Page 24 of D’Vaire or Nothing (D’Vaire #44)

T he second his shift was done, Brinley Brimstone—a name that still pissed him off because his parents could’ve chosen better, but he’d grown so used to its ridiculousness that he’d embraced it—rushed to a shop with candles and bath stuff.

As soon as he was inside, he asked about freesia.

Splurging wasn’t something Brimley ever did, but he bought every option they had with the sweet fruity scent.

Teleporting to his apartment, he opened a candle and summoned a bit of fire from his soul to light it.

With a grin, he yanked his phone out of his pocket to call the man who’d inspired the shopping trip.

“Brinley?”

“Heath?”

“How was your shift?”

“Better now that it’s done so I can talk to you. How’s your book?”

“No clue, I’m too excited to focus on the words. Want to meet me somewhere?”

“Anywhere.”

“Okay, this entire resort is full of my family. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to get you alone for anything forward, but would you be willing to come to my room?”

There was no hesitation or reluctance in Brinley at Heathcliff’s suggestion.

He was ready to get to know Heathcliff and was happy to do it in a quiet space where they could talk without interruptions.

“Give me a picture and I’ll teleport there.

Make sure there’s something in the room that is unique though, because it’s a hotel and I don’t want to shock the shit out of your relatives by showing up somewhere I’m not invited. ”

Heathcliff laughed. “Okay, see you soon?”

“In a minute.”

Brinley tore off the button-down uniform shirt he wore for his job and pulled on a clean T-shirt.

Like most of his clothing, it was ancient, but it remained in good shape.

His phone beeped, and he grinned at the nightstand with Heathcliff’s book resting on it.

Next to it was the shifter’s suitcase, which was the same deep dark purple as the gorgeous man’s skin.

Brinley closed his eyes and shimmered to the spot.

“Thanks for coming,” Heathcliff said.

It was on the tip of his tongue to comment that he hadn’t even kissed the man yet, let alone come, but Brinley opted to behave himself.

At least for now.

“Thanks for the invitation. So, a phoenix shifter, huh?”

“Technically I’m a hybrid,” Heathcliff explained.

The light hit his black hair—which nearly hung in his silver eyes—and Brinley was stunned by the blue-and-purple iridescence in the dark strands.

“My people are a mixture of Tarinthi elf and phoenix. But I was raised as a shifter and only learned about elven traditions after I joined my brother, Kieran, at D’Vaire. ”

“Wait, elf. Do we need to have a matebond ceremony in, like, five minutes?”

“No. That’s unnecessary. I believe in Fate, but we don’t have to rush.”

“Okay,” Brinley replied, still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that Fate had brought his other half into his life. Although he was ready to make a relationship work, he didn’t want to rush into anything that would bind his soul for eternity yet. “ Oh .”

“Oh, what?”

“Sexuality.”

“I’ve had it for…” Heathcliff glanced at his watch. He’d lost his suit and was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “…almost four hours. I’ve jerked off twice.”

“Sorry I missed that.”

“Well, your arrival in my bedroom is making my dick want to get hard again, so if you stick around long enough, you may get a show.”

Brinley laughed, delighted at Heathcliff’s blunt humor. “Purple’s always been my favorite color. I have a dildo at home that’s purple. It’s going to hit way different now that I know my mate’s cock is nearly a color match to it.”

“I wondered why elves were so quick to mate. Must be to get their other half in bed. But we should probably get to know each other a little before we start comparing dicks.”

“True,” Brinley agreed. “Sex is great, but I’m sure that’s not why Fate puts people together.”

“Not entirely. Take a seat. Tell me about you. Obviously, your job is new?”

Brinley sat cross-legged across from Heathcliff on the giant bed and smiled.

“Yeah, I heard about it and found out from a friend that it paid better than where I was at. Thankfully, I got hired. I’ve lived in Vegas for nearly a year.

I’ve moved around a lot. Been on my own since I was sixteen. What about you?”

