Page 13 of Gratification in Gluttony (Passing Through Cafe #2)

Chapter thirteen

Jude is Not an Exhibitionist

Toni didn’t see Jude for weeks after that. They talked, sometimes, but as Jude had warned, he was busy with his summer school. Since Toni was respectful, he didn’t initiate conversation often, waiting for Jude to call or text him first when he had the time.

When he did call, they talked about everything and nothing. Sometimes, it was important stuff, like their families or struggles or ambitions. Other times, it was about meaningless shit, like movies and books and music.

Turned out, they had similar tastes in media, and Toni discovered many great human bands thanks to Jude’s recommendations. And when Jude needed to wind down after a full day, they’d video call as they watched Toni’s favorite Hellian show—a crime drama about a jaded Elas detective and his rookie Gymnot partner taking down a human crime syndicate in the bowels of a human city called The Big Apple.

“It’s like a documentary about my family if my family was human,” Toni said once, which had caused a rather concerned look to take over Jude’s face. Thankfully, he never asked follow-up questions.

Toni’s favorite phone calls, however, were the ones late at night, when Jude couldn’t sleep. They didn’t talk at all, then. They’d just lay there, listening to each other breathe, until eventually, they’d both fall asleep. It was… nice.

It was also a test of Toni’s self-control, because all the flirting and quasi-innocent sexting had resulted in him being aroused all the fucking time. He’d never masturbated so much in his life, and he swore he was giving himself chafing on both his dicks.

But hopefully things would change this weekend. Sure, Jude wasn’t finished with his school thing, but he was attending the game night Toni was hosting Saturday night. And maybe that would lead to Jude staying over, which potentially could mean sexy stuff would happen.

He was putting the vibes out into the universe—manifest destiny and all that—and hoping for a return.

Since Oliver was already on this side of the veil, Toni planned to meet Jude at Gluttony station so he wouldn’t have to navigate the stupidly complicated tram system. Seriously, with how much Toni paid in taxes, one would think that the bozos in Pride would have figured out a simpler system for public transportation by now.

As it was, it gave Toni an excuse to pick Jude up and get him back to his place with an hour or two to spare before everyone else planned to show up. He didn’t have expectations, but he did have hopes.

At the station, Toni waited just outside the doors, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Summer was half over, but the stubborn heat had sweat prickling along his scalp. Or maybe it was nervous sweat. His palms did feel a little clammy. He hadn’t felt nerves like this in a long time.

The moment he spotted Jude however, dressed in cargo shorts and another button-up—this one bright rainbow tie-dye—the nerves faded to the background as a smile broke over his face. The human looked good, his curly, dark hair flying around his face from the breeze, his skin darker from the summer sun. Toni liked the dark hair covering his exposed legs, and unholy shit, the human’s toes were adorable. They were tiny and rounded, no webbing at all. Toni wanted to lay Jude out on his bed and gnaw on each one of those little nubbins.

Instead of attacking the human and devouring him in front of everyone, Toni pushed up his sunglasses and waved a hand over his head to get Jude’s attention. Those ochre eyes met Toni’s, and Jude smiled, dimples carving into his cheeks. Yeah, Toni liked those too.

Jude pushed through the crowd, his sandals slapping against the pavement as he came to a stop in front of Toni. “Hey,” he said, sounding a little breathless.

“Hey,” Toni replied, the word nearly cracking.

They stared at each other for a moment, and Toni panicked over how to greet him. Did they hug? Did they kiss? A handshake felt too formal, but a high-five was too casual and juvenile.

Without his brain telling them to, his hands rose and offered Jude finger guns. “Jude, the human,” he said stupidly.

Snorting, Jude copied his finger guns. “Toni, the Elas.”

Toni grimaced, chuckling sheepishly. “Sorry, I don’t really know what to do right now. I’m not usually this awkward.”

With a cute laugh, Jude popped onto his toes and circled Toni’s neck with his arms, pulling him down into an embrace. Toni responded immediately, wrapping the human up tightly as he tucked his face into his shoulder and breathed in his scent. Fuck, he smelled good.

“Thanks,” Jude said, smiling against Toni’s ear.

“Didn’t know I said that out loud,” Toni said as he released Jude and stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just breathing, and you were close. I wasn’t, like, sniffing you or anything. I promise I’m not a creep.”

“Toni, relax.” Jude reached out and gripped his arm, fingers flattening his smallest fin down. “Oh shit, sorry.” He pulled back before Toni could reassure him, linking his hands behind his back. “Did I hurt your fin?”

Shaking his head, Toni rotated his arm so Jude could see his fins standing straight again. “No, it didn’t hurt. They’re not too fragile. I mean, don’t go smashing them; that wouldn’t feel too good.”

“Okay, no fin-smashing. Got it.” Slowly, Jude reached out to trace the fins on Toni’s forearm and biceps, touch achingly gentle. “They’re smooth.”

His touch sent shivers up Toni’s spine, but he kept his composure, not wanting Jude to stop. He nodded and hummed in some sort of agreement, scrutinizing the human’s face as Jude studied his fins.

“They’re pretty,” Jude said decidedly as he traced the dark blue stripes on Toni’s skin.

“The stripes?” Toni asked.

“And the fins,” Jude said with a cute curl to his full lips.

“Thanks.” Moving just as slowly as Jude had, Toni reached out and touched the dark dots smattering his nose. “I like these spots.”

“Freckles,” Jude supplied.

“Freckles,” Toni echoed. “See? They even sound cute.”

“Yeah, okay.” Jude’s cheeks darkened slightly, and he changed the subject quickly, inspecting their surroundings. “Um, so this is Gluttony, huh?”

