Page 24 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

“Very well. I will give you the time with him. You have my word that you will not be observed.” Saying this, she turned off the monitor.

“In the drawer next to you you’ll find some overalls.

I’m afraid I must insist you leave all your clothes here.

The collar he wears blocks his power, but I have still been very careful to ensure Evrain has little access to the elements and even natural fibers are of the earth. ”

With a mental sigh of relief, Dominic slid the drawer open. He removed a roll of white nylon fabric. He shook it out. The one-piece garment seemed to be identical to the one Evrain wore.

He stood. Imelda didn’t budge. It was clear she had no intention of leaving while he changed.

He hoped that Gregory’s assurance that only a select few people could see the patterns on Dominic’s skin held true.

He stripped off his shirt first then toed off his shoes.

Socks and pants came next. He hesitated, standing in his underwear while Imelda stared at him, unblinking.

He sighed, then rolled down his shorts. Dignity seemed to be a thing of the past for him.

He stepped into the overalls, pulling them up with a jerk.

He wriggled into the arm holes then closed the zipper with some relief.

“Thank you.” A brief smile crossed Imelda’s lips, making Dominic wonder exactly what she was thanking him for. “Do what you must to convince him, Dominic. I really don’t want Symeon to hurt you.”

“His hands…”

“Stay bound. Symeon is right to say that Evrain is dangerous. I’m giving you some latitude but I cannot free him completely.”

Barefoot, Dominic trailed Imelda from the small office to the elevator where she pressed the button for the sub-basement level.

Their destination had to be on the same floor as the parking garage.

From the elevator it was just a short walk down a dim corridor to a single door, which opened into a vestibule of sorts.

“The door to the passage will be locked behind you,” Imelda said.

She gestured to the door in front of them.

“This leads to Evrain’s cell. The other to a small bathroom.

Feel free to use the facilities if you need to.

I will leave the cell door unlocked.” She typed a code into the key pad next to the door.

It slid open with barely a hiss then Dominic stepped inside.

The room in which Evrain was held was so white it was painful to look at.

There was no relief for the eyes and, when the door closed behind Dominic, it became quite disorienting.

He imagined it was akin to snow-blindness, not that he’d ever been skiing.

He walked across to the cot, knelt beside Evrain’s prone form then touched his bare arm.

“Evrain, it’s me. Please wake up.”

He was rewarded with a snarl. “I’m not asleep, just pretending in case you were Symeon.” He rolled on to his back and sighed. “What in the fires of hell are you doing here, Dominic? You should be safe at home behind layers of protective wards.”

“I’ll explain everything, but what about you, did they hurt you very much?”

Evrain sat up awkwardly. He patted the cot. “Come sit here with me.”

Dominic took a spot next to him, pressing close, thigh to thigh.

“I think my arms are a couple of inches longer, but other than that not really. Symeon roughed me up a little. The worst thing was having to listen to him gloat—that was painful on the ears.”

“He showed me pictures of you hanging from the ceiling.”

“Great. He’ll probably have full-sized prints made for his bedroom wall.”

“There’s a camera in this room somewhere.” Dominic examined the blank walls. “I can’t see it though. Imelda promised me she wouldn’t watch us.”

“She will.” Evrain rested his cuffed hands on his knees.

“Why are your wrists bandaged?” Dominic asked, touching Evrain’s hand.

“Symeon used cable ties when he hung me up. They cut into my skin. Imelda didn’t appreciate what he’d done. I don’t think she sanctioned Symeon’s violence.”

“I got the same impression. She reamed him good after he threatened me. They aren’t the best of buddies.”

“I can’t believe I walked into such an obvious trap,” Evrain said. “I feel like a complete idiot.”

“You were an idiot because you think more about my safety than your own.” Dominic ran a comforting hand through Evrain’s hair.

He stared into his green-gold eyes. “It was only a matter of time, Evrain—the Coven would never have given up. That’s why I’m here.

” He rested his head on Evrain’s shoulder.

With his mouth close to Evrain’s ear, Dominic whispered the details of Gregory’s plan.

Then he unzipped his overalls, exposing the strange designs across his chest.

Evrain stared, his eyes wide. He raised his hands but didn’t quite touch. “How do they look to you?” he asked.

“Like silvery green tattoos just beneath my skin,” Dominic replied. “Gregory told me that apart from him and Nathaniel, only you and I would be able to see them. Imelda didn’t notice anything and she watched while I changed into this stupid suit.”

