Page 14 of Deviled Eggs (One Handed Holidays: Crossed Swords Edition #4)

Micah

Xalreth is ignoring me, and I’m pissy.

After a lifetime of feeling unseen, one would think I’d be used to it. But his silence holds a different weight.

Wrapped in a silk robe, I grip the ends of the belt and fidget with them as I stare down at my exposed legs. Bitterness builds in my throat, beyond my control. For two hours, I’ve lounged in nothing other than this thin material, and Xalreth has paid me no mind. Nose stuck in a pile of papers, he’s barely looked my direction. He got up and walked past me a few minutes ago without so much as a glance, shutting himself in the bathroom.

He never goes this long without paying attention to me, and a sinking dread settles in my stomach as I wonder if he’s finally done with me.

Please don’t let him be done with me.

I recognize I’m in too deep. The way I want him is self-destructive, but I’m doing nothing to fight it. This desperate, drowning pull to be with him, no matter the consequences.

And there will be consequences.

There always are.

“I believe my costume is perfect,” Xalreth announces from his bathroom.

So that’s what’s been more interesting than me. Fucking clothes . Defiantly, I flip my hair over my shoulder even though he can’t see me, staring at the bedspread and trying not to let his distraction bother me. “Oh?” I call back, forcing myself to pay attention to the conversation. “That’s… great.”

“Don’t you want to see it?”

Another quiet sigh leaves me as I cross my arms over my chest, biting my lip as I fight my bad mood. One hand reaches up to trace the edges of the chain around my neck. In the week since he’s given it to me, it’s become a constant comfort—something to ground me when life gets overwhelming.

I realize I never answered him and shake my head to myself. “Yes, of course.”

“Don’t sound so excited,” he mutters, and I force myself to push out of this defeatist attitude that’s weighing me down.

“I’m sorry, of course I want to see it.”

“Hmm, less enthusiastic than what I’d prefer, but I can work with it.” The hinges of the door give the tiniest squeak as he pulls it open, and I can’t help how my jaw drops as he steps into the bedroom. “Well? What do you think?”

Black satin covers his torso, thin boning tucked underneath blood-red strips of material. The corset ends just below his nipples and is fastened so tight that his well-defined pecs bulge over the top.

A tiny pair of leather shorts clings to his body like a second skin, hugging his thick thighs while showing a perfect outline of his cock. Combat boots lace up his shins. They shouldn’t work with the rest of the outfit, but holy fuck, they do.

“Did I make you speechless?” he teases with a playful grin as he pulls something from behind his back, and I choke on a laugh as he puts the rabbit ears on his head.

“I thought we determined the Playboy Bunny wasn’t tied to Easter?” He tilts his head, those black eyes assessing me like only he can.

“Something isn’t right,” he murmurs as he steps in front of me, kneeling so we’re eye-to-eye. “You’re off.”

“I’m fine. Everything is better now.” I try to reel him in for a kiss, but he pulls away, unconvinced.

“Which means it wasn’t better before.” My eyes dart aside, incapable of even the smallest white lie with him. He grabs the edges of my robe, rubbing the delicate material between his fingers. “Tell me what’s wrong. You don’t get to be this pretty and look so sad. It isn’t fair to the rest of us, angel.”

My pulse speeds up, and Xalreth doesn’t miss it. He leans in and presses a kiss to my neck, and I cave at the gesture. “You’ve been ignoring me.” He opens his mouth to argue, then seems to think twice about it, snapping it closed. “I don’t mean… you don’t need to…” A frustrated huff leaves me as I take a breath and try again. “My insecurities aren’t your responsibility. You haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just being needy.”

“You’re always needy,” he says with a soft laugh. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”

If I thought my pulse was racing before, it’s nothing compared to how it thunders in my chest now. But I remind myself that it’s only a phrase, and he doesn’t mean it how my reckless brain is trying to interpret it. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, but he catches my chin and doesn’t allow me to look away.

“You’re right. I’ve been distracted today, and I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Forgive me?”

“Of course,” I breathe, and his smile is sweet as he guides me in for another kiss. It starts as nothing more than a peck, but I catch him by the neck as he pulls away and our eyes lock. His lips crash back into mine, and he sucks my bottom lip between his before he thrusts his tongue into my mouth. He pushes my shoulders, and I let out a surprised gasp as I fall back on the bed.

He stands before me, running his palms over the satin of his corset. “I think I know something that will cheer you up.”

