Archive of Our Own

Asher’s gaze darted to the side to take stock of his mate in the passenger seat. “Babe, you doing okay?” He flicked his finger to turn on his left turn signal. "You feeling any different yet?"

Babe playfully rolled their eyes. "No," they answered haughtily. "Monique said it’s not supposed to kick in until I walked through the doorway of our bedroom." They fidgeted in their seat, noticing the speedometer. They were surprised to learn Asher was driving just slightly over the speed limit. To Babe, it felt like hours since they had left the Magical Wares and Services Depot. It had really only been a few minutes.

The Magical Wares and Services Depot was home to many different businesses that catered to the empowered community. Babe loved to join Asher wherever he needed to run an errand over there because they always got to learn more about the society that had only just begun to feel included them as the mate of a wolf shifter.

The Depot was a thriving center of empowered hustle and bustle: a boutique bookshop that sold books featuring narratives about the magical community, a magical creature grooming salon, a clothing shop with apparel specially designed to withstand a variety of elemental, energetic, and illusory magic, an urgent healing station, an insurance company that provided long-term wards, a handful of cute cafés and bakeries. Like the rest of the empowered population of Dahlia, Asher and Babe were frequently customers at all the different spots.

But not tonight.

Tonight, Babe and Asher drove to the Depot for one reason.

They needed to visit the on-demand trance and hypno-magic bureau.

The trances created and sold at the bureau were more advanced than a typical vampire’s Relax-and-Forget type of trances that were popular when feeding on unempowered humans. There were a myriad of reasons people chose to purchase more specific trances tailored to their needs. Sometimes people procured trances to help with kickstarting a new healthy habit. Others preferred trances to cultivate calmness before a big event, such as a flight or a work presentation. Still others used trances for more personal reasons.

Tonight, that was the camp Asher and Babe fell into.

Very personal reasons.

While some vampires sold their services independently, Asher had always felt like going through the bureau was the smartest way to go about buying a trance, especially when it was going to be involved in intimate affairs. The bureau was regulated through the Department. A legal contract accompanied every trance, not to mention that the vampires employed at the bureau were trained in how to explain the effects of their trances to nonvampiric citizens. They were highly skilled in the delicate art of trancing, meaning that they knew how to craft careful wording of their trances to ensure that the magic they delivered was exactly what the customer wanted. There was an official record filed with the Department, in case anything went wrong.

It was the safest way for Asher and Babe to explore how they might take advantage of trancing magic in ways that gave them both something they needed.

Asher shrugged. "Well, I didn't know if it was a slow, gradual thing that would happen as we got closer to our place, or if it'd be a sudden thing."

"Guess it'll be sudden," Babe hypothesized. "Lucky us."

"Lucky us indeed," Asher grinned with a wink. "Suddenness is good. It helps prevent anyone from overthinking anything.” His statement was jovial, but Babe could sense the lingering hesitation in his voice. They knew Asher well enough to recognize the way he drew out the length of his words when he started to feel unsure of himself. As far as Babe was concerned, it was a far too common occurrence for Asher, especially lately.

Babe had noticed how Asher had been struggling with his role as beta after a particularly heated confrontation between Asher and Christian regarding a new policy that he had suggested David institute regarding assigning overtime. It didn’t help that the argument took place in front of a few other pack members after a meeting had ended. Moreover, from what Babe had pieced together from Asher’s stilted recap of the conversation, Asher had let Christian goad him into acting rashly. Rather than take the high road, Asher had resorted to sniping at Christian and insulting him, rather than keeping his cool and staying on course with his official decision as beta that he believed would benefit the whole pack. It was petty and childish. Not at all fitting of the beta Asher aspired to be, or that David and his pack needed him to be.

When all was said and done, Asher had walked away silently humiliated and thoroughly shaken. All he had done was prove Christian right.

Babe tried their best to help bolster Asher’s waning confidence, but they struggled to be able to do much more for Asher than listen or postulate about his capability as beta and his keen leadership skills.

As much as Babe valued words, they knew Asher responded to deeds.

So, in an effort to show Asher how deeply they trusted his choices, Babe proposed they switch things up in the bedroom. Let him take the lead.

It was a big step for Babe even to consider such a paradigm shift for themselves. They were most comfortable when they were in control. And that preference mapped onto their sexual preferences consistently. A more dominant role had always felt natural and right to them. It was the best way they knew how to demonstrate their love towards Asher. They wanted to take care of him, to make him feel good and safe and loved and honored. Babe was good at being that for Asher. They loved watching him for each little sigh and moan as he’d beg them to show him mercy. They loved slowly and carefully taking him apart bit by bit, until all that was left was a whimpering, blissed-out mess of a man underneath them who was too enraptured with their touch to think about anything other than the reality they created for him. They loved being that for Asher, guiding him into that headspace enjoyed so thoroughly. And Babe loved that he trusted them to be the one to give him that experience.

Before Asher, Babe never once would have ever even considered relinquishing that power. But Babe was finding that there were a lot of assumptions they held about the world and themselves that were slowly shifting now that Asher was a part of their world.

They couldn’t be more grateful to him for showing them all the world could be. A place of hope. Joy. Light. Fun. Love.