“She saw you naked?” Evrain’s eyes narrowed.

Dominic shook his head. “I think we have bigger issues to worry about, don’t you?”

“I suppose so. The designs seem like holograms to me. They sort of hover over your skin. When Gregory put these on you, did it hurt?”

“That doesn’t matter.” Dominic brushed off the question. “What’s important is that we get the agrimony transferred to you. We only have an hour together before Imelda comes back.”

“I’m so fucking angry that Gregory did this to you, but it just might work.

” Evrain scrubbed a hand through his hair, making it stand up.

“Let’s hope that Imelda was telling the truth when she promised not to watch.

I don’t get off on exhibitionism.” He pulled the thin mattress from the cot then laid it on the floor. “Not much, but it will have to do.”

Pulling the mattress toward the other wall, Dominic grinned. “The footage I saw had the camera pointing directly at the cot. If we put this over here we might get a bit more privacy.”

Evrain sat on the mattress, his back against the wall.

He crooked a finger and beckoned Dominic, a salacious look in his eyes.

Dominic shrugged the overalls from his shoulders, unzipping them to the waist. He knelt across Evrain’s legs and Evrain looped his arms over Dominic’s head to rest on his shoulders.

For a moment they just gazed into each other’s eyes.

Against all the odds Dominic began to get aroused. Evrain licked his lips.

“I missed you, you know. Thinking about you kept me going.”

“Kiss me?” Dominic tilted his head to the side, silently encouraging Evrain to kiss his neck.

Evrain obliged, running his tongue across the green patterns.

A faint mist rose from Dominic’s skin and slipped into Evrain’s mouth.

As he kissed and licked Dominic sensed the patterns dissipating, leaving pristine skin behind.

There was just a faint tingle when the marks disappeared, but as Evrain worked his way toward his aching nipples, the sensation spread all over his body.

“How far down do the markings go?” Evrain whispered.

“Thighs. Back and front.”

“Lose the suit.”

“Back to your usual demanding self,” Dominic muttered. He ducked from the circle of Evrain’s arms in order to stand. He lowered the suit’s zip further before wiggling until it dropped to his ankles.

“Good.” Evrain unzipped his shapeless garment. “I can’t get this thing off because of the cuffs. Unzipped will have to be enough. Come here.”

Dominic hugged him. Skin met skin from chest to groin—as far down as Evrain’s zipper went.

“You’re so warm.” Evrain pushed him back a little. He sucked on one nipple then the other. Dominic moaned, throwing back his head. Green mist seemed to envelop Evrain’s body.

“It’s working.”

“I know. I can feel it. There’s a lot of power in Gregory’s work.” Evrain ran his hands down Dominic’s body until he could cup his balls. “Lean against the wall.”

They changed positions. Evrain dropped to his knees. “I can’t believe Gregory decorated your cock. He and I are going to have words.”

“That’s not all he did, love.” Dominic gasped as the moist warmth of Evrain’s mouth surrounded him.

His knees began to buckle as Evrain sucked his balls and cock in turn, teasing with soft skims of his tongue.

Dominic’s thoughts scattered. He could have been surrounded by the whole coven and he wouldn’t have cared.

He didn’t want Evrain to stop for anything.

When Evrain nipped a little harder, Dominic had to fight back a scream.

It was impossible to stay completely silent while Evrain drove him to the edge of release over and over again.

His back arched and he moaned, all worries about their predicament swept away by the intensity of the moment.

He came without warning, spurting his release deep into Evrain’s throat, shuddering with reaction.

Every muscle quivered and his ass ached to be filled.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Evrain licked him clean before pulling away. He was breathing heavily, a sheen of perspiration coating his skin. “You okay?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Dominic asked. “Does it hurt you—absorbing the magic?”

“Not at all. Feels good, actually.”

“Want you in me. Don’t care if they’re watching.”

“You secretly an exhibitionist, love? Could be fun.” Evrain got to his feet. “There are a few clubs I know…”

“So not the conversation for right now,” Dominic complained. “My ass needs you. Now.”

“So demanding. I like it. Turn around.” Evrain’s voice was gruff, his words abrupt with need. He pressed the length of his body against Dominic’s back.

Dominic felt even teeth biting gently into his neck, then Evrain’s voice sounded in his ear. “I’ve absorbed the potion, we don’t have to do this.”