Page 47 of Eryx

I pressed the tip of a finger inside him. He nearly shot off the hay as he gasped and tightened the hold on my hair. His thighs shook, and I wondered if he was already close to coming apart. Using my tongue and fingers, I prepared him just like Paris instructed. And by the raspy groans Axios was making, I’d say I was doing a fine job of it.

But soon, it wasn’t enough. Axios shook with need, and my own cock hung heavy between my legs, aching and stiff as a sword.

Paris had given me a small vial that I’d kept concealed in my tunic. I’d had every intention of using it earlier that day when Axios and I were near our stream, but Haden had interrupted us like the pest he was. I withdrew it before sliding off my clothing.

“What’s that?” Axios asked, grabbing the vial. He opened it and sniffed the contents. “Olive oil? What will we use this for?”

I smiled at his curiosity and took the vial from him. “You shall see.”

I coated my fingers in the oil before slowly sliding them back inside him, watching his face as he closed his eyes and whimpered. Then, I used it on myself, slicking my cock. When I joined our bodies, the pleasure faded away, though. Axios wrinkled his brow and tightly shut his eyes. He didn’t voice his discomfort, but I knew he was hurting.

“They spoke of how it would sting,” I said, wishing I could take the pain upon myself. “You must relax.”

He exhaled sharply through his nose, and though it took a moment, he started to relax. I kissed him as I slowly moved forward, going deeper but stopping before I went too far. His heart beat wildly against mine, and it hurt me to know it was from pain and not the pleasure I was feeling while being inside his tight heat.

Sweat trickled from his temple, and I pressed my lips there.

“Relax,” I whispered. “I’m almost—”

We both gasped when I broke past the ring of muscle fighting against me. His body pulled me inside farther, a smooth glide that had my toes curling. When I moved again, Axios opened his eyes and stared up at me in shock. Pleasure clouded his face as a throaty groan rumbled in his throat.

Relieved he was now enjoying it too, I braced a hand on the bed of hay and held his thigh with the other, quickening my pace inside him. The noises coming from us sounded feral, like we were animals surrendering to our bodies’ most basic desires.

Whimpering, Axios threw his head back and closed his eyes.

No, I must see him.

“Ax, look upon me,” I murmured.

When his beautiful eyes met mine, I cupped his cheek and brushed my thumb across his bottom lip. My entire world was right here; in his eyes, in the breath filling his lungs.

Axios sucked my finger into his mouth, and the action took me by surprise. I smirked and moved faster, pounding into him harder. I watched his face, seeing the signs of his approaching release. His body tensed and his nails dug into the flesh of my biceps. His cock poked my abdomen, and I took hold of it, stroking him in sync with my thrusts.

He soon came apart beneath me, his eyes rolling back as he emitted a raspy groan. Warmth spurted into my palm.

And then I was joining him in that bliss.

A tingling shot down my spine and gathered in my groin before exploding upward. Gods, I’d never felt anything so intense. My body jerked from the force of it, and my muscles quaked. Once I was spent, I collapsed on top of him, unable to stop myself from trembling.

Our bodies, slick with sweat and sex, clung together. Our hearts beat as one. I kissed his chest before nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck. He moved his fingers through my hair, and the soothing glide of them caused my eyelids to close.

Among the pleasure of release was another more profound: Axios was my other half, and finally, my soul could breathe again.

***

I was in Elysium. Nothing else explained the warmth on my skin and the feeling of being whole. Axios shifted in my arms, and I held him tighter, resting my face against his shoulder. I was in that place between awake and asleep, aware of my surroundings but still in sleep’s clutches.

I feared it was all a dream. I had desired Axios for so long. Pined after him. I’d craved the closeness with him, even though I knew I shouldn’t want such things.

The horses stirred in their stalls, puffing out air and stomping their hooves. Voices came from outside, growing louder as they approached the stables and then fading as they passed us. When I opened my eyes, I was met with a stream of sunlight coming through the window up high. The ray shone on the bed of hay, and within the trail of light were specks of dust.

I focused on Axios and smiled when I noticed he was also awake. We lay naked, our limbs tangled together in the hay.

“It wasn’t a dream,” I said, relieved. “You’re here, and we’re together.”

The moment of bliss was short lived as reality smacked into me. I untangled myself from him and jumped to my feet, searching for my clothing.

“What is the matter, Ery?”