A love unlike anything Babe had ever encountered before or imagined they could feel.

And that’s why, when Babe had suggested Asher call the shots, they had been excited and eager to use their submission to show Asher how they trusted him, wholly and completely. It seemed like the perfect plan that would give Asher a body of self-confidence and promised to be a fun night full of novelty for the pair.

Except, Babe hadn't anticipated just how difficult it would be for them to give up control. It was as their body was resistant to every move Asher made, even if their mind wanted to give Asher full reign over their time together. Ever observant, Asher quickly noticed and tried his best to accommodate Babe, but it was no use. Babe simply couldn't force themselves to give up the sense of control they clung to out of desperation, no matter how much they tried. Although Asher assured them that he didn’t mind and would never want to force them into doing anything they did not want to do, Babe couldn’t help but feel like they made everything worse. All they wanted to do was show Asher how much they trusted him by showing him a part of themselves no one else had ever seen. Instead, Babe feared, all they ended up doing was reinforcing Asher’s lack of self-confidence because of their own control-freak tendencies and deeply rooted anxieties.

And, if Babe were being completely honest with themselves, the idea of trying out a more submissive role for the first time in their life wasn’t an unwelcome thought. If only they could’ve found a way to shut off that part of their brain that kept them from craving control as a means to quell their own insecurities.

It was a few weeks later, during a movie night of all places, when Babe might've found an answer to their wish. Milo was half-griping, half-threatening to buy a trance from the bureau to stop his mate from suffering through another bout of insomnia as they nodded off during the movie. That was what gave Babe the idea that a trance, under the right circumstances, could help both them and Asher.

After all, ever since Asher had broken covert and introduced them to the magical world, Babe had voraciously researched everything they could about the empowered lifestyle. While they sought to support Asher in every facet of his life, the fact was that as an unempowered human, there were many magical things that Babe simply couldn’t do for Asher.

But this? This, they could do.

Despite the underlying fear that Babe felt at the notion of someone magically controlling their mind, the idea of Asher being that person who was doing the controlling, and would only have temporary access to that control, soothed Babe’s fears enough for them to suggest to Asher that they engage in tranceplay. After a long, detailed, open discussion and an agreement to wait a few weeks to be sure of their choices, Asher and Babe both felt it was time to explore how it all might work.

Before too long, Asher and Babe met with Monique, one of the bureau's trance-specialist vampires. Monique chatted with the pair of mates to discuss what exactly they aimed to get out of the trance so she could determine how to phrase the trance and build in some abortive trigger words in case of an emergency or if should Babe or Asher wanted to break the trance at any time. After a thorough briefing, Babe and Asher signed the personalized contract Monique drew up for them and let her do what she did best: trance Babe.

Asher still couldn’t get over how turned on he was witnessing that little scene. He had never seen Babe like that before, so subdued and pliable, as Monique slowly and carefully instructed Babe that, upon returning home and feeling safe in Asher’s presence, they’d feel irresistibly compelled to do exactly whatever Asher asked of them from that moment until they woke up the next morning. They nodded along with Monique dreamily, reciting back what she told them to confirm they understood what was happening and what was going to happen that night. Asher felt a flush break out along his neckline, but he did his best to hide it as he watched with fascination. After Monique offered Babe one last reminder that the word “elevator” would bring them out of the trance immediately and that they were always free to speak that word, no matter what Asher told them to do or not to do, Monique let Babe come back into their right mind. They were ready to head home with Asher, who was suddenly very, very eager to get home as soon as possible.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Asher grumbled as he hit the breaks to let a car merge ahead of him. “The roadwork in this city is getting ridiculous. Every other block, there’s something going on!”

Babe glanced out the window, watching the work going on just outside the car window. “We’re almost there,” Babe reminded Asher as the car crawled through the roadwork area. “Be patient. Soon, we’ll have a nice, smooth road to use.”

“I would drive this car over a road made of broken glass and rusty nails if it meant we’d get home faster.” Asher chewed on his lower lip.

Finally, Asher and Babe navigated the roadwork, found a parking spot in their complex’s garage, and were on their way up into their home. They made quick work of shedding their coats and shoes before they charged towards the bedroom.

Babe took a deep breath and made one large stride over the threshold of the doorway. “It’s official,” they announced, raising their arms up and arching their back.

Asher mockingly gave them a hard, discerning look. “Shall we test it out? See how much bang we're getting for our buck?” He proudly raised his eyebrows at his own clever innuendo.

Babe sat back onto the edge of the bed and crossed their legs. “You tell me, Honey,” they encouraged. “That’s the whole point of the night, you know.” They leaned back a bit to stretch the sides of their torso.

"Stand on one foot," Asher suggested, the words coming out of his mouth so fast Babe was unsure if they had heard him correctly.

Before they were even able to discern what exactly Asher had asked them and, frankly, how unexpected and unsexy of a suggestion that was, Babe realized that their muscles had moved on their own accord. They were off the bed, standing on their left foot. "Whoa," they gaped, trying to make their head catch up with their behavior. “Look at that!”

