Page 24 of Adonis (Salt and Starlight #1)

Connor scooted to Adonis’s tail and glanced up when Adonis hummed a low note. Connor recognised it as the one he used when he wanted Connor to look at him. As he watched, Adonis made a show of straightening the hoodie and setting his elbows on it, and he checked Connor was watching him every step of the way.

“Yes, I see,”

Connor said, shaking his head. He chuckled as he flicked his gaze back to Adonis’s tail. He knew where the slit was this time and where to look, but even with that, he couldn’t see any trace of it.

Connor sat back on his heels, deciding how to best go about this. After a moment of thought, he lifted his leg over Adonis’s tail to straddle him. His scales rubbed against the inside of his thighs, sending an excited thrill through his nerves. Despite coming only a few minutes ago, warmth pooled low in his belly and his cock perked in interest. It wasn’t that Connor was into scales… it was that it was Adonis’s tail touching his legs. Adonis laid out willingly underneath him, watching him with a hungry gleam in his eyes.

Adonis’s gaze dipped, drinking in the sight of Connor hovering above him. Adonis’s throat bobbed as he swallowed.

Connor dragged his hands up Adonis’s sides and slipped his right hand over the spot where the slit should be.

Adonis shivered. His tail moved under Connor, and he heard the end of it splashing in the water. Cold sea spray hit his back. Adonis set his weight on one elbow and reached out to cup the front of Connor’s trousers. He made a keening noise in his throat and then let go of Connor to gesture to where his slit was hidden. He repeated the gesture until Connor was rolling his eyes.

“Adonis, I understand what you want without the pointing,”

Connor told him. “Lean back.”

Adonis did, his gaze fixed on Connor’s hand. He massaged gently, and the scales parted under his touch; he couldn’t help but stare. He hadn’t seen what it looked like before, but now he could study it. The edge of the scales seemed to bend in, curving to the walls of the slit as it parted. Connor ran his thumb along the edge, ensuring no sharp edge was sticking out. It was smooth, and as he stroked it, lubricant coated his fingers.

Adonis made a noise of impatience. Once again, he sat up and cupped Connor’s cock, finding it hard. The sight of the pink flesh quivering as he touched it… it was hot.

“Adonis…”

Connor warned.

Adonis complained, gesturing once again between Connor’s cock and his slit. His gills flared wide, showing their pink insides, as his body trembled in agitation.

“Lean back,”

Connor requested.

Adonis’s new position tensed his body, tightening the band of muscles around the slit.

Adonis’s mouth parted, and a garbled sound came out in lieu of a word.

“Lean back.”

Connor balanced on his knees, setting his hand on Adonis’s shoulder and guiding him down to his back. “I know what you want me to do, and I will. But first—”

Connor slipped his finger into Adonis, the slick walls clinging tightly to his digit. Adonis shuddered. “—I’m getting you ready. Okay?”

After a moment of shivering, Adonis shook his head. He reached up, cupping the front of Connor’s trousers.

“Try to be patient for me,”

Connor asked. His voice came out rough as Adonis squeezed his balls through the fabric.

Connor tipped his head down, watching as he dipped a second finger inside of Adonis, and also faced the sight of Adonis’s large hand massaging and squeezing his balls in time to Connor thrusting his fingers. He swallowed hard, drinking in the sight of it before he took note of the rising tension in his body.

“Okay, you’ll have to give that a break for now. I need a few minutes here, okay?”

Connor shifted, but Adonis’s hand followed, staying stuck to him. Connor dragged his gaze up to Adonis, who he found staring down the same way he had been doing. He wasn’t paying attention to what Connor was saying.

“Let’s do this instead,”

Connor said. He moved back, and Adonis tensed. He tightened his grip on Connor’s balls, making a desperate sound in his throat. Connor shuddered at the sensations that zapped through him. He gritted his teeth, fighting for self-control. “A minute, okay? One minute and I’ll put it in.”

Connor pulled Adonis’s hand off himself and slid down Adonis’s body, ducking down his head.