“And what is that, darling?” I ask with a grin. My smile morphs into an open-mouthed gawk as he turns. “Is that… is that a tail?! ” I erupt in a fit of laughter as he shakes his ass at me, the white puff of cotton dancing back and forth. He faces me again as I laugh so hard I snort, and both of us freeze. We stare at each other, wide-eyed, before we laugh even harder.

My cheeks ache from laughing as I let my head fall onto the bed, feeling the dip in the mattress as Xalreth climbs on to join me.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispers, and a painful tightness constricts my chest as my smile fades. Hot, emotional tears burn behind my eyes, but not even my embarrassment can make me break his stare as he crawls across the bed to me. “How did I spend all those years in your presence and never notice?”

“All Archangels are beautiful,” I say with a weak attempt at a grin, but he shakes his head as he grabs onto my robe, clutching the silk.

“Yeah, but not like this. Not like you . They don’t make the sun jealous when they smile.” My bottom lip wobbles as he climbs over me, tracing over my lips as I pucker them and catch the pad of his thumb. “I wish you’d smile more, angel.” His lips meet mine in a tender kiss, and I fight to keep my emotions level. “I wish you would be happy.”

“You make me happy,” I whisper, and he pulls back and pushes our foreheads together as his deft fingers work the tie of my robe apart. The material falls aside, and he sits up, letting his eyes rake up my naked body.

“Do you want to be unlocked tonight?”

“No,” I say without hesitation, my fingertips exploring the taut satin that covers his stomach. The gold chain that holds my key hangs freely, and I trace its shape before moving my hand lower. His cock is rock hard, tucked inside that skintight fabric, and I run my finger along its outline, too.

“Own me tonight, Xal.”

“Just tonight?” His brow arches as he hooks my knees and pushes my legs back, resting his hips against my ass. “You belong to me, Micah. I own you every night.”

“So own me. Make me yours.” He takes a deep, shuddering breath as he kisses me, his erection nestled perfectly between my cheeks. If he pushed his shorts aside, he could slip his cock free and fuck me senseless, just like this. The idea is so appealing that I reach down, ready to spear myself on him until I’m crying.

But of course, he has other plans.

He catches my wrist with a scolding click of his tongue. “Get on the floor and on your knees.” My robe billows as I climb off the bed, but since he didn’t tell me to remove it, I leave it on and kneel on the carpet.

His eyes move to my thighs with a satisfied smile. “How many times have I made you come now?” I glance at the collection of tally marks drawn on my upper legs. Every time I shower and the ink fades, he draws them again.

“Thirty-three,” I say as he walks to the dresser, his thick muscles rolling under his outfit. What should look ridiculous fits him like a dream, accentuating his trim waist and bulky upper body. The laces of the corset are drawn tighter at the bottom but loosen closer to the top, no doubt needing room to fit his expansive chest.

He takes his time, letting me take my fill of watching him, and I feel myself leaking pre-cum as I squirm. Finally, he pulls something out of a tiny bag and returns to where I kneel.

“Thirty-three, huh? That doesn’t give you much opportunity to get this right.” He puts two fingers under my chin and tilts my face to look at him as he twists a long, braided, golden chain around his hands. “If you want on the bed, you have to earn it.”

“Earn it how?”

His fingers trail down to my neck, and there’s a quiet click before he backs up a step and tugs the leash. It pulls on my collar and my palms smack onto the ground as I’m thrown off balance. “Look at you, so pretty crawling for me.” He yanks the chain a second time and I follow, letting him lead me until I’m directly beneath him. My eyes move up his body, memorizing every dip and curve of his muscles as I sit back on my feet.

“You have to add another tally mark to my side.” He must see the smugness on my face, because he gives a dark chuckle and shakes his head. “It’s not going to be that easy. You only have thirty-three chances to get it done.”

“Chances?” I stare up at him in question.

He nods as he takes a step closer, his bulge pressing against my lips through the material of his shorts. I open my mouth, dragging them along his erection as he stares. A low hum rumbles from his throat as he pulls his cock free, gripping it at the base and moving towards my lips. “Your mouth is going to be occupied, angel. If you need to stop, tap my leg twice. Okay?”

“Yeah,” I say as I lick my lips, my body pulsing in anticipation. “Okay.”

“Perfect,” he whispers as he hooks my teeth and tugs, forcing me to open wider. Tightening his grip on the leash, he yanks me towards him and his cock drives into my mouth, all the way to the back of my throat. I gag around him as he holds me there, fighting my reflexes as I cough. Spit webs between us as he withdraws and smirks, but I see the care behind it as he makes sure I’m on board.

