> A Little Snack > by Draconian Soul > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Wetting the Appetite > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spike’s knees were shaking. His movement, weighed down by the box he carried through the boutique. Sweat rolled down his face as he strained to keep up with the mare in front of him, who hummed a small tune to herself. “Um, Rarity? Not that I’m complaining or anything— since I do enjoy helping you out and such, but when can I put this box down?” he asked while grunting. “Can’t I just set it in the middle of the floor until we figure out where to put it?” Rarity turned towards Spike, giving a disapproving glance. “Now, Spike, you know that wouldn’t be good for anypony. That box of has some very sharp and valuable gems. If someone were to come in here and take them, or heaven forbid, fall into them—” Rarity shuddered at the thought, straightening her mane afterwards. “Either way, I would rather have it placed somewhere safe and out of the way.” “O-okay.” Spike held his breath, trying to keep his grip on the box. He didn’t want to question Rarity. However, as eager to help as he was, even he was starting to believe that the situation was a little unfair. Rarity hummed, rubbing her chin with her front hoof. “I think I know where this could go!” she exclaimed. “You do?” Spike’s eyes sparkled, relieved that he was finally going to be rid of the load. Rarity smiled warmly at him. “Indeed I do. There’s room in my bedroom where we can nestle it in the corner. It’ll be out of the way and accessible when I need it.” Spike’s hopes drained away at the revelation. He turned his head towards the stairway, cringing at the revelation of his situation. “So, I have to carry this up the steps?” Spike asked for clarification. “Yes, that would seem like the most logical conclusion,” Rarity said, giggling. “How else are we going to get the box up there? I can’t possibly lift that heavy thing myself. I’m a lady, not a gentledrake like yourself!” “Yeah, I guess.” Spike’s voice dripped with agitation that Rarity seemed to be blissfully unaware of due to her quickening pace up the stairs. He slowly followed, making sure the box didn’t tip over and spill its contents all over the stair case, or worse yet, his face. Though, the box falling on his face seemed like a pleasant idea at the time. It would have been a free meal after all, and he was hungry. Saliva began to trickle out his mouth as he licked his lips, thinking of all the jewels he could be gobbling down. That is, if Rarity would let him. They aren’t meant to be eaten, Spikey Poo! I’ll give you a little something later, but these gems are important. They’re going to be used for my upcoming projects, and I don’t want to have a low supply. Sorry, but you’re just going to have to wait. Spike’s stomach began to growl. Some days he thought that Rarity did this just to test his devotion to her. It was being tested, and at that point, he wasn’t too interested in passing it. He was fatigued, hungry, and lifting a life-threateningly heavy box up a staircase, while Rarity whistled and hummed like there wasn’t a care in the world. It was unfair, but he was sure there was some kind of happy ending to this back breaking story. He could barely reach the top of the steps without tumbling. It felt as if he was going to careen backwards off of the steps at any moment. Fortunately, he managed to reach the top of the steps without fumbling down them and continued towards her room. He had only entered this most sacred place a few times, but each visit made him flush. The aroma of the room was pleasant, smelling of lavender and perfume. The atmosphere was perfect, constructed to her every desire. Everything inside was pleasant. However, it was unfortunate that Spike couldn't enjoy the rare treat of joining her inside the room. He swayed side to side, losing control of the box and dropping the gems on the floor. Rarity turned around and gasped. “Spikey, what happened?” she asked, trotting closer to the tilted box. “Are you okay?” Her concern put a smile to his face. It was nice to know that she at least cared about his wellbeing over the gems. His face flushed, not able to utter a single word while staring at his mistress. “Dear, oh dear,” she cried out, lifting up the gems with her magic. “That’s a lot falling out of the box. They could be all over the place by now!” She rummaged around on the floor and under the bed, searching for the remaining jewels. “Spike, be a dear and help me clean up. We have enough work to do already to have loose gems all over the place.” Spike muttered to himself as he searched the floor for the diamonds he dropped. Rarity slowed down and leaned against the end of her bed. “Wow, today is going to be a long day,” Rarity stated. “I think we could both use a little refreshment, wouldn’t you agree, Spike?” Spike nodded, continuing to clean up. “Good!” Rarity got off of her bed and walked towards the door. “I’ll go get us a couple of glasses of water. If you wouldn’t mind, could you—“ “Clean up the rest of the gems off the ground. Yeah, I’m way ahead of you, Rarity.” Rarity could sense the malice in Spike’s voice. He looked agitated, tired, and was mumbling inaudibly to himself. She didn’t dwell on it too much however and instead decided to continue downstairs. She trotted towards the kitchen and opened the cabinet doors. She lifted two glasses with her magic, bringing them towards the sink and turning on the faucet. While filling the cups, her mind went back to her assistant. “What’s wrong with him?” She asked herself. “He doesn’t seem as energetic as he usually is about this sort of thing. He looked quite upset about something.” She mulled over the thought while, preparing the glasses of water; opening her freezer door to get a few cubes of ice. “I don’t think he’s mad at me about anything. I mean, he was a little grouchy when I didn’t let him eat some of my gems, but I’m sure he understood. So what could be his problem?” She set the two glasses on the counter, trying to figure out what could be worrying Spike. She trotted in place, mulling over what the problem was. She looked across the kitchen and into the inspiration room, noticing the clutter of silk and fabric lying all over the place. She shook her head, tsking loudly. “How on earth could I allow my own workplace to get so filthy? This is going to be a hassle for me and Spike to clean up, but I’m sure he can help without—“ And then it hit her. The issue came rushing through her instantly and the situation became clear. It was becoming more and more obvious what was wrong with little Spikey Wikey, and it all stemmed back to earlier that morning. “Spike, are you ready to go?” “Of course, Rarity! Ready when you are!” Spike came zipping down the stairs, immediately standing at attention in front of Rarity. His eyes were filled with longing passion and eagerness like always. His overreactions always made her giggle. She was flattered by his admiration of her. She leaned over and patted Spike on the head. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite helper in all of Equestria, Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity said with a smile. His face went red, and his mouth broke into a wide, dopey grin. Twilight, washing the dishes, just sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know, I’m just hanging out and doing my own thing,” Spike said, trying to keep his composure in front of Rarity. “I’m glad you showed up today. Being around with Ms. Bookworm all day can get a little old, sometimes.” “Oh, come one, Spike,” Rarity began, patting his head. “It can’t be that bad." The gesture caused Spike to once again drift into a love-struck trance. She turned towards Twilight, who was just shaking her head, giving a disapproving glance. Her reaction confused Rarity. Normally things like this didn’t seem to bother Twilight. She would normally laugh it off or make a quip at Spike’s expense. She even remembered the time that Twilight almost told her what Spike would do late at night with a photo of her in retaliation for telling tales of her embarrassing childhood for not letting him eat before bed. The glance she was getting this time however wasn’t snarky or light-hearted. It was one of agitation, something that made Rarity feel a little uncomfortable. “Anyways, I really appreciate you helping me out today,” Rarity said. “I have so much work that needs to be done. I didn’t get a chance to clean up my inspiration room, and it’s simply a train wreck. I also have to restock some gems, but the cart was broken because of—” Rarity groaned, “Sweetie Belle using it with the Crusaders. It’s going to be a hassle, but I have a box that might be big enough, if you don’t—“ “It won’t be a problem!” Spike exclaimed. “I’m always willing to help out a friend in need. It’s what I do best!” Spike smiled widely. “Why, that’s very sweet of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you!” Just her words were enough to send Spike’s heart ablaze. His grin seemed more triumphant and overjoyed than ever before. He even glanced at Twilight with a smug ‘I told you so’ kind of grin, much to her chagrin. Something was going on with these two, and from the looks of it, Rarity was stuck right in the middle of it. “Spike, could you wait for me outside?” Rarity asked, staring at Twilight. “I want to ask Twilight something.” Twilight’s ears perked, and Spike glanced at Rarity in confusion. “I don’t have to wait outside. I’m old enough to understand what is going on,” Spike reassured. “Whatever you have to tell her, you can say it in front of me.” “Yeah, I suppose, but this isn’t just about the conversation, darling.” “It isn’t?” Rarity shook her head and put one of her front hooves on his shoulders. “You see, that box I brought is sturdy enough, but what would happen if the bottom or the sides were loose? All the gems would fall all over the place, and we would have to pick them all back up again. That would be good, now would it, Spikey Wikey?” Spike was reluctant to leave Rarity just to check on a feeble box, but a request was a request. That and her pleading eyes were just too powerful for him to resist. “A-anything for you, Rarity.” He giddily skipped out of the house, humming a merry tune. When he closed the door, Rarity refocused her attention towards Twilight, attempting to speak her peace. “So, you’re about take your pet out to help you work today?” Rarity stood frozen, shocked by the accusation, and the suddenness of it. “Twilight! That is a terrible thing to say! Spike is not a pet!” “I know he isn’t. I just think that you might be treating him as such.” Rarity frowned. “Whatever do you mean?” Twilight let the water drain from the sink, taking out the remaining dishes that were left. After drying them and placing them in their respective cabinets, she walked towards Rarity with a stern look on her face. “Rarity, I’m not trying to be malicious, but I do feel like you have been taking advantage of Spike’s admiration for you recently.” Rarity gasped, glaring at Twilight. “Why, I’d never! Who are you to accuse me of such atrocities? I would never do that to him!” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? Then how come he’s been coming home every other day nearly exhausted for the past week?” Rarity opened her mouth to defend herself, but she was at a loss of words. She just waited for Twilight to continue to scold her about the time she has been spending with Spike. “He isn’t a tool to be used at the drop of a hat, and you know that,” Twilight lectured. “If you want him to help you out, then fine, but you shouldn’t overwork him like that.” “Oh, and you’re the one to talk!” Rarity snapped back. “What about all those times you’ve made him reorganize a library books while cleaning it and doing other mundane chores you could have done yourself?” Twilight simply nodded. “While I do have him do chores that are tiring, I don’t force him to do them in succession every single day. I also feed him some of his favorite snacks and give him frequent breaks. Not to mention, he actually lives here.” Rarity couldn’t find a reason to retaliate. She looked glumly down on the floor and kicked around. “Well, he doesn’t tell me when he’s tired. I just assume that he’s always fine with it.” Twilight crossed her front hooves and raised an eyebrow. “Do you honestly think that Spike will tell you that you’re pushing him too far?” Rarity’s confidence began to wane. Eventually, she let out a regretful sigh and sat on the ground. “Maybe you’re right, Twilight. Maybe I have been pushing him a tad too much. But this week has been particularly hectic. I don’t know why, but I’ve had more business coming through in the past weeks. I need all the help I can get. I guess I might have overworked the poor dear, but I assure you, I don’t think of him as a pet, like you say.” Twilight trotted towards Rarity, looking down on her with a softened expression. “That’s understandable. Just make sure you don’t take advantage of him. In turn, I also told him not to let you take advantage of his kindness. I care about him, you know, and regardless if you’re my friend or not, I won’t let you use him as your personal whipping boy.” Rarity lifted herself from the floorboard and smiled weakly, nodding in acceptance. “I understand. I’ll be more cautious in the future.” “That’s all I ask.” Twilight smiled warmly at Rarity. If there was one thing that Rarity admired, it was Twilight’s ability to let differences and conflicts die easily. “Thank you for understanding.” The two were distracted by loud knocks on the door. They turned their attention towards it, hearing the dragon shout out to them from outside. “Hey, I checked the box like five times already, and it seems fine!” Spike exclaimed. “Are you two almost done yet?” Twilight snickered and turned towards Rarity, who was giving an uneasy expression. “Well, looks like Spike is getting a little impatient,” Twilight said with a smile. “It wouldn’t be good if he got too restless.” Rarity giggled, bringing her hoof against her lips. “No, I suppose that wouldn’t be a good thing.” She turned towards around and trotted towards the door. “Oh, and remember, Rarity,” Twilight called out, “Don’t take advantage of him. I’d hate to see Spike miserable all weekend.” Rarity turned her head and smiled softly. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make sure that he is well taken care of, and I’ll try my best to not overwork him. Who knows? I might even give him a nice little reward after.” Rarity waved at Twilight and opened the door, joining the eager dragon outside. He looked up with her with wide eyes, ready to do her bidding. Though, with what Twilight had told her, she was a little more reluctant to make any requests. “So, what should we do first?” Spike asked. Rarity paused, wondering if she should continue with her early intentions. Okay, just keep what Twilight said in mind, Rarity thought. Just have him do a little bit of work, nothing too extreme. Then, reward him for his efforts later. You have to take his feelings into consideration, Rarity. “Well, we should get an early start on searching for valuable gems.” Spike saluted. “Then I’m on it! Anytime you need a helping hand, I’ll be there to lend it.” Rarity smiled. “I know you will.” And there she was, doing exactly what Twilight had told her not to. She lifted the glasses, looking disappointed. Here she was taking the easy way out, and Spike was stuck doing all the hard work as usual. “Why do I keep doing this?” Suddenly, Rarity heard loud screams of agony coming from upstairs, causing her to jolt and spill a little water on the floor. “Oh, for the love of…” Spike cursed, screaming and doing what sounded like kicking things around. “You stupid gem! Why did you have to be so sharp! You nearly poked a hole in my foot! What kind of piss poor rock did you get crapped out of you miserable little…” Though nothing too vulgar came out, Rarity was surprised with the language he was using. Though, she was partially to blame for his outburst. Her guilt began to build up slightly. She was taking advantage of his services. There was no way around that fact. Yet, she didn’t feel completely bad about it, and wasn’t sure why. Whatever the reason, she continued towards the stairway and trotted towards her room. The rage-filled screams became louder and louder as she headed towards her bedroom. When she reached her room, she coughed into her hoof, stepping in slowly. “Um, Spike? Are you alright?” He froze and looked Rarity in the face. His cheeks went red, and he straightened himself up, rubbing the back of his head. “Oh! Hi, Rarity.” He scooted the loose gem to the side with his foot, shoving it towards the box. “I was just… um…. trying to put all of the gems back in the box like you requested. It’s taking a little longer than you would probably like, but I think I’ll be done soon enough!” Rarity shook her head. “That won’t be necessary, Spike,” she said, levitating a glass to Spike. “I’ll take care of these later. We have other things to work on today. The gems can wait.” Spike took the glass of water and sighed in relief, taking a good load of guilt off of Rarity’s chest. He chugged the water down and set it on her dresser, waiting for the next set of demands. Rarity took her time drinking, partially because she was being proper, and partially because she didn’t know whether to continue using Spike for her services. He doesn’t look too upset anymore. He was probably just a little grouchy from having to carry that box. I can’t imagine how heavy that must have been… and I made him carry it without lifting a hoof. Why? Spike stood patiently, waiting for her to finish her cup. Should she keep making him work, or call it a day and let him relax? She was really tempted to go for the latter. She had been working him for quite a while, and if his groans and grumbles meant anything, she was probably working his patience. Her time to think had ended, as the last drop of water hit her tongue and traveled down her throat. She set the cup down and looked at Spike. “So, what’s next?” Spike asked with the same look in his eyes he always had when asking Rarity something. Those eyes. Those eager, longing eyes. He was so ready to help her when she wanted it, and would go through nearly any amount of pain just to please her. That kind of devotion warmed Rarity and made her smile. “Well, there is quite a bit to do in my inspiration room,” Rarity said, still shaky on whether or not to continue. “We need to put up all the fabric, reorganize the spindles, and place all the mannequins out of the way.” Spike sighed. “Sounds like there’s a bit of work to do today, huh?” Rarity could hear his annoyance and disappointment. She chose to speak out again, trying to craft her next words carefully. “I’m sure we’ll get done in no time, Spike,” she said, patting his head. “After we get done, we can take a little break and eat. Sounds fair?” Spike nodded, but his expression was saying something else. His eyes were looking at her and saying “Why can’t we just take a break right now?” And that was a question that was plaguing Rarity’s mind as well. Why couldn’t she let him take a break? Why was she constantly having him work for her, despite how annoyed he was? Did she enjoy seeing her poor Spikey Wikey worn out? Those questions would have to wait until later. After all, he did nod his head. She assumed he couldn’t be too worn out if he decided to go along with it. She decided to bury the burdens until later and continue on with the rest of the day in mind. She led Spike down the stairs and into the mess she called a ‘creative spark’. Stepping into it, it looked more like a creative typhoon. Fabric was all over the place, the room was littered with crushed gems and glitter, and all of her leftover snips of ribbons were draped over the tables and mannequins. “Um, this is messier than usual,” Spike pointed out, kicking loose strands of ribbon caught on his legs. “That’s because I’ve had project after project piled up for the past few weeks,” Rarity said. “I’ve hardly had time to take a breather all week, and even now I have to prepare for another set of dresses I have to make.” Rarity pouted. “So many projects in such little time. I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t help me!” Rarity put her hooves over her head, dramatizing the situation even more. She could hear Spike sigh slightly, as if he was tired of her playing the part. It made her a little weary, but at the same time, it amused her. “At any rate, we shouldn’t stand here and let the mess pile up. Let’s get started, shall we.” “Yeah, let’s get this over with.” His word choice disheartened Rarity a bit. Normally he would say things along the lines of “At your service, my lady,” or “Whatever you need, Rarity.” It was so unlike him to just want to get anything over with, especially when she was around. Regardless, she directed him to what she wanted him to do, and he followed through without a single complaint. Well, none verbally. The two spent the next few hours cleaning the inspiration room. It took longer with Rarity attempting to be a perfectionist and organizing her mess into a neat pile. Rarity hummed merrily and put away her thimbles and silk. The task went by faster than normal for her. She trotted around giddily and finished her part of the work with great ease; significant to the time it took her to make a dress when she was on an inspiration streak. Spike however was lagging behind. He lazily grabbed at the fabric and folded it slowly, occasionally glancing at Rarity when she trotted by. His efforts were miniscule, and he contributed just enough to get by. His pace slowed to a near halt as the hours went by, and he eventually stopped working fast in general. Rarity took notice of this and walked towards Spike, who was looking at a purple fabric with pained, glistening eyes. “Something wrong, Spike?” she asked. Spike looked up at her with a foreign expression. It wasn’t