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August could only mumble into Clay’s belly as he pressed a few lazy kisses there, his eyes drifting closed beneath the slow strokes of Clay’s fingers in his hair. Every muscle in his body was pleasantly heavy. He could have stayed exactly where he was for the rest of the night, listening to Clay's steady breathing and the occasional contented purr from his chest.

When August caught himself starting to drift off, he laughed quietly against Clay's skin. "Don't let me fall asleep."

"You can sleep if you need rest,” Clay said.

August huffed a sleepy laugh before reluctantly pushing himself upright. "No. I gotta get something to clean us up." He paused on his way off the bed. “And a snack.”

CHAPTER 4

Clay opened his eyes when he felt the gentle swipe of a warm cloth against his belly and slit. It was still tender from what they’d done, but that didn’t stop him from wanting more. He grabbed August’s wrist, taking the cloth with his other hand and tossing it on the ground, before pulling August over his body.

They kissed for a few minutes, Clay taking occasional breaks to look at August’s face, searching for any hint of disappointment. When he found none, he relaxed.

“I’m hungry,” August finally said against his lips.

“Hungry?”

August sat up and rubbed his head. “Yeah. Like, I have to… eat. Do you eat?”

“Of course I eat,” Clay said.

“Okay! Well, I don’t know. Maybe you get your energy from the sun, how am I supposed to know?”

Clay laughed. August’s ignorance of his galactic neighbors was fascinating—did they teach them nothing in schools? “We are not Chloro’lai. I eat food, just like Earthlings.”

“Okay, then you must know what hungry means. And I’m hungry. And fortunately,” August said, turning to grab a plate and bowl from his dresser, “I brought us dinner.”

Clay sat up, legs crossed to mirror August’s position and pinned his tail under his knee. August climbed back on the bed, his grin wide as he held up a plate of many strange foods.

“This is called a pig in a blanket,” August said, handing Clay some pastry wrapped meat. “You can dip it in this, which is ketchup. Only if you want, but it’s killer.”

August swiped his pig through the red sauce, tossing the whole thing in his mouth before grinning in Clay’s direction. “Yum.”

It was encouragement enough for Clay. He tried the ketchup and put the whole pig in his mouth, chewing cautiously as he watched August’s expressions—eager, with sparkling eyes, and his hand stilled over the plate so he could really take in Clay’s experience.

“It is good,” Clay said, swallowing.

“You’ve got a little, um…” August sat up on his knees, swiping a finger against the corner of Clay’s mouth. “Ketchup.”

Clay’s scales shimmered. “Oh. Thank you.”

Clay was eager to try all the snacks, and found he was partial to the melon chunks. They reminded him of home, where luscious sweets grew outdoors all year long. He took several more pieces and piled them in his mouth, chewing quietly and watching August scoop something white and cold out of a bowl.

August laughed as he lost his grip on the spoon, spilling some of the snack down his chin. He wiped it off with his thumb, moaning quietly when he licked it off, and louder when he took a full bite. Clay’s slit quivered at the sound. Was this what humans did when they ate? How could he expect to spend more time with August, especially around other people, if his slit would leak every time August took a bite of anything?

“Fuck, I love ice cream so much,” August groaned. “I can’t eat this too often because I’ll just eat the whole carton and it’s bad for my gains. But, I guess technically we just worked out, so… Here. You have to try this.”

August held out a spoon and Clay opened his mouth, taking a small taste of the iced cream. He purred under his breath.

“I told you,” August said, grinning as he scraped the spoon against the bottom of his empty bowl. “So, that—uh, before. That was pretty good, huh? Really good, for me. Was it okay for you?”

“Yes,” Clay breathed. “It was more than okay for me.” Memories of August’s tongue on his slit and cock warmed his core. “I really liked it. I want… more.”

“Tonight?” August asked.

“Oh, is that not⁠—”

“No! It’s fine. I do, too. I just need some time. I probably can’t get my dick up for another hour or two.”