A wide grin spread across Asher’s lips as he watched Babe balance. A thin layer of nervousness at the idea of suddenly being entirely responsible for Babe began to pull at Asher’s attention, but he chose to focus his attention on his love for Babe to quell his underlying hesitation. “Switch feet?” he requested.

Babe immediately put their left foot down and raised their right foot up into the air.

“Now hop.” Asher crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall to take in the sight.

“Real mature,” Babe scoffed. The authoritative glare they gave Asher was completely undermined by their whimsical bouncing.

Asher sputtered, “Aww, now, Babe, whatever do you mean?” He splayed his palm flat against his chest and gripped his shirt, feigning shock. “I’m merely trying to evaluate the strength and parameters of the service we co-purchased!” He giggled, putting his hands up in the air in exasperation. “It’s a perfectly responsible, mature, fiscally-sound action.” Without warning, Asher brought his hands down to his sides and pointed to Babe. “Tell me what you were really thinking that time you were sick and I made you canned soup.”

“I loved it,” Babe answered, still continuing to hop as they spoke. “I was so moved that you’d make the effort to take care of me like that. There was probably a week’s worth of sodium in that bowl of soup, but it was the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” Asher had never heard Babe speak in such a monotone. It was as if they weren’t able to temper or to filter their words once Asher told them to tell the truth. “I only complained because I was busting your balls.”

Asher slapped his hands together. “I knew it!” he declared, giving a few fist pumps. “Just call me Doctor Asher, Soup Extraordinaire and Mate of the Year.”

“Okay, Doctor Asher, Soup Extraordinaire and Mate of the Year,” Babe replied quickly. “Can I stop jumping now?”

“Oh, shit!” Asher snorted, realizing he had accidently given Babe a command to call him that silly name. “Uh, no, don’t do that.”

Babe continued to hop, though their muscles were beginning to get sore.

“Fuck,” Asher exclaimed, realizing his words were not literally matching his intentions. “I mean, yes, stop hopping! And, no, don’t call me that stupid name. Err, wait a minute.” He pursed his lips, trying to remember Monique's instructions as to how to correct or to change commands once he uttered them so he could avoid contradicting himself and risk Babe’s psyche. “You can call me whatever you want to call me.”

Babe finally ceased hopping. “Thanks, Honey,” they winked, sitting back down on the edge of the bed.

Asher crossed the room and took a seat beside them. “Babe,” he said. “I… I don’t know if I can do this,” he fretted. “I don’t want to fuck anything up. I don’t want to make a mistake that might hurt you.” He let his hand come to the divot of their waist, letting his thumb swing back and forth like a pendulum across the bit of exposed skin that peaked under the hem of their shirt. “I’m worried I don’t have it in me to lead like this. To be the only one who calls all the shots.” He leaned a little bit closer to their body, already beginning to feel overwhelmed.

Babe took Asher’s weight easily. They wished that removing the heaviness of his heart would've been just as easy. Babe was about to recite some encouraging lines they always did when Asher got like this. 'Don’t worry, Honey. You’re doing fine. I trust you. You're so much stronger than you know. You've got this. I believe in you. I love you.' Often, Babe's support was exactly what Asher needed to find his self-confidence. Before they spoke tonight, however, Babe sensed that that wasn't the kind of support Asher needed right now. Although Babe believed every word they would've said to Asher, they knew him well enough to recognize that what Asher needed in this moment was for those same empowering sentiments to come from within himself.

So instead, they said something different, though it was just as truthful.

"Asher, it's okay," Babe whispered, framing their hands around Asher's cheek. "Look, if you're truly uncomfortable with this situation, we can kill the trance and that'd be totally fine. I'd never ask you to do something you weren't totally sure about doing. So if that's what this hesitation is, say the word and we'll be done with this. We can say we tried, it didn't work out, and move on." They let their fingers curl along the side of Asher's neck. "But if this is just your nerves getting the better of you even though you still want to try, then please, hear me out." Babe took a deep, cleansing breath to chase away any of their own nerves. "You're the only one who can help me just forget about the world for a little while like this. The only one who I trust to follow. I… I need this tonight," they told him. "I need you. Please."

Their words seemed to have the effect on Asher that Babe anticipated. Asher's green-gray eyes darkened a few shades as he considered Babe's honest plea. All other concerns about his capabilities fell away when he heard his mate ask him for help.

"Babe." He threaded his arm around their waist and pressed his palm into the small of their back to bring them a little bit closer. "I would do anything and everything for you. Whatever and whenever you need. Thank you for letting me be that for you. You're my mate." He kissed their cheek, already feeling a slight burn beneath their skin. "I love you so fucking much." The sensation only spurred Asher on as he finally managed to quiet the second-guessing that had previously echoed in his mind. He didn't have time to indulge in his own self-conscious hang ups anymore.

His mate needed him.

And Asher would be damned if he didn't deliver exactly what his Babe needed.

"Show me you're ready for this, Babe," Asher commanded, slow and cool without a hint of hesitation. "Kneel before your beta."

Babe's breath hitched as they scrambled off of the bed and got on their knees before Asher. They tipped their head up and back to meet his gaze.