that of love or adoration. It was one of disappointment and hopelessness. “Nothing,” Spike somberly replied, not trying to make it convincing in the slightest. Rarity glanced at him, watching him kick his feet about. “It’s just, I was wondering when we could take a little break.” It was becoming more and more apparent that whatever Twilight told Spike was sinking into his skull and giving him an impression she didn’t want. “You know, a break right now wouldn’t be so bad…” Spike began to smile briefly, his hopes rising. “...But I would like to finish up a little bit more. There are still things littered on the floor, and it would be a shame if we were to—” Rarity paused when Spike turned away and continued working. He was so used to the same old thing, he had finally decided to shut it off and continue with his work. He had finally had enough. She had pushed him to the edge. As he continued cleaning up, Rarity continued with her part of the chores as well. She folded a few pieces of fabric, periodically turning her head to see the progress Spike was doing. She turned back around with a determined look on her face. No. She put the fabric on the counter, turning back towards Spike. This isn’t going to be like it always is! “On second thought, I think this would be a good time to take a breather,” she said, trotting towards the exit. “Please, be patient, Spike. You’ll be rewarded soon for your hard work. I’m going to go…” she sighed, “get you a little snack.” Spike’s eyes widened. Could she mean what he thought she did? His mouth began to salivate with anticipation. “You must have already guessed what I was talking about by now,” Rarity said, giggling. “But before I do that, I want you to stay down here and finish putting the ribbons on the table. That isn’t too much, is it, Spikey?” Spike shook his head. “Not at all. I can handle that.” His eagerness was still dim, but a lot more apparent than it was before, easing Rarity’s tension. “Don’t go anywhere now,” she said, patting his head. “I’m going to go sort them out and figure out which ones you can eat.” Rarity left Spike to finish the rest of the chores while she went to sort out what she would give her little Spikey Wikey. She hesitantly trotted up the stairs, contemplating the situation. “Oh, what gem should I give him?” she mulled over. “Maybe the little, pink one at the bottom. No, that wouldn’t hold him over. But… I want to keep the good ones for my future projects!” Her voice came off high pitched and whiny. She stuck her lower lips out and pouted. “Oh, why is this so hard?” Rarity ran into her room and plopped on her bed, sighing. She stared at some of the loose gems on the ground. They ranged in size, shape, and color, but all of them different value. They were some of the finest gems she had ever seen, all for the taking. It was hard to let something that divine and rare go, and feed it to a dragon no less. But then she would have never gotten the gems if it weren’t for her assistant. She rolled over in her bed, pressing her hoof against her head. “Great, now I have to figure out what to give him.” She crawled out of the bed and lifted up the gems with her magic. She scanned them, humming and rubbing her chin. “I could just give him these. Or maybe…” Rarity dropped the gems into the box. “No, that wouldn’t be fair. He deserves something better. Something that represents how hard he has worked. Something like—” And there it was, the prize of the day. It was one of the most beautiful gems she had ever seen in her entire life. It was polished to perfection, even after being encapsulated under rocks for so many years. The shine glared off and illuminated soft, velvet tones to anything it shimmered upon. This was the sizable gem known as the Florette Amethyst. It was one of a kind, fit for anyone deserving of it. “I suppose he deserves this,” Rarity sighed. “It would be rude of me to deny him that.” She levitated the amethyst in the air and attempted to walk. However, her legs went stiff. Her body was restraining her movement in hesitation. “On second thought, he does like doing this for me,” Rarity said, searching for reasons to opt out of giving him the jewel. “Why would he continue helping me if he didn’t like it? It’s not my fault he continues to assist me in any condition. If anything, most of it is self-inflicted.” The more she tried to rationalize the situation, the more hesitant she became to give up the gem. She looked at her reflection in the amethyst and frowned. “Look at you, taking advantage of a young dragon just because he’s infatuated with you. I bet you enjoy watching him grovel at your hooves. I bet you take great pleasure in him working his fingers to the bone just to make you happy.” She paused, looking even deeper into her reflection with softened eyes. “You do, don’t you?” She nodded to the reflection. “I do.” She set the amethyst down on the counter, brushing it off while smiling bleakly. “There’s something about how loyal he is to me that makes me giddy. He would never speak ill of me, no matter how much I use him as a cushion. He treats me… like a princess.” A warm smile eloped on her face and she let out a wistful sigh. “And I want to keep it that way. Still, I can’t be selfish when it comes to these things.” Rarity continued glaring at the gemstone. It’s radiance almost rivaled hers, making it harder for her to bear the idea of parting with it. She took a deep breath and lifted it back up. “Oh well. As long as Spikey Wikey savors and enjoys it, I can part with it,” she said, a small smile creeping on her face. “I can already see him drooling over it, biting down on it as soon as it reaches his claws.” She snickered while thinking of the ways he would devour his treat. “Maybe he would do that thing he does with his tongue and wrap it around his food. Poor etiquette honestly, but that tongue is—” Before she could even finish, a thought crept into her mind, a dirty, wrong desire that made her cheeks go red. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of such a filthy desire. “No! You shouldn’t think of a friend like that! I already use him enough just to do some work for me. I shouldn’t take advantage of him that way as well.” Rarity pondered her perverted thought. Normally, if this was any other situation, she would have talked herself out of it in a pinch. But for some reason, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. In fact, she started trying to rationalize the idea. “He could always tell me no if he feels uncomfortable with it. He can refuse the request whenever he wants. Not only that, but I am offering him a gem. This shouldn’t be something that makes him feel like he’s robbing me.” There was no turning back from her thoughts. The idea was already cemented into her head, and she stared at the gem again, with seduction and cravings in her eyes. She brought the gem towards her face and giggled. “If I’m going to give Spikey Wikey the finest gem, I’m going to get a little benefit from it. It wouldn’t be good for him to think he robbed me. She spent a few moments preparing for Spike’s snack, smiling and blushing throughout. There was a little resistance, but she reached her desired result pretty quickly. After some adjustments, she whistled a pleasant tune and trotted down the stairs. I hope that Spikey enjoys his little snack. Skipping into the