He licked his lips and pressed his cheek against the scales just to the side of Adonis’s slit, flicking his gaze up to Adonis’s face. The complaints had stopped; Adonis’s weight was on his elbows, and his eyes were fixed on Connor’s mouth.

Connor slipped his fingers out of Adonis and trailed his hand up Adonis’s tail until his palm was against the softer skin of his abs. His fingers dipped into the indent of Adonis’s naval as he ran his tongue along the wall of Adonis’s slit. He shivered as he felt the gradient of Adonis’s scales shift to the soft flesh inside his slit.

Adonis let out a strained, whimpering sound. Connor paused, glancing again at Adonis’s face, to find his eyes transfixed on Connor’s tongue, dipping into his slit. Connor shuddered, taking in the heady focus of Adonis’s gaze, his parted lips, flaring gills. That expression was one of pleasure and enjoyment.

Connor’s cock twitched, straining against his wet trousers.

Connor turned his attention back to what he was doing. He didn’t know where Adonis enjoyed being touched, but when he finally dipped his tongue inside, Adonis collapsed onto his back with a cry. He reached out, grabbing the edges of the dock.

Connor thrust his tongue in again, finding that there was a salty taste even inside. The boards creaked under Adonis’s grip, moaning like they might splinter any second. Adonis hissed, his tail jerking up under Connor. The soft scales brushed against Connor’s hard cock, and he groaned. He lowered his hips, rubbing against Adonis for that hint of contact.

It made his situation worse. Connor dragged his hand back down from Adonis’s abs and moved his face aside to dip his fingers in. Four slipped in without difficulty. Adonis reached out, grabbing Connor’s wrist as he jerked his hips up. Connor watched him for a moment, transfixed by the sight of Adonis chasing his climax, before the iron rod in his trousers throbbed in complaint.

It wasn’t his fingers he wanted to watch thrusting into Adonis, though the sight was damn appealing… and he swore he felt his fingers brushing against something vaguely bulbous inside. Something very male.

“You think I can put this in now?”

Connor asked. His voice came out low and strained.

Adonis stopped mid-thrust, and his gaze shot down to Connor. Adonis’s shoulders heaved as he panted, and he nodded eagerly. “Co—”

Adonis got out before his throat seemed to close off, and it became garbled.

Connor grinned. “Yes, I mean my cock.”

Adonis let out an irritated noise. “Co—”

he tried again.

Connor tugged down his wet trousers and winced when his cock sprang out to slap his stomach. He shuffled until he was in a better position, and he took the hand covered in Adonis’s lubricant and ran it over his own length.

Adonis moaned, his eyes fixed on the display.

Connor’s heart raced in his chest, excitement and anticipation lighting up every nerve in his body. He stared down at Adonis between his knees, and he had to stop touching his head because he didn’t trust himself not to come from the sight of it all. Adonis thrummed beneath him.

“Where did you want this to go again?”

Connor teased, seeing Adonis’s impatience.

Adonis complained but couldn’t seem to lift his gaze from Connor’s cock. He set both hands against his scales and framed his slit, tugging so that he opened up further. He lifted his hips, keening desperately.

Connor could barely breathe. “Jesus, Adonis.”

He would never get that image out of his head. His cock jerked, and he knew he needed to get in Adonis before he came. He wasn’t sure Adonis would forgive him otherwise.

Connor set his weight up on a hand by Adonis’s head and used the other to guide his cock. He ran his tip along the slit, his dripping pre-come mixing with Adonis’s lube, before gently tipping his hips forward. His tip parted Adonis’s flesh, his head going in with no resistance, and his length followed in a slow, firm glide. Hot warmth enclosed his cock, pressing against him tightly.

Connor released a harsh breath, tensing as a burst of pleasure tightened his balls. He didn’t move an inch until the feeling of being on the cusp faded. Adonis let out a soft noise. Connor dragged his attention up, and found Adonis’s head tilted to the side, his gaze set on the distance.

“Are you okay?”

Connor asked. He sank his weight from his hand to his elbow and rubbed his cheek against Adonis the way he always did to Connor. “Does it hurt?”