"That's good, Babe. Very good job." He angled his body so that he could take in the sight before him of Babe, ready and willing to put themselves in his hands. It was quite a contrast from the cool and collected vibe anyone who knew Babe would associate with them. Sweeping his eyes over their form as they patiently waited for the next instruction, Asher felt the territorial urges of his inner wolf pulse and leap in excitement. "It's hot to see you obey my command like that."

By default, Asher's thoughts typically ran at a fast-pace, filled with a plethora of stray thoughts and observations. He cherished the private moments during which Babe's attentiveness and generosity somehow paused the endless kinetic energy that hummed through his mind. When it was just him and them together, Babe had a way of coaxing Asher into forgetting about the rest of the world and all the responsibilities that came along with it. Every time they asserted control, they provided Asher with the stillness and sanctuary he had always craved but never felt able to ask for. For Asher, Babe was more than the dominant foil who encouraged his submissive fantasies. Babe was his anchor. His protector. His safety net. His loving partner. His mate.

Even though Babe had profusely told Asher that when he showed them the trust they needed to be their dominant self, they, too, received the same amount of deep love and comfort as Asher did, the shifter couldn’t help feeling like tonight he had a rare chance to return the favor that Babe showed him so many times since they had found their way into each other’s life.

Like the skilled hunter he was, Asher took that opportunity between his razor-sharp teeth and refused to let go for all he was worth.

“Tell me honestly how it feels, Babe.” The timbre of his voice dipped low and became thick like honey. “How does it feel to get on your knees like that for me?”

“It feels good to get on my knees for you,” Babe confirmed, along with a few slow blinks. “Different. Like I’m seeing another side of you I’ve never seen before but always knew was there. That makes me feel really good.”

“Hell yeah it does,” Asher beamed. "And I'm the only one who's ever seen this side of you. I know how special that is. I won't take that lightly. Never."

Babe feeling 'good' was a start, but he wanted more for them.

He wanted to position them firmly in that dazed and dreamy headspace with which he was quite familiar. It was an intoxicating buzz that he suddenly needed Babe to experience firsthand. Asher scrunched his eyebrows together as he wondered how he could mimic that experience. He could’ve slapped himself when he realized that all he had to do was use his words to get Babe into that place.

“But tonight, I want you to feel more than just good. And you will. Because tonight, Babe, I make the rules.” He stretched out his thumb and pointed it into his chest. “Rule number one, every time you obey one of my commands, you’re going to feel an extra wave of pleasure come over you. I know how hard it can be for you to let other people lead you, even when you want to be led. So let me make it a little easier, okay?”

“Mhmm,” said Babe. “Okay. Obeying you is pleasure.”

“Yes, it is,” Asher purred. “And rule number two, every time you feel me touch you, you’re going to feel that sensation with twice as much sensitivity.” Asher played back those commands in his head and was happy to find that they captured his sentiment perfectly and concisely. “Do you understand?”

Babe felt Asher’s two commands fill their mind, washing away their worries and leaving only a foggy haze. “I understand. Double your touch. Gonna feel doubly good.”

“Damn straight.” Asher tentatively reached out to cup Babe’s jaw. “I want you to feel as amazing as you are, Babe.”

At Asher’s gentle touch, Babe mashed their face into his hand and they bit off a delighted moan. “Ash,” they hissed, twisting their head and stretching their neck to keep rubbing into Asher’s hand. Clearly, they were feeling the effects of Asher’s magically charged touch. They grabbed at his pant leg, hugging their chest against his kneecap without a second thought about their pride or how positively desperate they looked. They couldn't have cared less about that at the moment. All they wanted was more of Asher.

Asher kept his hand on Babe’s face, watching in awe as they sought out the pleasure his touch provided. Knowing how to drive them wild, he glided his hand up over their cheek, across their forehead, and eventually around their neck, where he lightly gripped. “Don’t hold back with those noises, Babe,” he advised with a bit of sharpness. “Let me hear them all. Let me hear you.” His fingers barely ghosted around the column of Babe’s throat.

Another moan, this one full and long, floated out of Babe’s mouth. Asher's grip was nowhere near enough pressure to interfere with their breathing, to leave a bruise, or to cause any discomfort. Paired with the trance, however, Asher’s loose hold was like a sweet, steady caress and Babe couldn’t get enough of it.

Which is why, when Asher slowly retracted his hand, Babe couldn’t stop themselves from whining at the loss of that sensation, either.

"Don't worry," Asher assured them. The irony that usually he was the one protesting when they strategically withheld their touch was not lost on him. "I'm right here. Right here with you. Just building up the suspense. I promise I'll make it worth your while." He leaned back into his elbows, grinning at his promise. "Strip for me, Babe. Have fun with it. I want you to feel hot and sexy as you show me that banging bod." He swallowed. "Maybe, if you put on a good show, I'll even let you help me outta my own clothes, too."

Babe wiggled out of their shirt, making sure to grind and to flex for Asher’s amusement until they garment into the far corner of the room. A joyful satisfaction spread through their body, like a built-in reward system for enacting the behavior they simply couldn’t refuse. The command truly offered Babe an ability that transcended the fact that they lacked magical awareness.