“That’s one.” My eyes widen as he jerks me forward again, blocking my windpipe with his cock as my skin flushes deeper. “Two,” he says, and I fight to catch suction on him as he pulls out. Realization hits me as my gaze sweeps back up to his.

“Now you’re getting it,” he murmurs, swiping at the spit leaking from my mouth as he slowly fucks my face. Each thrust inside me is met with the tug of the lead, and I drag my tongue and tighten my lips as the numbers tick away. By the count of sixteen, I’m delirious with need.

Xal’s head tilts with a predatorial grin. He hooks a foot between my legs, tapping my balls with the toe of his boot. A loud moan erupts around his cock as he uses the leash to position me. “Go ahead, dog. Fuck my boot like you’re in heat. We both know you want to.”

My fingers curl into the waist of his shorts, and he shoots me a warning glare. But I don’t tug on him or move his body, don’t take any control back, I just hold on. I hold on for dear fucking life as he fucks my mouth, and I thrust against his leg. My eyes close as the sensations overtake me, and I’m hovering, weightless and hazy, as I focus on them.

The slick slide of his cock against my lips and tongue.

The drip of spit over my chin, and the rumble of my groans caught in my throat.

The drag of my body against his boot, and the bump of the cage wires along the laces.

“Twenty-two,” he says, voice giving a clear warning, and I whine as I work harder to earn my reward. He flexes his foot, and his toe nudges my plug. “God, you really are a cock slut, aren’t you?” He taps me with his boot again, and I nod with my mouth full of him. My fingers clench around the fabric of his shorts as I stare up his frame, thrusting against him.

“Are you about to come just from being used?” I gag as he drives forward, nodding desperately as tears slip down my cheeks. “Time is running out, angel.”

My entire body is coiled tight as I grind against him, every thrust bringing me closer. The tension is unbearable. It’s delicious, and painful, and begging me to let go. When he reaches thirty-one, I sob as all that built-up pressure releases. White streams of my release shoot from my cage as I come with his cock down my throat. Pulse after pulse dirties his boot, dripping down the leather and laces as my body trembles.

“Thirty-three,” he says, and slips out of my mouth as I suck in a loud breath. My lips are slick and swollen, and my jaw aches from the stretch. “You were so close, Micah, but you were too busy humping my leg to get me off, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” My voice is wrecked and raspy, and he fucking purrs as he presses his foot against my chest and kicks me onto my back. He stands over me with his cum-slicked boot on my sternum, staring down as he strokes himself.

“Should make you clean it off, shouldn’t I?” My body still pulses with the aftershocks of my release as I stare at his giant hand shuttling over his cock. “Would you enjoy that? Would my filthy angel like to lick my boot?”

“Please,” I whimper, and he throws his head back with a loud moan. Just when I think he’s about to come all over me, he releases himself and removes his foot. He pulls on the leash, and my abs contract as my torso lifts off the ground.

Taking a few backward steps, he keeps tugging until I’m forced onto my hands and knees once more, crawling towards him. “What do you think everyone would do if they knew the big and mighty Micah was wearing sores onto his knees to pleasure me?”

When I’m close enough to stare down at his boot, his hand clamps around the back of my neck. “Go on, angel.” I drop to my elbows with a whimper and lick the leather, lapping up my cum. He releases me as I sit up, showing him my tongue.

“Such a good boy,” he murmurs. “Swallow it for me now.” He watches my throat bob, then leans forward, tipping my chin up as he presses an impossibly soft kiss on my lips. “Perhaps I’ll keep you leashed forever. Never allow you to leave my side again.”

“Does that mean you’ll keep me?” I ask, and he smiles as he crouches in front of me.

“I already told you, didn’t I? You belong to me.” My eyes sting as I nod, blinking to keep the tears at bay. He uncaps his marker and makes a fresh tally on my thigh. “Well, angel, the good news is that you get to count to thirty-four this time.”

He turns and grabs something else from the desktop that I can’t see. Gentle fingers curl around my chin and he pops my lips apart, swiping a tube of cherry-flavored balm across them. The tears I’d been fighting spring forward, pooling in my eyes as the tiniest frown pulls on Xalreth’s mouth.

Carefully, he coats my lips as a single tear slips free, streaking down my cheek. He swipes a finger over the droplet and then over my glossy mouth, mixing the salt with the artificial cherry flavor. “Someone has to take care of you. I can’t be breaking my favorite toy, now can I?”