close it.  Less distance meant less time to react to the binding spells.  Of course, if he chose to attack instead, that proximity could turn on Lahabrea fast.  He grinned.  This was going to be an interesting challenge.

Lahabrea turned to his class as Azem moved away, casting a quick spell to amplify his voice.  Instructing them to pay close attention to his form and technique under the pressure of combat took but a moment, and he turned to see Azem apparently ready.  A thumbs-up was returned, and Lahabrea grinned.

He intended to enjoy this.

He made his first cast slow, deliberate.  Essentially a review for any in the stands who hadn't been paying as close attention as they ought.  Azem did not dodge, as he expected.  Interesting.  Instead he took a broad, stable stance as Lahabrea's shackle caught him about one arm.  To Lahabrea's surprise, he reached out, grabbing hold of the chain.  He barely had time to brace before Azem pulled on it, hard.   But Lahabrea wouldn't be taken off-balance so easily as that.  The chain strained, then snapped under their combined strength.

Even at this distance he could see Azem's grin, bright white flashing against sun-kissed skin.  Lahabrea's eyes narrowed.  Show-off.  Were his primary purpose not to demonstrate technique for his students, he'd wipe that grin off his face in a hurry.  But he was willing to be patient.  Not just for his students, in truth.  The chance to spar with Azem was rare, valuable.

The chance to beat him was far more precious.

And so he twisted his face into a snarl, a blatant challenge.  Dual-casting aetherial chains was no mean feat, managing the necessary motions and focus separately with each hand.  It was a good lesson for his class, a reminder that a practiced caster did not need both hands.  In combat, that could prove the difference between victory and defeat, especially should one hand be injured or restrained.

Both chains lashed out at once, and Azem threw himself to the side, rolling swiftly to his feet.  Wise.  Breaking two chains as he'd done the first one would be much more difficult.  Lahabrea frowned, watching him, pacing a few steps closer.  Azem didn't let him close the distance, circling and backing away.  Another chain, more quickly cast, shot toward him.  He struck out with a closed fist, smashing it before it could catch him.  An impressive display.  Lahabrea grinned.  Beyond all expectations, he was having fun.

Again he began to dual-cast, this time staggering the spells so first one chain lashed out, then the next.  It was actually harder to do than casting simultaneously, and mutters rose from the stands at his display.  Azem deflected the first chain with a blow, but the second one went just short, and he sidestepped.  Lahabrea grinned, yanking hard as the spell struck the ground.  It ricocheted, coming up to wrap around Azem's calf.  His reward was widened eyes before the traveler spun into a low kick, snapping the chain.

Back and forth they moved through the open space, Azem avoiding or breaking the aetherial shackles he sent one after the other.  Soon he would likely close the distance…  The traveler's combat style was unpredictable, keeping Lahabrea on his toes.  His normal battle predictions were of little use, forcing him to rely on reflex.  More than once he anticipated how Azem would dodge, only to send a chain uselessly the wrong direction.  But the challenge was something he had missed, heart pounding and sweat sheening his body in the afternoon warmth.

His next salvo saw two solid hits, shackles binding Azem's left arm and leg, but the traveler hurled a short blade at him.  He ducked aside, the opening enough for Azem to break free.  He frowned at the blade, sticking out of the dirt.  Had his aim been off…?

No time to ponder it.  Azem charged in, lightning-fast.  Still off-balance from his last dodge, Lahabrea lowered his weight, raising one arm to shield himself and casting with the other.  He caught the traveler's kick, deflecting it rather than taking the full force of the blow, and lashed out with a chain.  It caught right where he wanted, the leg supporting most of Azem's weight, and he jerked, making him stumble.  A few more tugs kept him from regaining his equilibrium as he moved back, putting space between them once more.

It didn't take Azem long to break the shackle, but Lahabrea was already casting again.  Alternating hands, he sent one, two, three spells lashing toward him.  Again Azem flung a blade at him.  He watched the windmill of his arm, the bright spark of sunlight from the blade… and grinned.  He held his ground, shackles catching on the traveler as the blade inscribed its arc to thunk into the dirt between his feet.  For a moment their gazes caught, Lahabrea smirking in dark triumph and Azem grinning with good humor.

The next blade would not miss, Lahabrea realized.

But for now he had an upper hand, and he took relentless advantage of it.  Azem shattered one binding, but he manipulated the other two in one hand, casting another at the same time.  It was a race; with two shackles he could keep Azem off-balance, but if he broke one the other would follow in short succession.  If he got a third attached first, it would only become easier to bind his opponent.