Adonis groaned in answer. His hands slipped onto Connor’s behind, and he tugged him forward, dipping his cock in.

Connor bit the inside of his cheek, loving the way it felt.

“You want me to move?”

Connor asked.

Adonis nodded.

Connor set both hands on the deck on either side of Adonis’s shoulders. He started slow, grinding his cock in and out until he was completely coated in Adonis’s lube, and his movement met no resistance. Connor adjusted his knees positioning, and his slow grinding turned into thrusts. Small at first. Until Adonis groaned each time Connor’s cock speared him, and his tail twitched up, trying to match Connor’s movements.

Connor groaned, unconsciously increasing the pace. He shuddered at the slick sound of his balls slapping against glistening, damp scales.

Adonis clutched desperately at Connor’s hips, his head tilted back as his lips parted to pant in quick, shallow breaths. Connor picked up the pace, pounding Adonis hard as Adonis’s matching hip thrusts grew distracted and erratic. Even the hands on Connor’s hips stopped pulling, merely holding on tightly.

Connor cursed, groaning. Lightning fizzled through his core, and he cried out as his balls tightened with a throb. His hips jerked erratically, and he buried himself deep inside of Adonis as his cock pulsed. He thrust into Adonis in several desperate strokes as he orgasmed.

Adonis’s spine arched off the decking. His eyes shut as he groaned. His hips stopped moving, but his insides twitched wildly around Connor, enclosing him in delicious heat as lubricant gushed out of Adonis.

Connor continued thrusting until the twitching slowed, and the tension sank from Adonis’s body. Connor his weight set on his palms on either side of Adonis’s head as he caught his breath.

Adonis opened his eyes, blinking blearily up at Connor. He made a soft sound in his throat. He attempted to lift himself up but collapsed onto his back with a grunt. Connor went to him. Lowering down to rub his cheek against Adonis. He crashed hard, his energy depleting, leaving him running on low reserves.

Connor slipped out of Adonis and sank onto his side, lying with his head on Adonis’s arm.

Adonis made a pleased noise and nuzzled Connor’s forehead.

Connor hummed, his eyelids heavy. He rested his hand on Adonis’s stomach and stroked his abs. The heat radiating from Adonis’s body kept Connor warm as his sweat cooled.

“That felt good,”

Connor murmured.

Adonis hummed in agreement. Connor’s eyes drifted shut. He knew it would be bad to fall asleep two minutes after he came, but in his defence, he’d spent hours surfing at the beach… and Laurence had woken him up at five a.m.

“Do you need to get back in the water?”

Connor asked sleepily. “Your scales aren’t going to dry out or anything?”

Adonis scoffed, though there wasn’t much energy in it.

“I was just asking,”

Connor muttered, half irritated, half amused at Adonis’s attitude. Even while irritated, he still found that arrogant streak endearing. He knew he should go back inside and sleep in his bed… but all he wanted was to lie there with Adonis. And Adonis seemed quite content to do the same.

Adonis shifted around next to Connor, and he did it until it disturbed Connor from his dozing state. Connor opened his eyes to peek at Adonis. “Are you uncomfortable?”

Adonis rubbed his throat with the hand Connor didn’t have pinned. Connor’s gaze caught. Faint blue light shone from his fingertips, lighting up the inner workings of Adonis’s throat. Connor could see the network of capillaries just underneath the surface. Adonis rubbed his throat in a circular motion like he’d done for Connor when he was hurt.

“Your throat is sore?”

Connor asked.

Adonis grunted. The blue faded from his fingers. Adonis’s tired, heavy-lidded eyes darted toward him.

“Connor,”

Adonis said.

The hairs on Connor’s neck and arms stood up, and a shiver raced down his spine. Adonis’s voice was low, hoarse. There was a pleasant, endearing lilt to it, but Connor would have found his voice pleasant no matter what it sounded like—it was Adonis’s voice, after all.

Connor lifted himself onto his elbow. Adonis watched him with an expression of pride.

Connor leaned in, rubbing his cheek against Adonis, then pressing his lips to his mouth in a kiss. Adonis hummed in delight, promptly attacking Connor’s mouth with his tongue.