Asher’s words carried with them the strong magic of the trance. It was like as soon as Asher asked them to do something, their entire being yearned to carry out his wishes. Not just their body responded, but their mind, too. It was like Asher’s requests unendingly resounded in their head and compelled them to complete the task. But the trance magic wasn’t threatening or scary or forceful. Babe never felt manipulated or helpless to follow Asher’s instructions. Instead, it was as if the trance-magic nudged their brain into their desires into aligning perfectly with whatever Asher asked of them. What’s more, Asher’s suggestion that the act of obeying a command provided them with even more pleasure and relaxation was an incredibly creative, generous command. It was a cyclical process, where the trance fuelled Babe’s bliss and their bliss fuelled the strength of the trance. Babe wasn't at all surprised that Asher used his dominant position for the night not for himself, but to enhance their pleasure.

Perhaps if they weren’t so mesmerized, they would’ve thought about the possible ways trances could be deployed harmfully in the wrong circumstances by uncaring or sadistic vampires. Tonight, however, Babe didn’t have any room in their mind to think of those situations. No, they were too busy indulging in the positive reinforcement Asher had freely given them to care about anything so practical.

Before long, Babe had removed the rest of their clothes, slowly and sensually, all while keeping their smoldering eyes on Asher.

“Mmm, that's nice. Take a look at yourself, Babe,” Asher suggested as he looked up and down as one very naked Babe returned to their knees beside him. “Look and see yourself for who you really are. For once in your life, look at yourself without being your own worst critic.” Asher hovered right next to Babe, bringing his leg over their back so that Babe was positioned in between him. Asher clung to the edge of the bed, digging his nails into the mattress to keep himself from simply mauling Babe right then and there. He reminded himself that to stay in control, that he needed to exercise careful restraint tonight. "Tell me what you see."

Babe stared down at their body as they knelt, noticing the bit of sweat shining along their torso and a bit of wetness forming between their legs. They looked carefully along their body, inspecting every muscle and curve, every bit of skin and hair, all while feeling the wave of relaxing comfort wash over them as they did so, just as Asher had implanted in their head. It was like the voice in their head that would typically point out their flaws was suddenly mute. "I see myself," they replied. "And I like it. I like seeing how I look. I think I look hot and sexy." They almost stumbled when speaking that last sentence, since it was something so unlike what they might usually speak out loud, but the trance magic erased any self-doubt before it could take hold, and Babe remained firmly planted in the mindset of self-love Asher had created for them.

"I wish you felt that every hour of every day without being tranced." Asher peered down at Babe, letting the insides of his legs hug them close. "I won't stop until you do. There's no reason you shouldn't, Babe. But at least for now, you can hang onto that thought all night and we can enjoy it all night long." He tightened his legs around their shoulders and Babe instinctively let their head rest into Asher's thigh.

"Asher…" Babe murmured carnally, seemingly unaware that they did so as they even mindlessly began to grind their hips into his shin that dangled off the edge of the bed. "God, when you touch me like that… You feel amazing. You're fucking me up so much, I'm shaking."

They were already beginning to come undone, and Asher had just barely begun to get started. He smiled proudly. Ever eager to please, Asher always loved knowing that he could drive them wild like this. Usually, an uninhibited Babe was a Babe with their hands on his body, sometimes thumbing at his collar, wandering along his chest, or even restraining his limbs.

Tonight, uninhibited Babe looked a little different. Tonight, uninhibited Babe was lost in a cloud of dreamy tranquility as they knelt on the floor, clung to Asher, jaw hanging open, and worked their hips against him without a care in the world.

Asher watched in awe and pet their hair lightly, letting the tips of his short nails scratch their scalp to stimulate that extra sensitivity that flooded their body. "Gorgeous," he observed, reaching down to begin removing his socks. "Now help me take my clothes off, too?"

Babe deftly leapt up from their knees, clamoring to get their hands into Asher's sweater so they could work it over his head. Asher barely had time to raise his arms up over his head before he felt the cool air hit his bare chest. He wiggled and shifted his weight, though it seemed like Babe didn't need much help to undress him. When Babe unzipped his pants and yanked them off, Asher couldn't deny how their frenzied behavior left him weak in the knees and hard elsewhere. To see a Babe indulge their immediate desires and to experience instant gratification as a reward for doing so was an amazing sight that left Asher in a distracted awe until he realized Babe had removed the last of his clothes.

"C'mhere," he growled, grabbing under Babe's arms and pulling them close. "You're so perfect." Asher whisked Babe up and over the edge of the bed, placing their head onto a stacked pair of pillows. "Just incredible, Babe." Asher felt like he had an avalanche of praise poised at the tip of his tongue, but before he did, he reminded himself that he needed to honor the trust Babe put into him that night. Babe was at his complete and utter mercy. He owed them the chance to speak their mind, no matter how hazy and subdued their mind was.

Asher was there to guide them and to relax them, not to take advantage of them. Never. Asher would rather die a thousand deaths, each more painful than the last, than hurt Babe.

With newfound purpose, Asher straddled Babe, sliding closer to Babe. As his pelvis brushed along Babe’s torso and chest, Asher felt his blood be set ablaze with want. He wasn’t sure who was mewling louder– him or Babe. However, he was a beta on a mission.