His hand shot out, sending the aetherial shackle toward Azem's unbound leg, but he dropped, rolling once before springing to his feet.  Somehow he didn't get tangled in the leading chains.  Taking advantage of his new positioning, he managed to break one before Lahabrea could unbalance him once more.  He batted aside Lahabrea's next shackle before freeing himself from the last one still binding him.

Once more they circled, testing one another back and forth.  Lahabrea feinted a cast, trying to make Azem flinch.  No luck.  He grinned.  That was fine.  He began rapid-casting again, staggering his spells.  Azem dodged three, then once more threw his knife.  Lahabrea sidestepped, ducking.  Azem seized the moment to charge in once more, a second blade in his hands.  No time to dodge; Lahabrea created another chain, holding it in both hands instead of sending it at Azem.  Pulling it taut, he blocked the blade swinging toward him.

"Nice," Azem grunted.  "Never seen that before."

Lahabrea grinned and kicked toward Azem's knee.  The traveler fell back, leaving Lahabrea with just enough room to cast once more.  At this range it was much easier to aim his spells with precision.  He sent the shackle to bind about Azem's neck instead of a limb.  It seemed to catch him off guard; he stumbled, eyes wide, leaving Lahabrea an opening to send more shackles forth.  Deflect, hit, deflect, dodge, hit, shatter, hit, hit…  Sending power coursing through the aetherial shackles, he shouted, dragging Azem to his knees.  The traveler fought, straining, for long seconds… then dropped down, unable to resist further.

For a moment he stood, breathing hard.  Azem raised his head, gaze boring into him, jolting him forward.  His eyes burned, and for a moment Lahabrea feared he had pushed his colleague too far…  His steps slowed as he recognized that particular light—hunger.  Desire, even, if he didn't miss his mark.  His face warmed.  Hands suddenly unsteady, he banished the chains, taking Azem's hand and drawing him to his feet.  Those eyes followed his, not once breaking the contact, and his heart gave a stutter.  He remembered how Azem had looked when he fell to his knees, how it had felt to bring a powerful combatant low…  He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.

Azem's blood boiled in his veins, the thrill of the fight, the fury of it, of pitting himself against a powerful opponent.  A day ago he'd have said Lahabrea would be no great sport.  Sure, they had both harnessed their power severely in this particular contest—it was intended as a teaching demonstration.  But he had clearly underestimated the speaker's prowess in battle.  On his knees, staring up at him, his heart fit to beat out of his chest…  Lahabrea was a vision, his hair tousled, skin gleaming with sweat.  The mask on his chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

Damn, if they weren't in public…

He couldn't take his eyes off Lahabrea, riveted as he stalked closer.  Heart hammering, he just stared as the chains evaporated.  Lahabrea's touch on his hand stirred him to his senses, and he stood, still breathing hard.

"Well fought, Azem.  Thank you once more for the demonstration."  Despite the professional words and tone, Lahabrea's eyes burned with a most intimate heat.  Azem's heart leapt, and when Lahabrea leaned closer the blood suddenly rushing in his ears made it harder to hear his next words.  "If you would like a more personal display of my gratitude, kindly come to my office in an hour."  Cheers from the stands brought Lahabrea's head back.  Apparently the students had quite enjoyed the spectacle.  Lahabrea sighed, still clinging to Azem's fingertips.  "Make that an hour an a half," he amended wryly.

His eyes searched Azem's face.  Azem smiled in response, a touch crooked, and squeezed Lahabrea's hand.  "A most generous offer.  I would be delighted to accept."  His smile turned impish.  "And perhaps express my own appreciation of your skills.  I enjoyed our match as well."

Lahabrea brightened at his words, grinning back.  "Then please excuse me for the time being.  I suspect this is one lesson the students will take readily to heart, thanks to your assistance."

It was with some reluctance that he released Lahabrea's hand.  Not for long, he promised himself.  Just a little while.  He turned, smiling and waving to the crowd of students before heading across the practice field toward the walk that would lead home.

Well.  That had been revelatory in a few ways, hadn't it?  To think that Lahabrea would have any interest in him… although he supposed they each had gained a new respect for the other during the course of their sparring bout.  He had actually lost focus there at the end, to his surprise.  Being suddenly collared wasn't something he had expected.  Nor had he expected it to awaken such a powerful response in him.  Being bound, being forced to his knees… all things he would have expected to hate.  Although, with a trusted comrade holding the chains…

The image flashed before his mind's eye again—Lahabrea gleaming in the sunlight, chains flashing out nearly too fast to see.  Lips parted around a cry, those bright eyes alight with triumph…  He had been transcendent.  Stunning.  His face went warm to think of slipping off to the speaker's office later, of getting to put his hands on the sculpted physique that must be hiding beneath those robes.  Mayhap he would let Lahabrea chain him again…

He hurried home before his thoughts could run away with him and leave him too pent from anticipation.  He had time to do a thorough stretch routine and shower, and he'd be wise to take full advantage of it.