“Moved around when I was younger since my former chieftain didn’t belong to the Council.

Eventually, Kieran met Scheredin, and I wanted sanctuary.

They informed me D’Vaire is a sanctuary and said I couldn’t leave.

I’m grateful they talked me into staying; it’s a wonderful place because it’s filled with incredible caring people. I really want to kiss you.”

“I—”

“Forget I said that. I don’t even know how to fucking kiss. Lacking sexuality is the stupidest thing Fate created.”

“Want me to teach you, Heath?”

“I guess it won’t be any more humiliating tomorrow than today,” Heathcliff muttered.

Brinley shuffled closer to Heathcliff, who was pressed against the headboard. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I promise. Let’s start with the easy stuff. Put your arms around me.”

Brinley’s experience wasn’t vast, but he’d done enough to have mastered the basics.

With no noticeable reluctance, Heathcliff wrapped Brinley in his strong embrace.

The ignis mage swore he grew a little lightheaded as freesia enveloped him.

It was fantastic. He lifted a hand and rested it on one solid shoulder.

Heathcliff’s hair was ridiculously shiny, and Brinley wanted to touch it, so he buried his fingers in those glossy strands.

The thick tresses were soft, and Brinley smiled as they changed color when the light bounced off them.

“Your hair is so cool.”

“Yours has red in it. Like a flame.”

Their eyes met, and desire rolled through Brinley’s belly in a healthy lustful punch. “Kiss me, Heath, and go with your instincts. You can’t fuck this up, I promise.”

“Easy for you to say,” Heathcliff muttered, which made Brinley grin.

Their lips touched, and Brinley focused on staying relaxed so he wouldn’t spook the nervous shifter. But what he really wanted was to press the man to the headboard and demand he get his dick inside Brinley. Carefully, Brinley eased his tongue forward, and it touched Heathcliff’s.

A second later, their kiss changed. Brinley held on as Heathcliff took control. His arms banded tighter around him as he determinedly explored every recess of Brinley’s welcoming mouth. Brinley’s heart thudded heavily in his chest as desire swept through the fire living in his soul.

His cock hardened in his briefs, and Brinley craved friction. He shuffled closer to Heathcliff and groaned as their bodies came into full contact. Heathcliff was large and rigid. Brinley’s ass clenched in need.

Suddenly desperate, Brinley clutched Heathcliff’s T-shirt in his fist. Heathcliff shoved a hand under Brinley’s top, and his touch was like a brand. His skin grew damp as excitement rushed through him, and Brinley moved enough to peel his shirt off and flung it aside.

Fusing his mouth with Heathcliff’s again, he held him close. But Heathcliff didn’t cooperate for long. He pulled away to tug off his top too. Brinley licked his lips as he palmed Heathcliff’s pectorals and dug his fingertips into the solid muscles.

Lost in his lust, Brinley grinned.

Heathcliff smiled.

Taking that as an incentive, Brinley reached for Heathcliff’s belt and undid the buckle. Heathcliff reunited their lips as he jerked Brinley’s pants open. Too lost in the sensations coursing through him, Brinley gave no thought to his actions.

His blood was on fire. The man in his arms was eager too. They were desperate, and Brinley wanted to please him. So, he rose to his knees with his mouth locked to Heathcliff’s as he yanked his shoes and the rest of his clothing off.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Heathcliff growled.

“Show me your pretty purple dick.”

With a grin, Heathcliff ripped his jeans off. Underneath, he wore plaid boxers. Those hit the floor, and Brinley licked his lips at the fat cock rising from a nest of black hair.

“My poor dildo won’t ever match up,” Brinley whispered as he pressed close to Heathcliff.

Their dicks touched, and Brinley groaned. He was already close. It was happening so fast. Brinley loved every second. Wrapping his arms around Heathcliff’s shoulders, Brinley held him close as he wiggled to get them lined up for proper friction.