“Babe.” Asher framed their face with his palms, eliciting a simply filthy cry from Babe. “Look at me,” he prompted gently.

Babe’s head, which had been thrown back onto the pillow, rolling from side to side, suddenly snapped to attention. They were becoming more and more eager to please Asher, addicted to the satisfaction that came from following each and every one of his instructions. The innate resistance that usually was firmly planted in Babe’s mind was slowly but surely ebbing away, leaving an immediate, gratifying joy at the knowledge that they were doing a good job.

A small snarl shot out of Asher’s mouth as he inched his face closer to Babe’s, staring into their deep, dilated eyes. “Tell me honestly, Babe,” he prefaced. “Are you still comfortable with all this?”

When their roles were switched, Babe was always meticulous about checking in with Asher throughout the night. Although they had a knack for always slipping those checkpoints into their fun smoothly and organically, Asher greatly valued those small pauses for simply what they were. Every time Babe leaned over his shoulder or squeezed his hand to ask for permission or to give him the space to tell them he was alright with the pleasurable torture they inflicted upon him, Asher wanted to melt into their warm, welcoming embrace. He relished knowing that Babe was looking out for him when he submitted to their command. That he didn’t have to worry or wonder or even think, but simply feel and lose himself in them. It was a vital part of the dynamic he shared with Babe because it was the one that let everything else fall into place.

That was why, even when magic had helped usher Babe into that same headspace, Asher wanted to give them the same respect and trust.

“Yes,” Babe said clearly. “Yes, I’m comfortable.”

Asher was relieved to hear that, but he needed to be comprehensively thorough, or else a check in was all for nothing. “Use our system.” His breath was like a puff of steam curling around their face. “Give me your color.”

“G-g-green,” Babe sputtered, blinking slowly as their vision blurred in and out of focus. “Very green. Bright green. Lime green.”

"All my favorite colors." Asher couldn’t help but plant a kiss on their glistening forehead. “I’m glad, Babe,” he purred, dragging his mouth across their cheek to land on their earlobe. “You’re doing so good. You always do such a good job at everything. You amaze me.” He let a hand wander along Babe’s chest as he spoke, vacillating between rubbing and squeezing every bit of their body he could grab without keeping his hand in one place. “And you deserve a reward for being so good for so long, don't you think?”

"Mhmm, yeah," Babe quickly supplied, biting their lip to offset the fireworks exploding along their chest and torso. "Y'know, I try to be perfect all the time."

Asher's breath hitched when he realized that admission was unprompted. He didn't have them into saying that. Babe had admitted that of their own volition. Asher took that to be a sign Babe was relaxing into the night not just because he was telling them to, but because they had been holding onto a mountain of stress and finally found it within themselves to confide in Asher. It wasn't as if what Babe had told him was new information to Asher in the slightest. He had seen firsthand just how hard they pushed themselves to meet the sky-high standards they held for themselves. And Babe's expectations for themselves weren't limited to their professional life. Socially, physically, mentally, emotionally… Babe couldn’t help but strive to be perfect in any way they could. Even though they rationally knew perfection was an unattainable reality, Babe couldn’t help but feel disappointed each and every time they fell short of the goals they set for themselves. None of that was revelatory. What was new to Asher was that Babe admitted that.

"Sometimes, it's hard,” Babe continued before Asher could answer them. “Because I feel like I’ll never be good enough in a million different ways.” They let their hands come to Asher’s shoulder, grabbing onto him like they were worried he’d disappear if they didn’t. “So I work and work and work until I’m satisfied, or I exhaust myself to try to get to that point before I ever let myself rest and relax and just feel good.” They pushed their forehead into Asher, like they could extract the peace they needed if only they huddled a little bit closer into him. “I tell myself I have to earn it, and then make it impossible to do that. I know I'm the one doing it to myself. I'm the one to blame, but I can't help it. It gets to me sometimes."

Asher quickly slung an arm around Babe so they wouldn’t have to strain any muscles holding themselves to him.

As open as Babe was with Asher, he knew that sometimes they struggled with anything related to deep self-reflection. Babe's quiet introspection hit him with a force he never could have anticipated and it spurred Asher on as he calculated how best to proceed that night.

“Please, Asher,” Babe whispered, their pupils so large, they looked like they were giving Asher the ‘puppy-dog’ eyes they often accused him of throwing around for his benefit. “Please, tonight, help me. Even if I didn’t earn it, I don’t want to care anymore. Just this once. Please."

Asher slowly and carefully shifted a bit, still wrapped around Babe but positioning them both so they were laying down on their sides, facing each other and cuddling closely. “I will, Babe,” he vowed saliently, brushing the backs of his fingers across their burning cheek. “I promise. Tonight, tomorrow, and every one after that. You don’t have to earn my love, Babe. You got it, wholly and unconditionally.” He rolled the side of his head into theirs. Nuzzling to show affection was a wolf-mannerism that always lingered even when Asher was in his human form. “I know how much progress you’ve made when it comes to those kinds of thoughts over time. And I’m so proud of you. But for right now, you’ve got the chance to leave that all behind a little while.” He carded a hand through their hair. “And I think you should take that chance.” A steely look of determination came over Asher. Maybe if Babe had been able, they would have noted how Asher radiated a glow that could be described as nothing but beta-esque. “Tonight, Babe, I want the only thing you perceive to be me. Just me, my love for you, how good I make you feel. And nothing else.”