Chapter Text

An hour and a half seemed like an eternity.  His shower didn't take long, and stretching turned to a light workout, nervous energy needing to be burned off.  Finally he set out, a bit early, but he couldn't stay home any longer.  Hopefully it would look like he wasn't in any particular hurry to reach his destination.  He took a meandering route through the city, greeting friends and acquaintances.  The capitol loomed large over the skyline, beckoning him, and he made his sure way there, threading through long-familiar halls until he stood before the door to the speaker's office.

Never before had he been here on anything save business—to include reprimand on a few occasions—which did nothing to settle his nerves.  The memory of the heat in Lahabrea's eyes after their match, the lingering touch to his hand, proved far more effective in bolstering his confidence.  Face still warm from the memory, he knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Lahabrea's voice sounded oddly distant and muffled.  The doors opened at Azem's wave, and he strode into the office.  The large room was as it typically was, sparsely but tastefully appointed, but Lahabrea was nowhere to be seen.  A moment later he emerged from a door in the back, toweling his hair.  Ah, of course.  The mystery of that extra half hour solved.  Azem smiled.

"Lahabrea!  You're looking much refreshed.  I hope I didn't go too hard on you earlier."

Lahabrea gave a "hmph," his smile betraying the grumpy sound.  "Hardly.  It made for a good demonstration, but it was not exactly representative of my full combat potential."

Azem envisioned trying to dodge both shackles and fireballs, plus who knew what else… now that sounded like a proper challenge.  "Then perhaps I should petition you for a chance to battle you unfettered, as it were."

Lahabrea draped his towel over the back of his chair, coming around the desk.  "Hah!  I suppose you would enjoy that."  He stopped before Azem, one hand coming up to brazenly snatch the mask from his face.  Lahabrea smirked at his startled look, setting the mask on his desk.  "If you object, you had best say so now.  I intend to take far more than your mask off you."

Azem choked on a laugh, then let it peal free.  Of all the things he might have expected of Lahabrea, somehow this wasn't it.  "No time to waste at all, have you?  I appreciate that kind of forwardness.  Though I confess I wasn't exactly expecting it."

Lahabrea's hand hesitated a moment on his own mask.  "In truth… I ought not be doing this during daylight hours.  I am not one to shirk my responsibilities.  But I have scarce been able to concentrate on anything since our sparring match."

Azem stepped closer, putting his hands on Lahabrea's hips.  "I know the feeling."  He leaned closer with a smirk.  "I shall endeavor, then, to make this worth your time."

Lahabrea's gaze went dark, and he wrapped one arm about Azem's waist.  The other rose, tangling fingers in his hair and drawing him in for a kiss.  Azem sighed, opening for Lahabrea to taste him, tasting the speaker back in turn.  Hungry, he nestled into Lahabrea's body, fingers tightening their grip on his hips.  Lahabrea growled in return, biting his lip before releasing him.

Azem let go of him as he stepped back, staring in puzzled confusion as he walked away.  Was he leaving?  But Lahabrea stopped at the door, activating the privacy spells.  Of course.  Azem knew from his own office's setup that the door was now warded shut and soundproofed.  Good thinking.  While the spells might be intended for sensitive conversations, Azem knew he wasn't the only one who had used them for trysts.

Lahabrea's eyes burned into Azem as he strode toward him once more.  He swallowed hard, heart speeding up.  The speaker's long, dextrous fingers slid up his jaw to cup his face.  "I need to get your mask off more often," he said.  "I like you like this."

Azem grinned.  "In your office, getting ready to ffmmmm…"  Lahabrea's thumb in his mouth cut off the lewd comment, though by the stormy lust in his eyes as he leaned closer he wasn't wrong in his assessment of Lahabrea's desires.

"You are doing little to convince me we should not start right where we left off before…"

Azem felt his face burn at the suggestion.  He swirled his tongue around the digit in his mouth, teasing and sucking at it until Lahabrea hissed between his teeth, eyes fiery, and withdrew it from Azem's mouth.

"I'm amenable to the idea, though I might suggest one alteration."  Lahabrea tipped his head.  "Why don't we get rid of all this troublesome clothing first, hmm?"

Lahabrea smiled, slow and wide.  "An excellent idea."   He released Azem, hands catching the neck of his robes and pulling up.  Azem's own hands faltered as he watched the hem rise to reveal a lean, fit form.  Smooth skin stretched over well-defined muscles, and Azem stared in frank appreciation as Lahabrea tossed his robes aside and reached down toward his pants.  Lahabrea glanced at Azem and paused.