hallway, she peered into the room, watching as Spike continued cleaning up the last strands of fabric lying around. “Oh, Spike!” Rarity waved her hooves to catch Spike’s attention. “You can come get your snack now!” Spike dropped the remaining fabric he had in his hands in the basket next to him and ran towards her with anticipation and excitement. However, there wasn’t anything levitating towards her, nor was anything concealed in her hooves. He scratched his head in confusion. “So, where’s the snack?” he asked, causing Rarity to giggle. “Oh, you’ll see soon enough,” Rarity said with a wink. “The snack is upstairs though. Follow me.” Rarity turned around and swayed her hips. The motions were hypnotic, luring Spike towards her. She traveled back up the stairs and into her room. Spike followed closely, his curiosity aroused. What would his snack be? Would it be something grand? Maybe it was one of the gems in the box? He stood by the door, glancing around. The gems were all stacked in the box and pushed neatly in the corner, not a single one on the floor. “You know, you didn’t have to clean up the gems by yourself,” Spike stated. “You could have just called me up here if you needed me.” Rarity waved her hooves and shook her head. “Oh, please! You shouldn’t have to worry about such a trivial task. You deserve something a little better than that.” She smiled warmly at him, lowering her eyes. “I’ve worked you a little hard recently, I’ll be honest. It has to be a burden on you.” Spike shook his head, waving his claw out at her. “Nah, it isn’t that big of a deal. I’m used to the work.” She knew he was lying, but that made her smile even more. “Still, it is unfair of me to have treated you in such a way. You deserve a reward for your help. One of the finer treasures in the stash of gems we scouted today.” Spike’s eyes began to glow. He knew instantly what she was talking about. “Wait, you mean you’ll let me—” She nodded. “The Florette Amethyst is yours for the taking.” Spike let out a squeak of happiness and ran towards the box, digging through the gems. We continued searching for it, but the deeper he got, the more his eagerness waned, as the gem he was looking for was nowhere to be seen. “Rarity, I don’t see it,” Spike said. When he turned around, Rarity was smiling at him wickedly, making his heart race. “Well, Spike, I decided to give it a little flavor,” she said, winking at him. “I want the gem to be as filling as it can possibly be.” Spike looked at her completely lost. “I’m not following.” “You will in a moment Spike,” she reassured. “You will.” “Oh, well, okay. Is it like hidden somewhere?” Rarity laughed some more. “You could say that. It’s mainly being presented to you on a platter so to speak.” “Oh, like those fancy dishes you tell me not to eat off of?” “Really close!” Rarity’s voice was extremely light and dreamy, on par with her how she would sound if she had met an idol she adored. It was something she rarely, if ever, did in front of Spike. While flattering to say the least, Spike felt more confused and slightly disturbed than he did happy. “Okay, I give up,” Spike said. “Where is the snack?” Rarity smiled coyly. “Just stand right there. Your snack will be presented to you in a few seconds.” Spike just stood and watched Rarity, waiting for her to go fetch his snack. The strange thing though, is that he didn’t leave the room to get anything. All she did was turn her back towards Spike and smile at him. She walked towards her bed and spread out her back legs. The dragons expression went stoic. He thought something was wrong with her, or she was just teasing him again. The later wouldn’t have surprised him that much. What he got however stunned him, and caused his face to turn beat red. Rarity lifted her tail and there it was. the Florette Ametyst: ripe, juicy, deliciously shiny, and wedged between Rarity’s flanks. In fact, it was being pressed by her inner walls, keeping it in place. Rarity wiggled her rump impatiently, beckoning Spike to eat his meal. “Well, here you go,” Rarity cooed. “Eat up, Spikey.” Spike stepped backwards, tumbling into the box of gems. Rarity turned around and gasped. “Goodness! Are you alright?” she asked. Spike leaned up, nodding and smiling. She let out a sigh of relief and walked towards him. “What’s wrong then, Spike? I thought you wanted to eat the gem.” Spike kept his gaze away from Rarity’s. His face was becoming redder by the second. “I d-do! It’s just that… well.” He paused and gulped, mulling over the correct words to say. Tapping his claws together, he stared up at Rarity, who still gave him that same, sultry glance she did before. “D-did you have to put it... there?” Rarity giggled and turned around once again. “Oh, you mean here?” She swayed her hips to tantalize him. “I thought it would be good to flavor the gem for you. You’ve worked so hard that I decided that you deserved something a little special.” Spike followed Rarity’s hypnotic flanks unwillingly. For some reason, he couldn’t keep his eyes off the gem, and the cave that was holding it in. “I ap-appreciate the effort, Rarity. I r-really do.” He continued to trip over his words, finding it near impossible to speak coherently. “But, couldn’t you just s-salt it, or something else? This seems… weird.” Rarity slowed down from shaking her hips, but still kept the gem in Spike’s view. “But then it wouldn’t be as special. I wanted to do something for you that no other pony would ever do. Besides, it is salted, with the finest vinaigrette you will ever taste.” “I don’t know, Rarity.” Spike carefully sat up more, trying to stay as far away from her inviting marehood as possible, though the task was a little harder than he thought thanks to the glistening gem wedged there. “This kind of feels... wrong.” Finally, Rarity stopped flashing him and turned around. She leaned into the box and smiled, prompting Spike to move back more. “What’s so wrong about it? I’m just sharing a meal with you. I think that’s something very special.” “Well, Twilight told me in full details about…” Spike could feel a cold sweat coming on. He was embarrassed to say it. “Sexual encounters.” “Oh?” Rarity pressed her hooves against her face, the smile not receding from it. “Well, she told me that when a mare and a colt have desires, they sometimes have sexual encounters with each other, often involving the—” Spike stopped, trying real hard to utter the words he was looking for. “You can say it, Spikey Wikey,” Rarity said. “I’m mature enough to know what it is.” Spike sighed and continued. “Involving the penis and vagina!” He blurted it out swiftly and flushed even more. The reaction caused Rarity to giggle loudly, not helping Spike’s embarrassment. “Oh, Spike, you’re always the insightful one,” Rarity said, patting his head. “But let me ask you, am I asking you to insert yourself inside me?” “Well, no but—” “Then it’s not the same thing. All I’m doing is feeding my most helpful assistant his gem.” “From your…. vagina?” "Like I said, it's a special flavor enhancer. It's good for you." Spike fumbled around with his claws. His heart couldn't beat any faster and it felt as if it was going to shoot out of his chest. “I just don’t think we should do this,” Spike said, still shaky and nervous. “I don’t have to eat that gem. I-I could eat one of these other ones.” Spike went into the box