Connor chuckled, and he was breathless when he finally got Adonis to let him breathe.

“You know my name,”

Connor said, grinning.

Adonis nodded.

Connor bit his lip, resisting the urge to ask Adonis to repeat it just to hear it again. Adonis had… healed his throat just now, and he didn’t want to cause him to stress it out further.

Connor’s mind drifted to the sound Adonis had tried to make earlier. Connor had thought he’d been trying to say “cock,”

but no, god, Adonis had been trying to call his name. Connor’s cheeks heated up. He bent down, kissing Adonis again, knowing he’d be unable to breathe at the hands of Adonis’s enthusiasm. He considered it an enjoyable penance for mistaking Adonis’s sweet calling for dirty talk.

Adonis pulled back first and Connor looked down at him in surprise.

Adonis guided Connor’s hand down to his slit, still slick and warm. “Again?”

Adonis asked. More confidence in his voice this time as it came out. The hoarseness reminded him of his friends whenever they had a bad flu, and their voices started to fade.

Connor let out an amused breath. He knew he had to go soon, but… Adonis was saying his name. He was gazing at him with eyes that said Connor was the only thing in the world he wanted—and right now, that feeling was entirely mutual.

“Okay,”

Connor said. “Again.”

After the second round, Adonis clung tightly to him as they lay on the decking.

“I’ll stay the night, okay?”

Connor pet his hair.

Adonis nodded fervently.

Connor nestled to his side and placed his hand on Adonis’s stomach, stroking him.

With Austin, whenever it came to being physical, he’d always gotten a tight ball of anxiety in the pit of his stomach no matter the situation. It was why he’d always hesitated when Austin was interested in sex. Not that Connor hadn’t been interested—he had been, but when he got anxious at the prospect, he’d realised he wasn’t ready and decided to wait.

He hadn’t experienced that anxiety for even a second with Adonis. He hadn’t worried about his reactions, how they would look to Adonis, or if he’d be turned off by him… letting go. Connor could be vulnerable in front of Adonis. He gazed up at Adonis’s dark blue eyes. As soon as he did, Adonis let out a happy sound.

Connor grinned. “You’re pretty special, you know that?”

Adonis reached out, stroking Connor’s jaw. “Pre—tty,”

he repeated.

Connor’s cheeks warmed. “Maybe it’s best that you don’t speak much. I’m weak to sweet talk.”

Adonis grinned back at him, this time stroking Connor’s lips. “Sw—eet.”

Connor’s chest warmed. He leaned in, pressing a sweet kiss to Adonis’s lips. Adonis, of course, didn’t know kisses could be sweet. He let out a noise of excitement, and Connor laughed as he tried to put his tongue in.

“Sweet, Adonis. Be sweet for this one, yes?”

Connor said after pulling back.

Adonis cast him a questioning look.

“I’ll show you, okay? Nothing too intense. I’m shattered.”

Connor leaned in, stopping just before his lips touched Adonis. “You’ll let me show you? Promise? No tongue?”

Adonis nodded.

Connor touched his lips lightly to Adonis. And in moments, he was greeted with an enthusiastic tongue teasing against his.

Connor groaned, breathless when he pulled away for air. “Adonis, you promised!”

Adonis grinned up at him, his eyes shining. “Lie,” he said.

Connor stared down at Adonis, aghast. “You little devil.”

His boyfriend wasn’t as sweet as he thought. Connor went still. The thought had flitted into his head unprompted. Connor looked at Adonis, finding that the feelings welling up in him had a distinctive, possessive edge to them, as well as his thoughts. Adonis felt like his boyfriend. And the way Adonis gazed up at him made him hope he thought the same.

Connor lay down next to Adonis, resting his head on his arm. “Are we boyfriends?”

Connor asked. “Like… a couple, partners?”

He threw out a few words to be sure Adonis understood.

“Mates,”

Adonis answered.

Mates. It struck a cord in Connor and sated something inside him that ached in want. “I like that,” he said.

Adonis leaned in, rubbing his cheek against Connor’s. “Mate.”