"Need some help there?"

"I can see quite well, unless by 'help' you mean getting those pants off for me."

Lahabrea grabbed the cords which dangled from the front of Azem's robes, tugging him closer.  "I mean with this.   As I'm sure you well know," he added grumpily.

Azem chuckled.  "But then I'd have to stop staring for a few seconds—"  Lahabrea poked him, making him start and then laugh.  "Fine, fine…"  He let his eyes sweep up and down the speaker's form one last time before pulling his own robes off.  He had barely gotten them over his head when he felt strong hands seize his hips and push him back against the desk.  He made an undignified sound of surprise, letting the robe fall from startled fingers as Lahabrea's hips ground against his.

He found himself kissed once more, hard and fast.  Groaning, he braced one hand against the desk behind him, the other clinging about Lahabrea's shoulders.  The speaker was relentless, tongue and hips demanding, and Azem found his knees suddenly weak beneath the assault.  Fire lit low and hot in his belly at the delicious friction between them, and when Lahabrea released his mouth he made a sound of complaint.

Lahabrea gave him a wicked grin in return, fingers catching and pulling at the ties that held his pants on.  Azem took a deep, shuddering breath as they went loose, adding his hands to help slip them off.  He reached for Lahabrea's, wanting to see the rest of him, but the speaker caught his wrists with a "tsk."

"Now, now… weren't you supposed to be doing something for me?"

What?  Oh, right.  He took a few steps away from the desk and dropped to his knees, not once taking his eyes off Lahabrea.  The speaker loosed his own pants with casual efficiency, baring a sculpted ass and legs.  He turned to show a grin and a proud cock, standing out from his hips at full mast.  Azem stared, heat painting his cheeks.  A swell of magic finally pulled his attention away, and he realized Lahabrea was creating aetherial shackles once more.

Anticipation shivered through him.  He had not forgotten the feel of Lahabrea's magic, the caress and prickle of it over his skin.  The weight of chains, the tug on his limbs and neck, for a moment brought him back to their sparring earlier.  Again he gazed up at Lahabrea, burning with desire, with need, but this time the speaker was in a position to do something about it.  Sauntering over to examine his handiwork, he gave a nod.

"Even better, I think, than before."

Azem had to clear his throat to speak.  "I'll have you know I only submitted this time because you so kindly released me before."

Lahabrea chuckled.  "How considerate.  But I was rather thinking of your state of dress."  He caught Azem's chin in one hand, the tip of his thumb pressing between his lips.  Azem opened up to take him in, showing his eagerness in every long roll of his tongue along the speaker's skin, every suck that hollowed his cheeks.  Lahabrea's response was gratifying, gaze going lidded and intent upon Azem's lips, a bob of that erect length.  Azem continued to tease him, determined to get his way, and finally Lahabrea made a raw noise, pulling his thumb from Azem's mouth.

His fingers closed about his cock, guiding the tip to Azem's lips.  Perfect.  He opened once more, taking the head of him in before drawing his lips down tight and flicking his gaze up to catch Lahabrea's.  The speaker was staring down with burning intensity, lips parted, breathing hard.  The heat intensified as their gazes met, and the hand on his chin tightened to a pinch.  Lahabrea's lip turned, the expression almost a sneer, and he began a long, slow thrust.

Azem gave a low hum, refocusing on the cock sliding deeper into his mouth.  It seemed Lahabrea took his eagerness seriously; Azem grunted, adjusting the angle of his head as the speaker slid deeper, deeper… filling his throat until he hilted in Azem's mouth.  He started to reach for the speaker's hips, to hold on, but the chains binding him stopped him.  Annoyed, he flexed, but the shackles held.  Lahabrea chuckled, his hand shifting from Azem's chin to the back of his head.  He grabbed a thick handful of hair and drew his hips back, then thrust again, faster.

The restriction of the chains was infuriating.  Arousing.  He continued to strain them to maximum extension as Lahabrea fucked his eager mouth, swallowing deep in his throat each time his nose brushed the speaker's abdomen.  By the sounds Lahabrea was making, it was working well.  Without warning one of the chains he had been straining snapped, setting his hand suddenly free.  Lahabrea made a startled sound, and Azem reached up, hand groping blindly until it clenched over one tensed buttock.

"Azem…" Lahabrea growled, low and threatening.