and pulled out several different assortments of gems. “Like this one! This probably tastes better than the other one too. It’s so… ruby-ish. Mmmm.” Spike’s hesitation caused Rarity to frown slightly. Her attempts at getting enjoyment out of him were apparently slipping through. She was going to have to accept the fact that Spike was uncomfortable with the situation and leave him be. Let him eat some of the other gems in the basket. Or would she? Suddenly, her sly smile returned and she leaned in closer to Spike. “Oh, how sad,” she said, putting her left hoof against her forehead. “I put so much time and effort to prepare this meal for you, and you refuse to take it. I thought you were willing to do anything for me, Spikey Wikey.” “Well, yes, but this is jus—” Rarity covered Spike’s lips with her other hoof, poking her lips out and giving off her best expression of sadness. “I understand. You don’t like me enough to take this special treat. I just wanted to share this with you, but alas!” Spike’s eyes widened. Rarity’s voice was so nasally and pathetic sounding. Her feigned sadness caught him off guard, making him feel sympathetic for her. The final nail in the coffin was sealed when she turned away and began to whimper. "It's okay, Spike. Go ahead and eat whatever is left. I'll just go and take this gem out and..." She sniffled. "...go put it away for good." She continued to feign her sobs. From Spike’s angle, it appeared as if she was crying, broken, and discouraged from ever doing anything for Spike ever again. However, in reality, Rarity’s sobs were small giggles. Her manipulation seemed to be working. She walked slowly, waiting for Spike to finally cave. “W-Wait!” Spike called out, causing Rarity to pause. “D-Does this really mean that much to you?” Rarity turned her head around, nodding slowly. Butterflies filled Spike’s stomach. The radiance glistening off of Rarity’s eyes enticing. Spike sighed. “O-Okay then.” Spike lifted himself from the box and stood up, keeping a safe distance from Rarity. “But, if I do this, will you t-tell anyone about it?” Rarity shook her head. “Spike, this is your special meal. This can stay between you and me.” She smiled and turned around, once again revealing his meal and the flower that encased it. “Now, whenever you’re ready, eat up.” Spike gulped, sweat running down his brow more and more. His eyes were glued on her backside, being lured in by the Florette Amethyst placed inside of her. He hesitated to move forward, his legs feeling like jelly. In order to motivate him, Rarity pressed her rear back more, swaying it from side to side. “Come on now, Spikey. Your meal might get cold if you wait too long.” Spike walked closer and closer until he was in reach. There was no way around it. He was going to have to get the gem out of her. He closed his eyes and reached out. The heat radiated off of her vulva, warming up his hand. He finally touched the surface of the gem, which was wet and heated by her fluids. Spike swiftly dug his fingers between her walls and tried to pull it out of her. The response made Rarity gasp. The sensation nearly made her fall apart in a well of bliss. However, this wasn’t what she had planned, and she wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily. She pressed her vaginal muscles tighter, holding the gem in place. “Spike, what are you doing?” she asked. “Um, getting my snack?” He opened one eye and turned his head to the side, blushing when he saw his claws wedged into her vagina. No matter how hard he pulled though, she wouldn’t let the gem from her grasp. “Why won’t you let go?” Rarity panted and giggled between them. “Silly Spike. When I said I wanted you to eat the snack, I meant eat it out of me.” And with that, Spike’s heart stopped. “R-really?” “Yes, Spikey Wikey. It’s the only way it’ll keep it’s signature flavor.” “B-but I... I thought that… maybe if you…” “Spike.” Her voice more agitated than before. “I spent too much time preparing this snack for you to have you not eat it properly. Now, be a dear and do that for me.” Spike shivered. His face felt hot and pooled with sweat. His queen was growing impatient, and he was growing ever so hungrier. He put his claws on Rarity’s flanks, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Her rear was so soft and squishy that his claws began to sink in. The aroma of her flower filled Spike’s nostrils. The smell was potent, strong, and warm; arousing him. He tried to keep his focus on the gem, and not the welling desire within him. He took a deep breath, which caused Rarity to twitch a little, and lapped his tongue against the base of the gem. It pressed against Rarity’s walls, causing Rarity’s tongue to loll out in an unlady-like fashion. Spike continued licking around the outer part of the gem, tasting the sweet nectar covering the mineral. “Oh, don’t spend too much time sampling it, Spikey,” Rarity said with a moan. “Make sure you taste all of it!” Spike obeyed her wishes, wrapping his long tongue around the outside. Rarity did her best to keep the gem in place so she could feel the joy of his snake-like tongue, and what a reward it was. While trying to get the gem out of her, his tongue brushed against her ridges. It was a pleasurable sensation that she’d never felt before. “Oh,” she moaned. “Are you enjoying your meal, Spikey?” He pulled his tongue out and licked his lips. “Um, I guess.” Rarity’s legs were twitching. It took all of her energy to prevent herself from going weak in the knees. “How did it taste?” “Kind of… salty?” Spike shrugged. “It tasted… different.” When he caught sight of Rarity’s frown, he held his claw out and shook it. “B-But it isn’t bad! It’s just a little foreign.” Rarity giggled. “You’ll get used to it,” she replied. “Right now, you should finish it up. We want to make a happy plate, right?” “But, I’m not eating it out of a plate,” Spike said. “Details, details.” Rarity wiggled her flank once more. “You still haven’t finished up yet.” Spike grabbed onto her backside once again and continued eating both the gem and Rarity out. Once again, Rarity's body fought against her. The rippling pleasure set her careening on the edge of her bed, mouth hanging agape. She felt his tongue worm its way deeper into her cave, pressing against the base if the amethyst. "Wow! I didn't know your tongue was that long!" Rarity’s legs fell apart, her attempts to hold the gem replaced by a desire to allow Spike to fill her with pleasure. “You’re really working your way through the gem!” Spike mumbled inside of Rarity’s walls, causing a pleasant vibration that sent Rarity into a world of unadulterated euphoria. “Please, don’t talk with your mouth full.” Rarity shot her eyes open, realizing the wonders the vibration caused. “What am I saying? Please do talk with your mouth full!” Spike looked confused, but did as she wished, mumbling inaudibly as he continued to dig into her vagina. Rarity’s vision went fuzzy and she began to see stars. She had never felt that good before. Spike’s tongue seemed to tackle everything she needed to be pleasured: the length, warmth, and flexibility. She was melting under his touch, her legs completely devoid of feelings as her body was filled with a giant ball of sensation. “Oh, sweet Celestia!” She moaned loudly, pressing her head against her sheets. “This is amazing! Please, dear, take