Apocrypha; What May Have Been: Karlach (The Beach Scene, set right after Blood and Brine)

The ocean shimmered under the morning sun, waves crashing gently against the rocky shore as Karlach's playful splash hit me square in the chest. Water droplets sprayed across my face, cool and refreshing against the lingering warmth of her earlier flames. I laughed, shaking my head to fling the water from my eyes, and splashed her back, aiming for that fiery grin of hers.

"Careful, Soldier," she teased, her rough voice carrying over the hiss of the waves. "You'll start a war you can't win!" Her tail flicked through the surf, sending up another burst of droplets that caught the sunlight like tiny sparks.

"Oh, I'm shaking," I shot back, wading closer. The sea swirled around my thighs, the water still simmering noticeably from her infernal engine, though the potion and my hug had seemed to calm it down a bit. "Think you can take me, hot stuff?"

Her glowing amber eyes gleamed with mischief. "Try me," she said, and before I could react, she lunged forward, tackling me into the waves. We went under together, a tangle of limbs and laughter, the water closing over us in a rush of bubbles and salt. Her muscular arms wrapped around me, her body pressing against mine, and when we surfaced, gasping and grinning, she didn't let go. Her legs hooked around my waist, her tail coiling playfully around my calf, and suddenly we were face-to-face, noses almost touching, the air between us thick with something new.

Her breath was hot against my lips, her chest heaving from the exertion—or maybe something else. "Harald," she murmured, her voice dropping low, husky with an edge I hadn't heard before. "I… I don't know what's happening, but I like it."

My heart thudded hard, the vampiric blood in my veins stirring—not with hunger, but with a fierce, primal want. Her red skin glistened in the sunlight, water streaming down her neck, tracing the curve of her collarbone, the swell of her chest beneath the soaked undershirt clinging to her like a second skin. The orange glow of her engine pulsed steadily, casting faint reflections on the waves. "Then don't stop," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.

She didn't.

Her lips crashed into mine, fierce and desperate, tasting of salt and the faint tang of the fire resist potion. I kissed her back just as hard, my hands sliding up her back, fingers digging into the firm muscles beneath her scorching skin. Her tail tightened around my leg, pulling me closer, and I could feel the heat of her engine against my chest—intense, but not painful, thanks to whatever freakish resistance I'd picked up. It was exhilarating, like standing in the heart of a forge and loving every second of it.

The kiss deepened, her tongue sizzling against mine, sharp teeth grazing my lips in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. My own fangs—vampiric and subtle—caught against her, and she moaned softly into my mouth, the sound vibrating through me. My hands roamed lower, gripping her hips, and she rocked against me, the friction sparking yet more heat -- even through the water.

We broke apart, panting, steam curling up around us as the simmering sea met her warmth. Her glowing amber eyes were dark with desire, pupils blown wide, and I knew mine matched hers—a predator's gaze fixed on the only prey I wanted. "Let's get out of this water," she rasped, her voice thick with need. "I want you on solid ground."

I nodded, too caught up to speak, and we waded back to the shore together, hands brushing, the waves tugging at us like they didn't want to let go. The rocky sand crunched under my bare feet, and we reached the pile of our discarded gear. Karlach grabbed her leather shirt from the heap, shaking it out and spreading it over the pebbles, creating a makeshift bed. She turned to me, her fingers fumbling with the ties of her undershirt, but I stepped in, brushing her hands aside.

"Let me," I murmured, my voice low. She smirked but raised her arms, letting me peel the wet fabric away. It came off with a soft tug, revealing her full, perfect breasts—red skin glistening with seawater, nipples dark and hard in the cool air. I couldn't resist. I bent down, taking one into my mouth, sucking gently as my tongue flicked over the sensitive peak. She gasped, her hands knotting in my hair, pulling me closer.

"Gods, Harald," she breathed, her voice trembling with pleasure. "You're gonna kill me with that mouth."

I grinned against her skin, switching to the other breast, nipping lightly with my fangs. Her tail lashed behind her, kicking up sand, and she arched into me, her heat soaking into my cool, pale flesh. My constitution shrugged off the burn, turning it into a thrill that pulsed through me. I straightened, capturing her lips again in a kiss that was all heat and hunger, my hands sliding down her sides to tug at her hellish undergarments.

She broke away long enough to shimmy out of them, kicking the soaked fabric aside, and I followed suit, stripping off my own pants until we were both bare under the sun. Her eyes raked over me—my tall, muscular frame; pale, unmarked skin, and my massive Nordic cock -- already hard and aching for her. She licked her lips, a hungry edge to her grin, and pushed me down onto the beach.