He gave an inquisitive hum, trying to pay innocent; nothing more was possible with his mouth and throat so full.  The hand in his hair clenched tighter, and Lahabrea made a rough noise, some combination of need and aggravation.  An extra-enthusiastic suck seemed to placate him, at least until his other arm broke free of its chain a few moments later.  He ran his hands up and down Lahabrea's thighs and buttocks, savoring the way the muscles twitched and flexed.

Lahabrea made another sound, this one yet more needy, and the hand in his hair released, caching his chin again.  Without any further warning Lahabrea withdrew from his mouth, bending down to kiss him furiously.  He slid his hands up the speaker's form, fingers clutching at his back.  Lahabrea thrust into his mouth with tongue now, no breaks to snatch for air, and hypoxia began to set his head to spinning.  When the speaker released his mouth and stood, the remaining chains binding him dissolved into aether once more.  Azem blinked up at Lahabrea, disoriented for a moment.

"You are a menace," he hissed, face flushed with desire.  Azem couldn't help but chuckle at his mingled lust and annoyance.  Of course he would find a way to irritate the speaker even during sex.  Lahabrea pulled him to his feet and gave his ass a smack.  "On the desk.  Face me."

His breath caught at the command in Lahabrea's voice.  Suddenly feeling cooperative, he hoisted himself up to sit on the edge of the desk.  Lahabrea pushed in between his thighs, one hand on Azem's chest shoving him backward to lie flat.  Azem stared, for a moment fascinated by the arch of Lahabrea's back, the way his hair fell about them as he bent to kiss him again.  He brought his legs up, feet bracing on Lahabrea's calves as he found a good angle for his hips.  He dug blunt fingernails into the speaker's back, groaning and rocking his hips, trying to get some friction.  Damnably, Lahabrea denied him, his stomach too high to more than brush with the head of his cock.  He wrapped his legs tighter with a needy noise, hands scrabbling against that back, trying to pull Lahabrea down against him.

Lahabrea continued to hold himself above, chuckling as he drew back.  His eyes glittered down, pleasure at Azem's needy state plain.  "Now, now.  You must be patient."

Azem didn't want to be patient.  He ran worshipful hands over Lahabrea's shoulders, his sides, seeking some touch that would drive the speaker crazy, that would break that firmly-held control.  Lahabrea seized his wrists, pressing his hands against the desk at his sides.

"Azem…"

The warning note in Lahabrea's voice broke through his thoughts, and he subsided, obedient.  Lahabrea gave him one last stern look and straightened.  He took a moment to adjust Azem's legs, spreading his thighs and tipping his hips up so the calves hung parallel to the desk's surface but to the sides of Lahabrea's body, out of his way.  Seeming pleased, he shifted to one side, fiddling with something out of Azem's sight.  He craned his neck, trying to see.  A bottle?

Lahabrea gave him a grin, one hand dipping down toward his ass.  Azem gasped at the sensation of two slick fingers probing him, head falling back for a moment at the intrusion.  Warmth on his thigh brought his head up to find Lahabrea laying open-mouthed kisses just above his knee.  The sight combined with the slick glide of those fingers was shockingly erotic, sending heat rushing to his head.  A needy sound slipped out of him, and he put the back of one hand over his mouth to muffle the gasps and moans he couldn't seem to stop.

Lahabrea raised his head with a rough chuckle.  "No need to be quiet, you know.  No one can hear.  Go ahead and let it out."  Those gleaming eyes lingered on him, satisfaction igniting in their depths when he did as he was bid.  "Ahh… look at you.  Ravishing, Azem.  Positively ravishing."

He clutched helplessly at the desk's flat surface as Lahabrea's lips approached the juncture of his thighs, the sensitive skin at their apex.  Hot breath on his needy length wrung another moan from him, and he gave a wordless cry as warm heat closed over him.  He stared down, gasping, overcome by the sight of the speaker's plush lips gliding down his shaft.  When he reversed direction with a strong suck, Azem's head fell back as though puppet strings had been cut.

Lahabrea's lips left him with a pop, and he felt him shift closer.  The fingers withdrew, pausing just within his entrance, joined there by the blunt head of Lahabrea's cock.  He made a sound—he refused to call it a whimper—as those fingers eased his tip in before slipping away.

"Good?" Lahabrea grunted.

"Extremely," Azem assured him fervently.  Lahabrea gave a breathy chuckle, grabbing Azem's hips in a firm grip.  Again Azem's head fell limp as he began to thrust, quick stuttering motions that soon brought him to the hilt within Azem.  He raised a hand to once more muffle the needy sounds he couldn't help but make, but Lahabrea caught his wrist, leaning down to pin it over his head.

"I wouldn't have expected you to be shy, Azem."  Lahabrea tipped his head.  "Or is it more that you're accustomed to sneaking off to less soundproof locations for your trysts?"