Heathcliff smashed their mouths together in a kiss that was nearly rough as he rolled them onto the bed so Brinley was on his back. It was exactly what Brinley needed. He spread his legs. To get Heathcliff cradled between them, he bent his knees.

Brinley was surrounded by fruity freesia as he pumped his hips. Their cocks bumped and aligned to give them both maximum pleasure. Heathcliff was making him feel so good, Brinley forgot anything existed beyond the shifter’s bed.

With such frantic passion feeding them, Brinley wasn’t surprised by the sudden sparks dancing along his spine. Heathcliff’s hand moved down Brinley’s body, and his fingers brushed the mage’s hole. That was all it took.

A cry tore from him as he spilled his seed between them. Heathcliff groaned into his neck, and he shuddered. Brinley coasted his palms across Heathcliff’s damp skin and held him through his climax.

It was the most beautiful moment of Brinley’s twenty years on earth.

∞∞∞

The sun pouring through the windows woke Brinley. He’d forgotten to pull his blinds closed again. That was annoying since Brinley was pretty sure he had a night shift later and needed some rest.

Too lazy to get up to do anything about the sunshine, Brinley rolled to his side to try to fall back asleep. But his bed grumbled a complaint, and there was a weight draped over him.

Brinley’s eyes popped open.

An arm in the most exotic, gorgeous shade of purple was holding Brinley close. Thankfully, Brinley knew who that lovely limb belonged to, but he was still embarrassed. Heathcliff was his mate, and he’d treated the man like a random hook-up instead of the other half of his soul.

Not that Brinley had ever slept over at someone’s house or allowed them to slumber next to him in bed. But that was hardly the point. They weren’t supposed to be having sex. Twelve hours ago, Heathcliff hadn’t even had sexuality.

Less than a day with Brinley as his mate and he already lacked virginity.

Mortified, Brinley lay there with flushed cheeks. Shame and sadness crept through him. Was he already hurting their chances of building a relationship? Would Heathcliff wake and wonder why Brinley had turned a kissing lesson into an erotic lesson on how to come as fast as possible?

Wondering what the fuck to do, Brinley blew out a breath that had another irritating sound emerging from Heathcliff. Apparently annoyed, Heathcliff rolled so his back was to Brinley. That helped Brinley decide that the least he could do was give the man some peace.

They needed to talk and build a friendship. To create something to base their lives on. Okay, eternity. Brinley lacked formal education, but he’d focused intently on being an ignis mage since he was a teenager.

That wouldn’t impress Heathcliff. Phoenixes already had eternal lives. Brinley doubted he’d done much of anything since they’d met the previous day to amaze Heathcliff. The man was a freaking Duke.

Brinley crept out of bed like a criminal as he wondered if Heathcliff would wake up and think the poor mage working at a bar was trying to sleep his way into a Duke’s heart. Was that how titled people thought? Brinley didn’t know; this weekend was his first experience around royalty.

He’d feared spilling a drink on someone important. It hadn’t occurred to him that Fate would intervene and make one of those fancy people Brinley’s mate. And that Brinley would coax an elven hybrid into handing over his first climax in a fast romp after their second brief conversation.

It didn’t matter to Brinley that Heathcliff had been willing. Or that the shifter’s kisses had been so fantastically aggressive. Brinley had been the experienced one, and he shouldn’t have pushed to get close to Heathcliff.

The man was just so tantalizing.

No excuses , Brinley thought. He grabbed his clothes as silently as he could manage and teleported home to his small apartment. He dumped his belongings on the floor. Still naked, Brinley flopped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling.

Heathcliff’s nude body filled his mind, and he smiled. Broad-shouldered and muscular, Heathcliff was his every dream lover come true. But Brinley needed to keep his dick in his pants and his tongue to himself and learn everything he could about the book-loving phoenix.

Or he’d lose him before Brinley had any chance of finding a way to keep him.