Page 162 of Eryx

“Theon loved his stories,” Quill said, giving a sad smile. His gaze lifted to me. “I still remember the night we sat in front of the fire and pledged our loyalty to you. You’re my brother. All of you are.”

Axios smiled and looked at Quill. “Do you remember when I dared you and Theon to kiss?”

“And Theon attacked me, planting a wet kiss on my mouth,” Quill added with a laugh. He placed his hand over his heart before letting it fall to his lap. “I pretended to be disgusted when he kissed me. In truth, I was confused by how right it felt. I wasted so many years fighting my feelings for him. And when we were finally together… it ended too soon.”

“You will see each other again,” I said, causing all of them to look at me.

Quill’s eyes filled with tears. “I know it in my heart. He is waiting for me in Elysium.”

“Do you recall during our firstsyssition, when you drank too much wine and the older man, Belos, made a fool of you?” Haden asked Quill. “And then Nikias roughed you up a bit to teach you a lesson.”

Quill put his hands over his face and groaned. “I have tried putting that from my mind. Thank you for the reminder.”

Haden laughed.

“You have embarrassment of your own, Haden,” I said, arching a brow at him. “Or have you forgotten about your ode to the girl at the festival of spring? The birds and theirfur.”

Quill snorted before mimicking Haden like he and Theon used to do.

“Oh!” Axios chimed in with a laugh. “Do not forget about how Leanna punched him and left a bruise beneath his eye.”

Scoffing, Haden rolled his eyes before staring at the fire. A smile slowly curved his lips, and he looked to be miles away. Lost in a memory.

“I fell in love with her that night,” Haden said, his voice soft. “All of that aggression and beauty. She truly is the perfect woman, and I thank the gods every day for blessing me with her.” When he looked at us, the smile slipped from his face. “If I die on the morrow, swear to me you will take care of my family. Icarius is so young. So small. Both of his tiny hands fit in my palm. Leo is older, but he is sensitive, although he tries to hide it. And Leanna is strong, but she is not as tough as she pretends to be.”

Silence passed between us as the reality of the battle registered in our minds. This could be our last night together. I glanced at each of their faces, saving Axios for last. The golden light of the fire highlighted his cheekbones and the strong angle of his jaw. His long lashes created shadows on his cheeks.

“Dying for Sparta is the greatest of honors,” Haden continued, drawing my attention. “And I am not afraid to die. However, I worry over them for when I’m gone.”

“You are not going to die,” Axios said. “We will all return home and look back on this night years from now. You’ll see both Leo and Icarius grow into men, and we will be happy. Finally free from war and all the anguish that comes with it.”

They were similar to the words I’d spoken to him before we left Sparta. Our eyes met then, and even as our companions talked around us, we only saw each other. We only knew the connection between us. Nothing could sever it.

Later, once we’d settled into our bed, I pulled him against me. The talk of loss and war had made me desperate to feel Axios in every way possible. I kissed him and caressed his bare chest before gliding my hand down the hard muscle of his abdomen.

He softly moaned and opened himself up to me, giving me complete control.

“Make love to me, Ery,” he whispered, grabbing my face and staring up at me. His eyes shone with the same desperation as mine. A thing neither one of us could bear to say aloud.

What if this is our last time?

I brushed my fingers through his black hair, admiring the soft strands. Like a raven’s feathers. Gently, I pressed my lips to his. My hand slid down his body and to his cock, and he gasped against my mouth when I stroked him. As I moved my hand faster, he groaned.

I kissed down his neck and licked a trail down his chest, pinching one of his nipples as I moved down his body. His torso stretched beautifully beneath the moonlight, the muscles moving under his skin as he arched his back. I glanced up at him before sliding the head of his cock into my mouth.

Axios gasped and opened his eyes, panting heavier with each flicking of my tongue against his tip. When I grazed my fingertips along his entrance, he pressed down on my hand, a silent plea for more.

I obeyed his silent command.

After using my fingers to relax the muscles inside him, I kissed up his body and settled between his legs. Sweat glistened on his brow from the many times I had brought him to the edge only to deny him a release. I slowly pushed forward, and he winced as my cock stretched him.

To distract him, I slammed our mouths together, gliding my tongue against his. He dug his nails into my back as I filled him even more. I knew when the sting had faded because he snatched hold of my chin and kissed me deeper, rolling his hips.

He gripped my backside and tugged me harder into him, smiling as our eyes met. The feeling of him was incredible, yet I didn’t want to rush the moment.

Axios deserved to be treasured, and I intended to savor every part of him.

I captured his lips and thrust forward, slow and deep. The rhythm continued, and when he started to shudder beneath me, I pulled out and waited for him to calm before plunging back inside.