Azem tried to scowl, blushing.  The speaker had a point, but that didn't mean he had to incriminate himself by admitting it.  Lahabrea grinned and kissed him, muffling his moans in a different—and altogether lovely—way.  He wrapped his free arm around Lahabrea, running his hand up and down his back as he ravished Azem's mouth.  Lahabrea was relentless, thrusting with both tongue and cock until Azem could only pant and writhe beneath him.

Finally Lahabrea released his mouth, drawing back with a satisfied smile.  Aether stirred, and he felt the cool touch of a shackle close over the wrist that Lahabrea held pinned.  His eyes rounded, and he gave it an experimental tug as Lahabrea's hand let go, coming down to cup his chin.

"Are you going to try and break this one too?" Lahabrea grumbled, humor lacing his voice.

"Only if you torment me too much," Azem shot back.  Lahabrea's gaze turned dark, smouldering.

"Then I shall have to keep you too distracted to even think of it."  Before Azem could breathily ask what he had in mind, he found his chin hauled upward, his face turned to press against his bound arm.  Lahabrea's lips sealed on the skin of his throat, drawing a light cry from him.

"Ah—"

A dark chuckle buzzed against his skin.  Lahabrea sucked hard, making his back arch up for a moment off the desk.  Seeming to take heart from his reaction, he next set teeth against his skin, pressing carefully.

"Lahabrea…!"

Another warm rumble as those teeth scraped over his skin.  With a groan, he wrapped his legs about Lahabrea's hips, trying to pull him in tighter, closer, needing more.   Lahabrea's response was perfect, groaning against his throat as his pace sped up.  His thrusts grew shorter, faster, harder.   Needier, scorching Azem with need of his own.  His own neglected cock drooled precum onto his abdomen, but with Lahabrea's teeth now digging hard into his flesh he wasn't about to complain.

Lahabrea released his chin, hand clutching at Azem's side, sliding down until it found the small of his back.  With a quick adjustment of his hips and a good tug, he slipped his arm between Azem and the desk, pulling his torso more snugly against his own.  Azem groaned at the renewed friction over his cock, burying his hand in Lahabrea's hair in mute encouragement.  Though it seemed Lahabrea needed little to none, teeth worrying at Azem's neck, pain mingling sharp with pleasure until he buried his own face against Lahabrea's shoulder, mouthing kisses and needy sounds against his sweat-slick skin.

Much as Azem's head swam from the way Lahabrea overwhelmed him, the friction of Lahabrea's abdomen rubbing on his aching length just wasn't enough.   And he doubted the speaker had forgotten him; he was attending to other aspects of his pleasure quite well.  To the point where the lack of attention to his cock—especially as Lahabrea's own grunts and motions proclaimed him well on his way to his own peak—stood out starkly.  Dammit, did Lahabrea expect him to beg…

Ah.  Most likely he did.

His head fell back, face burning.  Taking a deep breath, he tried to wrest control over his voice.  "Lahabrea, please…"  The mouth on his neck paused.  "Please touch me.  I'm aching for you.  I'm so close…"

A chuckle, dark and pleased, vibrated against his throat.  With one last nip Lahabrea raised his head, showing a broad grin.

"Why, Azem, how eloquent.  If you can still speak so coherently then I must not be doing my job properly."  He bent to kiss Azem's lips, hard and demanding.  Aether stirred once more about Lahabrea, and Azem's eyes went wide as he wove a spell of some sort.  He had a vague thought to be impressed by his concentration before tight heat wound about his cock and splintered all rational thinking.

He gave a sob, hips bucking involuntarily into the sensation.  Lahabrea's hand curled about his throat, fingers massaging the area his teeth had roughed up before tightening to press lightly.  Azem gave a cry, muffled by Lahabrea's mouth, eyes rolling up as the combination of everything Lahabrea was doing to him overwhelmed him fully.  He writhed, desperate for release, skin pricking.  With a gut-deep groan Lahabrea released him from the kiss, breathing harsh and fast.  He bent to put his lips by Azem's ear.

"Now, Azem.  Give yourself over to me."

Heat washed over Azem's flesh, need drawing him taut.  A raw sound escaped him, a deep groan.  Tremors wracked him, and he clutched at Lahabrea.  Beside his ear, Lahabrea gave a choked-off whine.  The noise tipped Azem over, the need in it, the desire , and stars burst behind Azem's eyes.  He gave a cry, some mangled version of Lahabrea's title as his body convulsed, clenching about Lahabrea.  Weight collapsed onto his chest, and for a long moment he just panted.