your time eating.” “Rsarfiy…” Drool began to pool out of her mouth. A wide smile began to form on her face and her cheeks were completely flushed. She was in heaven. “Yes! By Luna’s moon keep going!” She felt her walls tighten and fill up, ready to release the results of her satisfaction. “Rarity?” “Oh Spike, you should try tugging it more. I think you might get more flavoring out of it when you—” “Um, Rarity, I’m finished.” “This feels so go… Wait, come again?” Rarity turned around and saw Spike wiping his lips. His stomach looked a little bulged and he patted it, blowing a few sparks out before burping. “Yeah, I finished it up while you were groaning. It wasn’t bad actually.” Spike smiled and gave a sigh of relief. “The gem was extremely tasty. The flavoring didn’t taste half bad, either.” Rarity scrunched her face in frustration. “Yes, well I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she said, grumbling to herself. Another idea formed through her head out of desperation. “But aren’t you still a little hungry?” Spike thought on it, pressing his claw against his cheeks. “No, I don’t think so.” “Really?” Rarity lifted herself off of the bed and trotted towards him. “So, after working all day in a diamond mine, lifting a heavy box around and cleaning up the boutique, you’re not a tad bit more hungry? You sure you don’t want another juicy, nice, delectable gem before we finish up our work?” Spike’s stomach began to grumble slightly. He held it with both of her claws towards his stomach. “Well, I guess one more wouldn’t hurt.” “Great!” Rarity rushed towards the box with lightning speed, dripping secretion on the floor as she went towards it. “Let’s see. Which one do you think would be best. Hmm, how about this one!” She lifted up a diamond shaped emerald, smiling widely. Spike began to drool a little, eyes wide with anticipation. “Ooooh. It looks perfect,” he said, slurping the drool dripping from his mouth. Rarity smiled and trotted giddily back to her bed. “Now that we have this situated, time to enhance the gem again. Give it it’s special taste.” Spike sighed. “Again? Can’t I just eat it like normal this time?” Rarity grabbed the nail file, rounding out the edges of the emerald. “Didn’t you say that my flavoring wasn’t half bad? I take that as you would like to have another taste, darling.” “But I just want to—” It was too late. Her moans indicated that she was doing what she did before again. Only this time, the gem wasn’t as apparent as it was before. It was well hidden inside her, only visible when she parted her pink flesh. “Now, let’s not let this go to waste, Spike,” she said, blushing madly while splaying herself on the bed. “Come and eat up.” Spike continued towards her inviting hips, just as nervous as he was the first time. He grabbed her hind legs, and pressed them apart, giving him a look at her pink lips and the gem that was trapped in it. Not wasting any time, and wanting to get the humiliating action over with, he dove head first into her nethers, trying to dig his second course out. It was proving to be a more difficult task than before. He had to bury his face in her muff, soaking the base of his nose with her secretions. Even then, his tongue could barely fish the gem out. Of course, this was all to Rarity’s liking. She bucked her hips slightly, causing Spike’s muzzle to go in deeper as he penetrated her with his forked tongue. She made no attempt to stifle her moans, allowing Spike to hear exactly what he was doing to her. “Can you reach it, darling?” she asked, knowing what the answer would most likely be, and doing so to cause him to talk inside of her. Her plan worked, and the rippling sensation roared through her body. “Keep trying then. You’ll get it eventually.” Her vulva began to swell, ready to burst at any moment. She felt her grip on the gem loosen as she was getting closer and closer to her orgasm. She felt Spike tickle the end of it with his tongue. He was extremely close to getting it out of her and leaving her unsatisfied yet again. “You’re not getting off the hook this time,” Rarity said. She clasped her back hooves around Spike’s head and forced his head deeper into her. His mumbles became louder and more strained, as he flailed his arms around wildly, trying to get free. “Relax, Spikey Wikey. I just want you to get a little drink with your meal. Can’t have this meal if you don’t get all the buffet has to offer.” She rocked her hips back and forth, forcing Spike to lick deeper into her. She bit her lips, trying to stave off the release for just a little longer. “Oh, Spike,” she began coyly, “I must confess, I did do this for other reasons than to feed you!” Spike’s eyes widened, almost in disbelief. He mumbled something once again causing more rippling waves of euphoria to ride through her body. “This feels… really good to me, and I wanted you to tre-aaaaaaaaaaah!!” She flinched as an unexpected lick made her body feel like compete jelly. “I just wanted you to treasure it, make me feel good. And do you want to know why?” Spike mumbled, which Rarity just assumed was a yes. “I like you treating me like a queen. You never complain, no matter how much I work you. Your loyalty to me is admirable, laudable even!” She blushed and pressed a hoof against her cheeks. “That, and I find your flexible tongue, quite useful. As you can teeellll!!” Rarity’s moans turned into loud squeals. Spike had finally managed to grab the gem, and his tongue was hitting all corners of her walls, rotating around it to take hold of the gem. Rarity continued to press her vulva against his face, in desperate need for an orgasm. “Spike, just please! Hold there for a little…. loooongeeer!” Rarity leaned her head against the bed and smiled. Sticky, hot flows of her cum jetted out of her and squirted onto Spike’s face. His muzzle was completely drenched with her fluid. She relaxed her vaginal muscles and panted, chest rising and falling rapidly and strands of her unkempt, sweaty mane pressing against her face. Spike’s face was completely crimson. He was swindled into doing what she wanted, yet again. How gullible was he to think that any part of this was anything less but a way for her to relieve herself. He took solace, however, in the fact that he managed to finally get the emerald out of her. He pulled out and began chewing on the salted gem, feeling a little uncomfortable and strange afterward. It didn’t help that he felt a little stiff, in more places than one. Rarity turned around, cuffing her hoof against her cheek and smiling coyly at Spike. “How was seconds?” she asked, giggling in satisfaction. “It… I uh…” Spike looked down, flushing even more than he thought possible. “Oh, what’s wrong?” Rarity asked, her curiosity growing. “Didn’t enjoy it as much the second time around?” “Well… it’s just uh…” Spike slowly backed away, covering his lower body with his claws. “Could I, be excused for a moment?” Spike tried to flee from the room, but was halted by Rarity’s magic, tugging him back. “Spike, it’s impolite not to answer a lady’s question,” Rarity said. “Now, let me see what appears to be the problem.” Spike’s heart dropped. He couldn’t be any more embarrassed if Twilight decided to show off his secret shrine of Rarity photos to the entire town. “I’d rather you didn’t,” Spike refuted, keeping his embarrassment covered. Rarity grew