I landed with a soft thud, sand shifting beneath the fabric of her armor-bed, and she climbed on top of me, straddling my hips. Her weight pinned me, grounding me, and she leaned down, kissing me deeply as her hands roamed my chest, tracing the lines of my muscles. The glow from her engine bathed us in orange light, casting flickering shadows onto the sand, and I could feel her heat everywhere—her thighs against mine, her breasts pressed to my chest, her core hovering just above me, teasingly close.

My hands gripped her ass, squeezing the firm curves, and she ground against me, her wetness slick against my length. I groaned, the sound rumbling deep in my throat, and she chuckled, low and wicked. "Like that, do you?" she purred, rocking her hips again.

"More than you know," I growled, my patience fraying. I flipped us over in one smooth motion, pinning her beneath me, her back arching against the pebbled ground. She laughed, delighted, as I kissed my way down her body—lingering on her breasts, sucking and teasing until she was writhing, then trailing lower, over the taut plane of her stomach. The heat from her engine intensified, a furnace against my lips, but that sensation only fueled me further.

I settled between her thighs, spreading them wide, and looked up at her. Her eyes met mine, dark and pleading, and she nodded. "Please," she whispered, her voice raw.

That was all I needed. I lowered my head, my tongue darting out to taste her. She was hot—literally and figuratively—her flavor musky and spiced, like the essence of fire itself. I licked slowly, exploring her folds, finding her clit and circling it with deliberate care. She cried out, her hips bucking, and I pinned her down with my hands, keeping her steady as I worked her higher. Her tail thrashed, brushing my legs, and the glow from her chest pulsed faster, brighter, bathing us in eerie bluish light.

"Harald—fuck, right there," she gasped, her voice breaking. I didn't stop, sucking gently, flicking my tongue until she was trembling, her breaths coming in short, desperate bursts. Just as she teetered on the edge, I pulled back, kissing my way up her body again. She whimpered, frustrated, but I silenced her with a kiss, my lips still wet with her taste.

"Not yet," I murmured against her mouth. "I want to feel you come around me."

Her eyes flared with lust. "Then do it," she urged, her hands gripping my shoulders.

I shifted, positioning myself at her entrance, the heat of her core radiating against me. Slowly, I pushed inside, inch by inch, savoring the tight, searing warmth that enveloped me. She gasped, her nails digging into my back—perhaps too sharp for anyone else, but my resilience turned the sting into pleasure. I paused when I was fully seated, letting us both adjust, then started to move, thrusting slow and deep.

Karlach met every motion, her hips rising to match mine, our bodies finding a rhythm that built with every stroke. The nearby waves crashed louder, their sound mingling with our moans, the slap of skin against skin. Her engine flared even brighter, the heat spiking as her arousal grew, but it was manageable—thrilling, even—and I could feel her tightening around me, her breaths hitching.

"You're so fucking beautiful," I rasped, staring down at her—her face flushed, sweat beading on her red skin, the internal glow painting her in fierce, radiant light.

"So are you," she managed, reaching up to cup my face, her thumb brushing my fangs. We kissed again, messy and deep, our tongues mirroring the frantic pace of our hips.

The pressure built inside me, a coiling heat I could barely hold back, but I wanted her to finish first. "Karlach—I'm close," I warned, my voice strained.

"Me too," she panted. "Don't stop—"

I didn't.

A few more thrusts, hard and precise, and she shattered beneath me, crying out as her body clenched around me, her orgasm ripping through her like a wildfire. The heat from her engine flared, a sudden burst that should've scorched me, but didn't—just enveloped me in a pleasant warmth as she trembled. It pushed me over the edge too, and I groaned, spilling inside her, my vision blurring with the intensity of it.

We collapsed together, breathless and slick with sweat, sand clinging to our skin. After a moment, I rolled off her, pulling her against my side. She nestled into me, her head on my chest, her tail draping lazily over my thigh.

"That was…" she started, then laughed softly. "Gods, Harald, that was incredible."

"Yeah," I agreed, stroking her damp hair, mindful of her horns. "Never felt anything like it."

We lay there, the ocean's song filling the silence, the sun climbing higher overhead. Eventually, she shifted, propping herself up to look at me. "So… what's this mean for us?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes searching.

I met her gaze, my hand resting on her hip. "It means we're more than just friends," I said. "If that's what you want."

Her grin returned, bright and unguarded. "I do. Been wanting you ever since you exploded Zhalk with that punch, but I wasn't sure you'd go for it."

I chuckled, relief washing through me. "Well then. I'm glad we skipped the whole talking part!"

She laughed, leaning in for a slow, tender kiss. "Me too."

We lingered a bit longer, then waded back into the ocean to rinse off the sand and sweat, hand in hand. The water was cool against my skin, her warmth a steady presence beside me, and as we emerged, dripping and content, I knew this was just the beginning.