Lahabrea stirred against him, face pressing into his neck, and he opened his eyes.

"Mmm," he mumbled, and Lahabrea laughed.

"You alright there?"

In answer, Azem slid his hands up Lahabrea's form, cradling his face and drawing him up for a kiss.  Lahabrea hummed in pleasure, lips caressing his.  After a long, lingering moment he drew back and sighed.

"I hope I have adequately expressed my gratitude for your earlier assistance."

The playful formality made Azem laugh.  "Oh, you've no need to worry on that count.  If anything, you should worry that I'll want to go another round of… sparring."

This made Lahabrea chuckle in return.  He tapped Azem's knee, prompting him to unlock his legs from around Lahabrea's hips.  The speaker stepped back, slipping free from Azem, and caught his hands, drawing him to his feet.  Azem found himself leaning hard on Lahabrea, knees still unsteady.  Together they went to a couch at one side of his office.

Azem flopped down, flat on his back, resting his head on the couch's arm.  Lahabrea chuckled over him a moment before settling beside him, lying on his side and leaning against the back of the couch.  Azem sighed in pleasure, letting his head loll against Lahabrea's shoulder as the speaker trailed fingertips over his chest.  They trailed lower, teasing at his abdomen. Azem's brows drew together.  Shouldn't his skin there be painted with his seed?  He raised an inquisitive glance to Lahabrea.

"What was that exactly you did?  That spell that sheathed me?"

"Ah, that.  A concept I worked up for self-gratification, for when I need to quickly attain clarity and my body insists on being troublesome."  He grinned.  "How did you find it?"

Azem blushed.  "Quite pleasurable.  Seems to save on cleaning up, too."

"Indeed.  It can be configured for disposal or for preservation, in case you need a sample for medical reasons."

"Handy," Azem murmured.  Lahabrea's creations were always something to behold…  He supposed it was his own fault for simply assuming he never made any in a sexual vein.  "I don't suppose I might trouble you for the concept at some point?  I'm sure I can find any number of uses for such a thing…"

Lahabrea laughed.  "Of course, though I warn you the focus required to utilize it can be difficult to maintain."  His fingers skated back up to play about Azem's chest.  "Perhaps I might assist you with… practicing the necessary discipline.  Speaking of," he added, the amusement in his voice turning to something like petulance, "I thought you said you wouldn't break my shackle."  At Azem's inquisitive hum, Lahabrea clarified, "There on the desk, the one about your wrist."

Azem's forehead wrinkled.  "When did I break that?"

Lahabrea was silent a moment, prompting Azem to open his eyes and peer up at him.  "You don't remember?"  He smiled at the confusion on Azem's face.  "Just before you came.  Perhaps I should be flattered that you wanted so badly to embrace me…"

Azem poked him lightly.  "You just need stronger chains."

This sparked a glint in Lahabrea's eyes; he leaned closer, fingers catching Azem's chin.  "Hmm.  Now there's a thought.  I haven't many concepts that need restraining that are as strong as you, though.  I may require your… assistance in testing.  Regularly."

Azem grinned.  "Why, then I should be more than happy to assist."

Lahabrea smiled back, the expression almost tender.  His thumb stroked lightly over Azem's lips, back and forth, back and forth.  For a moment they lay in silence, catching their breath.  Azem opened his eyes once more when he felt Lahabrea shift beside him, settling closer to his chest.

"I wasn't sure you would be willing to bottom for me."  Lahabrea pressed a kiss to his lips, brief but scorching.  "Although after your generous help with my demonstration, I found myself willing to be flexible in such matters."

Azem gave a breathy laugh.  "I confess I do prefer it, though my primary concern is ever my lover's enjoyment.  Still, I may have underestimated how powerfully a good firm hand might affect me.  I did not expect to be so, heh, moved by being shackled about the neck."

Lahabrea's brows drew together.  "You mean… during our demonstration—"

Azem reached up, grinning.  "Yes.  You didn't notice?"  He tugged at the back of Lahabrea's neck, trying for another kiss, but his brow had drawn together in consternation, and he would not be moved.

"I did notice you succumbed to my chains soon after.  But I had not realized there was so direct a connection."  Lahabrea smirked, fingers sliding up Azem's collarbone to curl about his throat.  He swallowed hard at the gentle pressure, feeling his face warm.

"Much as I hate to confess it, I completely lost my composure in that moment."  He laughed.  "I have never been bound in such a way, and I did not expect to enjoy it so."