At Asher’s decree, Babe felt the rest of their world fall away. It was as if everything in the bedroom disintegrated into nothingness, save for Asher and the bed they shared. Everything else was blurred and silenced. Even the stubborn, residual noise that had persisted inside of Babe’s head was suddenly muted. The small sigh of relief they heaved echoed in Asher’s eardrums. He allowed himself a quick burst of pride before he got to work.

Asher reclaimed his seat on top of Babe. They squirmed and shifted, mind much too fuzzy to do anything other than sink into the mattress. They would not have thought it possible for Asher’s touch to feel better than it had just a few moments ago, but after Asher’s ingenious last command, Babe was nearly delirious with pleasure.

And Asher had only gotten started.

"Yeah, Babe," Asher grinned, his canines discernibly longer as he hovered over Babe, ready to protect them for all he was worth. "That's it now." He snatched the bottle of lube from the nightstand, not even casting his glance away from Babe for a single second as he applied a liberal amount to Babe and himself. “When you look at me like that, I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

Asher's gentle but thorough rubbing alone had Babe ready to hit a climatic high, but Asher firmly kept them grounded in the present he created for them. Their lips twitched and trembled. "Oh, Ash-Ash-Asher!" The sheets rustled as they fidgeted haphazardly. Asher drank in the sight of them, a mix of excited glee and predatory hunger that only Babe could arouse in him. It was like he was watching them come undone in slow motion. Stripping away layer after layer of anxiety and self-consciousness and self-imposed guard until all that was left was Babe’s raw, unencumbered sensuality.

“Absolutely amazing.” Asher palmed them between their legs, not even surprised to learn that they were ready for him. He gave one more kiss, this time open-mouthed and deep. The hint of teeth he bared was enough to send ripples of heat all along Babe’s body. They moaned into his mouth and spread themselves out for Asher. “Now, you relax, Babe. I’ll take care of you. Let me do all the work. Your beta's got you.”

Babe obeyed yet again, softening into the bed and humming with heady delight. When Asher promised to take care of them, they believed him.

He took a minute to line himself up with Babe and slowly pushed himself into them. “Babe,” he panted, slowly and carefully grinding and shifting in the way he knew Babe liked. “Yes, Babe! Oh, the way you feel around me... You're being so good for your beta.”

Up until that point, Babe had thought that Asher’s commands had transformed them into the most sensitive they could possibly be. They felt unhinged and liberated, yet docile and pliant to whatever he suggested. But as soon as Asher entered them, Babe experienced something that they could only have described as magical.

They were lost in a thoughtless sea of awe and pleasure as Asher tended to their every need. It was like he was reading their mind, attentively keeping up a pace that pulled a string of noises from their parted, gasping mouth. His hands never left their body, always holding them close, but moving everywhere that perfectly complemented every gyration of his hips and every kiss that he gave them. Babe had never before felt so thoroughly and completely undone, and they loved every minute of it.

Asher put his heightened senses to good use as he meticulously watched and listened and felt for each and every one of Babe’s reactions to his love. He absently thought back to all those nights he thanked Babe for their careful attention to him, to which Babe always replied, ‘When it’s for you, it’s easy.’ He never really believed them, but as he concentrated on hearing every little whine that made its way past Babe’s mouth or the way their skin prickled at his touch or how their muscles contracted around him, he realized it was easy, sort of. Certainly, taking responsibility like that was a demanding role, but it wasn’t a chore. It was easy. Easy in the sense that he wanted to do it. Needed to do it. Was ready and willing to devote his life to doing it if only to offer Babe the comfort and support they needed at every moment.

He had commanded that they let him do the work to make sure that they would be free to move and to react in any way they wanted while also ensuring that they would remain focused on themselves for once. He knew how it was practically second nature for Babe to try to help Asher and, while he would probably let that happen later that night, Asher wanted this first round to be something wholly and completely about Babe.

“F-f-fuck, pl-please, k-keep go-go-going,” they stuttered, aching and desperate as they felt themselves come close to the edge. Pride had fled from their senses long ago thanks to the trance, and they continued to beg unabashedly, “Please, pl-please, m-more. I… Yes, yes, y-y-yes!” Asher noticed their eyes were shone brightly against the soft light of their bedroom lamp, but there was something different about their eyes. They were glazed. Half-hooded. Heavy with contentment.

It was simply gorgeous.

“You sound so good. And feel so good,” Asher whispered from deep within his throat. He knew that Babe was close, even if they were so far gone that they didn’t say so themselves. "We fit together perfectly." He could tell by the way they clawed his back with their fingernails. He heard them grunt low and guttural between each short breath. And he saw the way their eyes floated up towards their forehead as their tongue twisted through their wide, toothy smile.

Mindless, entranced, and enthralled was a good look for them, Asher realized with a grin. A damn good look indeed.