impatient of Spike’s hesitance, and pried his claws away with her magic. “Now, don’t be rude. Let me see!” “No, please!” Rarity wouldn’t listen, and there was nothing that Spike could do about it. When Rarity removed his claws, his two, pink twins were firm and erect. Rarity gave a wide grin to him, getting on her knees. Spike began to sweat and look down. “Rarity, what are you—” “Now, it would be rude of me to not attend to your needs after you tended to mine,” Rarity cooed. “I’ll take care of this, then you can take the rest of the day off. Sounds fair?” Spike gulped, shaking his head. “Well, I’m not really sure about th-AAAAH!” He wasn’t much time to express his concerns before Rarity lapped the base of his penis all the way to the tip. Spike trembled and held his claws out, much to Rarity’s amusement. “Just as salty as the gem you had,” Rarity replied, licking her lips. “I wonder how my meal will taste.” Rarity continued to lick his phallus, leaving the back one alone for the moment. She kept lapping from the base to the top, resulting in puffs of smoke to elicit out of Spike’s nostrils from the intensity. He tried to hold back his groans, but the feeling was overwhelming. Rarity decided it was time to work on the other one. She lapped her tongue towards the tip, flicking it over his second penis. The constant strokes caused Spike’s head to shoot up. The sensation was becoming too much for him to handle, and Rarity wasn’t letting up. Her speed intensified with each lap, and her warm saliva covered him. She teased and played with the twins for a while before looking up at Spike. “Oh, how rude of me. I’ve been playing with my food too much. I should go ahead and dine like a proper lady.” She giggled when pre-ejaculate leaked out of Spike’s penis. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth wide began sucking him off. However, she didn’t take one in at the time. She decided to indulge herself and stuff her mouth with both. Spike felt even stranger than he did before. Rarity’s warm mouth bobbed up and down, coating his two phalluses with her saliva. The heat radiating off of her only made the situation feel better. Spike gritted his teeth, feeling a strange pressure building up inside. While taking Spike deep within her maw, she lapped her tongue around both of his penises, speeding up the process. Thousands of thoughts were rushing through Spike’s mind. Most wondering how he got into the situation, others how crazy this was. But the loudest of all of them was quite clear. Oh my gosh! Rarity is doing this! She’s actually sucking on them!! Spike’s nervousness during the oral activity began to shrink, being replaced with pleasure and joy. His long, snakey tongue lolled out of his mouth, and a dopey smile began to form on his face. Not wanting the feeling to end, he put his claw on Rarity’s head, pressing it down deeper and deeper. Rarity giggled at his action, happy that he was starting to get into the swing of things. It wouldn’t have been as fun if he went home unsatisfied after she ate her snack. Spike’s face was heated, sweating, and beet red. His groans and grunts indicated to Rarity that he was extremely close to blowing, causing her to smile seductively. Spike let his mouth hang open, loud grumbles being elicited from his mouth. She tightened her lips and started tugging on his skin, pulling it up as she sucked him for his contents. “Ahh! AAAGH!” Spike couldn’t hold it in anymore. With one last thrust of her mouth, Spike sent his hot, sticky seed jetting down her throat. She waited until he was finished before bringing herself off of him. He didn’t produce too much for her, just enough for her to get a sample. She pulled off, and swallowed his cum down, licking whatever remained from the tip. Spike panted and sat on the ground, tuckered out. He never imagined something like that would take so much energy out of him. That would explain why Rarity said he was allowed to take a break afterwards. Rarity on the other hand trotted giddily towards him and lifted him back onto his feet. “Well, that was certainly tasty,” Rarity said. “A little tart and not too filling, but I can’t complain.” Spike looked up at her and smiled softly. “Heh, I guess not.” Rarity sat down in front of him and smiled. “It certainly looked like you started enjoying yourself. Started to warm up to the activity, dear?” Spike nodded, twiddling his claws. “Y-yeah. It felt kinda good. Like, really good! It was just kind of… weird you know?” Rarity giggled. “The first time is always a little weird, but you’ll soon start to enjoy it more.” “Soon?” Spike kicked around, looking down at the ground nervously while blushing. “So, you want to do this more often? Rarity kissed Spike’s forehead, making his legs feel even shakier than they have already felt. “Only if you want to, Spikey Wikey. Only if you want to.” She chuckled as Spike nearly fainted from the kiss. “So, do you want to stay with me during your break, or go home and recharge? I won’t mind either way.” Spike rubbed the back of his head. “I think I should go home and lay down,” he said. “Today has been… an interesting one, to say the least.” “I can tell.” Rarity giggled. “Make sure you get all cleaned up! Snack time was a bit messy today, was it not?” Spike nodded. “Um, yeah. I’ll see ya later!” Rarity was going to wave and say her goodbyes, but Spike made his way towards the door before she could respond. Rarity just rolled her eyes and giggled. She trotted back to her bed and plopped down on it, sighing wistfully. She took the time to reflect on the day and her actions. “Looks like he’ll be thinking about me for several days,” she said. “Though, I didn’t really give him any other option.” She pressed her hoof against her cheek. “I did kind of manipulate him into doing this though. I wonder if that makes me a bad pony?” She thought on the idea of being just another harlot using a guy to get her way. The thought didn’t linger long, however, and she brushed it to the side, giggling to herself. “Nah! I’m sure he enjoyed it as much as I did.” Rarity laid on her bed for several moments, riding out the moment. Many of the voices that would berate her of her actions seemed to die out. Even the gripes from Twilight seemed to not matter to her. Yes, she had used Spike. Yes, she made him indulge in her and treat her like a goddess. And as cold as it was, she wouldn’t have done it any other way. Spike entered the library and waltzed into the library with a smug grin on his face. He passed by Twilight who was in the middle of reading a book to collapse onto a seat. A burp and a relaxed sigh escaped the dragon as he leaned onto the table. Twilight rolled her eyes and turned her head to him. “So how was it, Spike?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. It seemed as if her advice had worked, considering Spike wasn’t the grumpy and exhausted mess she had grown accustomed to. “Did she-“ “Oh yeah she did.” Spike grinned, revealing fangs littered with amethyst dust. “Whatever you did, Twilight, it worked.” Twilight smiled, using magic to ruffle his spines. “Like I said, Spike, sometimes you have to play hard to get. What did you guys do, anyway?” “Oh,” Spike said with a wave of a claw. “Chores, chores, and more chores. Oh, and a little snack.” “That’s all?” A goofy grin formed on his face. “Yeah, just a little snack.”