Finally Lahabrea conceded to his insistent tugs, chuckling and laying a long, slow kiss on his lips.  "Mmm…"  He lingered, nose brushing Azem's.  "Well.  You shall be hard-pressed to find another with my mastery of binding magicks.  And I confess I enjoyed taking a firm hand with you."  The hand on his throat tightened, and Lahabrea gave him a dark, sultry look.  "We must do this again some time.  Preferably outside of office hours."

Azem swallowed hard.  "I will bear the timing in mind next time we decide to spar.  I really do want to go again, though.  Neither of us could really cut loose, after all.  And after what I saw today I'm eager to see your full capabilities."

Lahabrea chuckled.  "I certainly hope you have more fight in you than you showed today.  Though I will say I deeply appreciate the care you took not to hurt me.  Not to mention the chance to win while the students were watching.  That will likely do quite a bit for my reputation."

"Not that you really need it."  Azem poked him, grinning.  "Though I doubt you need ever worry about disciplinary issues after this."

"Hah!  This is true."  Lahabrea gazed down at him, brows gentling into a pensive expression.  His fingers tightened once more on Azem's throat, firm enough to begin restricting his breathing.  Warmth touched Azem's cheeks in response, his breath coming faster.  Lahabrea smiled, releasing the pressure and gently massaging the area.  "Your response to this is far too much fun.  Forgive me if I continue to tease you a bit longer with it."  His eyes narrowed in thought.  "…You do realize how difficult it will be for me not to abuse this knowledge in any future sparring matches?"

Azem blinked in surprise.  Well.  That would certainly add an exciting dimension to the sparring.  "As you guessed, I held back quite a bit today.  I wouldn't be so quick to let such an advantage pass you by."  He gave Lahabrea a toothy grin.  "Of course, in that case we may want to find somewhere private to have our battle, in case things progress… more rapidly next time."

Lahabrea huffed a laugh.  "Just so."  For a few minutes they lay in silence, Lahabrea tracing his face, his throat, his chest.  It felt pleasant, and slowly his heart rate returned to a more normal pace.  In fact, he realized he could fall asleep here on the speaker's couch, naked and sated… hm, maybe not a good idea.  With a deep sigh he stirred, sitting up.

"I suppose I had best let you return to your duties.  And see about my own, as well."

Lahabrea sighed, finding himself almost disappointed when Azem sat up.  Though had the traveler fallen asleep naked on his couch it would have extended the time he couldn't see visitors, he supposed, and potentially invited awkward questions.  He stretched, heaving a deep sigh and standing as well.  He slipped an arm about Azem's waist, pulling him close and sending forth a spell to clean and freshen them both up.

"Thanks."

Lahabrea chuckled, releasing him.  "Of course.  Better you don't leave my office reeking of sex, if you please."

That got a laugh from the traveler.  "So considerate."  He gave Lahabrea a quick return squeeze and crossed the room, gathering up scattered articles of clothing.  Lahabrea accepted his, slipping them back on and sighing as their familiar weight settled over his body.  He watched Azem hunt about a bit longer before coming up with his mask from under a chair where it had apparently been knocked during their passion.  Lahabrea frowned, realizing he'd best locate his own.  He eventually found it sitting on his chair, holding onto it for a moment rather than returning it to his face.  Setting it on his desk in the spot newly cleared by Azem's back, he rounded the desk.

"More seriously… thank you, Azem.  Both for the assistance with the demonstration, and the romp afterward."  He gave him a crooked smile, reaching out to take his hand.  "I had fun.  It has been most pleasant to have you in here for something other than business or censure."  He squeezed his hand, then released it.  "We should see about making this the rule rather than the exception."

Azem caught his fingers, giving him an intent look.  "I confess, I want to finish what we began, earlier, with the chains."

Lahabrea paused at his touch, blinking at him.  "You mean—"

Azem's grin turned wicked.  "Servicing you on my knees?"

Lahabrea caught his hand in a firmer grasp, yanking him closer.  "Tease," he growled.

Azem smiled up at him, playful.  "It's only a tease if I don't follow through, no?"

Lahabrea narrowed his eyes, grabbing him by the neck and kissing him hard.  He made a gratifying sound of surprise, melting against his chest as he plundered his mouth.  Only once Azem was once more blushing and breathless did he release him, lightly petting his throat.  "We shall see, I suppose."  He gave him a crooked smile and turned back to his desk, sitting down.  He would wind up working late tonight to get caught up.

Worth it.

Azem gave him a wave and a smile, heading toward the door.

"Mind deactivating the privacy spells on your way out?"

"Of course."  Azem paused, hands hovering over the controls.  "I'll hold you to that promised sparring match, by the way."  With one last dangerous smile, he touched the buttons, shutting the spells down before Lahabrea could respond.  Lahabrea growled under his breath as he left.

At least he could focus on his work now.