“And you deserve to cum,” Asher declared. “You know it’s true. Go ahead, Babe. Cum for me,” he ordered in a tone that left no room for rebuttal. “Cum for your beta.”

At Asher’s request, Babe felt their body shake and spasm as he erupted into sheer satisfaction. The orgasm Asher had led them to simply wrecked them, leaving them in a weightless state of unthinkable ecstasy. It was like they hadn’t a care or a thought in the world. All they could perceive was Asher as they existed in that moment.

Asher was not far behind them, reveling in seeing and hearing for himself just how much of a chaotic, frantic, needy mess that he had turned Babe into.

It could’ve been seconds or it could’ve been hours by the time they felt themselves come back into their body, limbs heavy and mind fuzzy. Asher’s soothing hands swept all along them as they tipped their head into his chest. “Hmmm,” they sighed, running two fingers up and down the column of Asher’s throat. “That was… amazing. Really, really fucking amazing, Honey.” They kissed his shoulder. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad, Babe.” Asher captured their fingers in his and brought them up to his mouth. He kissed each fingertip. “I’m so glad you enjoyed that. It means so much to me that you give me the chance to help you unwind like that. And, maybe unravel a bit as you do,” he winked. “Thank you for letting me. For sharing this part of yourself with me tonight.”

“I trust you with every part of me,” Babe whispered, moving closer into Asher. “Even the parts I don't trust myself with. Always. I love you.”

Asher felt his chest swell as the wolf within himself strutted and pawed happily. “I love you, too, Babe.” He felt like baring his teeth. Like climbing to the highest peak and surveying the territory he controlled. Like howling. He felt like the beta he always wished could be.

That was why, once Asher gave Babe the time and space they needed to come down from their high, he asked them, “You ready for more, Babe? Answer honestly. We’re not done until you’ve got absolutely everything you need and want tonight.”

“More,” Babe begged, already moving to kiss Asher. They hooked their hands around his neck, fumbling along his hair. “Please. I… I wanna keep going. I don't want it to be over yet,” they reported, the trance soothing away any self-consciousness that they might’ve felt at asking Asher to continue focusing on them after that earth-shattering orgasm. “I need it. Asher… I need you.”

Shortly after that, Asher had thrown Babe’s legs over his shoulders and thrusted until they screamed his name. "Your wolf can't be tamed. Not tonight, Babe."

After that, Asher used his mouth on Babe, commanding them to guide him with their hands and thighs. "I wanna hit every spot." He made sure that they felt comfortable to make any movement they would need as they fucked his face again and again. "Just lean in and enjoy."

After that, Asher instructed Babe to get on top and ride him as fast and as roughly as they wanted. “All the fun, none of the worry,” he cackled as he helped them to straddle him and let them have their way with him. "Get as wild as you want, Babe. Your wolf can take it."

After that, Babe and Asher were thoroughly and absolutely exhausted. The pair tangled themselves up together to form a mix of sweaty bodies, empty heads, and happy hearts. Knowing that his touch still provided Babe extra, tactile pleasure, Asher gave Babe a lazy massage. His big hands kneaded into their muscles. Asher had felt Babe’s body many times and in many ways, but the shifter couldn’t remember the last time he felt Babe’s body feel so loose, limber, and devoid of tension.

Once the massage concluded, Asher asked, “How you feeling?” between kisses.

“Amazing,” Babe answered. “Sleepy. Sweaty. A li’l sore. And so loved and safe, I can’t even put it into words.” They rolled even closer into Asher’s waiting chest.

"I believe the technical term for that is, 'fucked out,' Asher quipped before he got more serious. "I'm glad, Babe."

“Yeah. Thank you,” they mumbled, their voice thicker than syrup. “I love you so fucking much.”

“That’s my line,” Asher scoffed playfully. “Back at you, Babe. I love you. Thank you for letting me do this for you. It means so much to me.” He held them close. “You should probably get some sleep. Real sleep. Sometimes,” he informed them, much more confident with his job of giving them any support they needed that night than he had been at the start of the night. “When you use magic to get to sleep, you wake up kinda groggy. Not as rested.” Asher tipped his forehead into theirs. “I think it’s time to set you free from the trance so you can get some sleep.”

“Okay,” Babe agreed, their eyes already drifting closed.

“Elevator,” Asher whispered in a puff of breath.

There was no big fanfare. No sudden burst or removal of energy. And, even though Babe’s mental acuity had fully resurfaced, they remarkably didn’t feel any of the anxieties or negative thoughts return. They still felt just as safe and loved as they had while under Asher’s control.

“Let’s make sure it’s gone,” Asher huskily noted. “Stand on one foot.”

Babe didn’t move from the bed. "No," they refused. "Too comfy here with you."

“Success!” Asher balled his hand into a fist triumphantly before settling around them and letting his own eyes close and his head sink into the pillow. “Sleep well, Babe.”

Babe was on the cusp of sleep and wakefulness, though they did muster up the energy they needed to respond before they drifted off the sleep after an incredible night. “Sleep well, Doctor Asher, Soup Extraordinaire, Mate of the Year, and Best Beta Ever.”