“Part of it,” Toni said, tucking his hands into his pockets. “We gotta take the tram back to my place. So, you can see more of Gluttony if you want.”

“Lead the way,” Jude said with a flourish of his hand, and Toni nodded and headed down the stairs.

Jude fell into step beside him, sharp eyes taking in their surroundings with keen interest. Toni had to force himself to pay attention to where he was going instead of Jude’s face. He didn’t want to run anyone over or, worse, trip over his own feet and embarrass himself.

On the tram, Jude took the window seat, and they settled into easy conversation as he gazed at the buildings they passed.

“The architecture here is incredible,” Jude said during a lull in conversation.

“Different from Chicago?” Toni asked, and Jude nodded. “And that’s what you’re studying in school, right?”

“Uh-huh, I’m getting my masters in Architecture,” he said so casually, like it wasn’t the coolest thing ever.

“That’s awesome. You must be, like, wicked smart.”

Jude’s cheeks darkened again, and Toni heard the uptick in his heart rate. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do. You’ve been on your own since eighteen, and all that time, you’ve been going to school, working, and transing—”

“Transitioning,” Jude whispered with a smile playing at his mouth.

Toni’s face warmed. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to say it wrong.”

Taking his hand in his much smaller, warmer one, Jude tentatively linked their fingers. “I know. It’s okay.”

Toni stared down at their linked hands and swallowed thickly. “As you can see, I’m not smart like you. I don’t know all the right words—”

“That doesn’t make you stupid,” Jude said, brows drawing down sternly. “You’re communicating with me in a second language because I don’t know yours, and you think I’m gonna judge you for getting some words wrong?”

“I don’t know, you’re intimidating, okay?”

At that, Jude laughed loudly. “You’re intimidated by me? You’re a big, scary demon who could probably eat me, and you think I’m intimidating?”

With a waggle of his brows, Toni purred, “I’ll only eat you with your express permission, and only in ways you’ll enjoy.”

“Shh, people can hear you!” Jude hissed, glancing around at the people on the tram.

“So?”

Face flushed, Jude gaped up at him. “You really don’t care what people think, do you?”

“Strangers? No. My people? Of course.” Toni dragged a thumb across the crest of Jude’s cheek. “I care about what you think.”

Jude shook his head, chuckling under his breath. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“What can I say? Toni’s one of a kind, baby!” Toni lifted their twined fingers and pressed a quick peck to the back of Jude’s hand. Then he glanced up and saw their stop coming up. “Oh, we’re gonna miss our stop!”

Reaching over Jude, he pressed the stop button, and the driver braked a little too hard to be comfortable. “Sorry,” Toni said to the other tram riders as he and Jude stood. “Deepest apologies. I got lost in his eyes; couldn’t help it. He’s very sexy.”

“Oh my god, shut up!” Jude pinched Toni’s bicep fin, bringing a rather undignified noise from Toni’s throat.

“Unholy shit, you should definitely do that later,” he groaned.

“Toni!” Jude screeched, both of them bursting into laughter as they stumbled off the tram. “You can’t just say that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you just can’t!”

As the tram rumbled off, Toni backed Jude up until he had the human pinned to a light post. “Not good enough.”

Jude’s heart was racing, and Toni decided it was his new favorite sound. He tilted his head, dragging his nose down the length of Jude’s. They shared breath for a moment before Jude placed the flat of his palm on Toni’s chest and pushed.

“Stop,” he said.

And Toni straightened immediately, giving Jude space to gasp in a breath. “Okay.” He traced the splotchy color on Jude’s cheeks with a finger. “I think I’m gonna be partial to this color on your skin.”

“Asshole,” Jude huffed. “That was way over the thirty-four percent flirting margin.”

Toni made a face. “We could raise the margin, if it makes you feel better.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Thank you,” Toni preened.

“What if I didn’t mean it as a compliment?”

“I’m choosing to take it as one anyway.” Crowding into Jude space once more, Toni cupped the sides of his neck, using his thumbs to tilt his head up. “Am I allowed to kiss you now?”

Jude narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think you’ve earned it yet.”

Toni’s brows rose. “Oh? Did not see that power dynamic coming, but I can work with it. What exactly do I need to do to earn a kiss?”

Pretending to think hard, Jude wiggled his head and hummed. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“I don’t think I like this game,” Toni said, forcing Jude’s head back farther with pressure under his chin. “It feels rigged against me.”

“Perhaps, but I’m having a fabulous time.” Jude’s smile was sharp and beautiful, and Toni wanted to taste it.

But he held back, enjoying the chase too much to end it quite yet. “Of course you’re having a good time. You’re the one in control. Oh, you’re gonna be bossy, aren’t you?”

Jude shrugged innocently. “If you want me to be.”

A growl rumbled in Toni’s chest unbidden. “And you say I’m the dangerous one.”

“How about you take me upstairs,” Jude said, circling Toni’s wrists and pulling until Toni released him. “I’m not one for exhibition.”

“As you wish,” Toni said as he stepped back.

With a pat to Toni’s chest, Jude smiled grandly up at him. “Good boy,” he said, like it was nothing.

And Toni’s brain glitched. He made another strangled noise in the back of his throat. Like a moan and a cough and a choke all rolled into one. It was not very sexy, but it made Jude pause.

Toni looked down at his jeans, which were bulging out obscenely because those two, innocent little words had, apparently, made him instantly erect. Jude followed his line of sight and made his own odd noise. Like a laugh and a gasp mixed together.

“Apparently, that really works for Toni,” Toni said, and Jude hid a laugh behind his hand.

“Do you, uh, need a minute?” he asked around his snickers.

“I’m gonna need a fucking decade.” Toni stared up at the sky and tried to think about unsexy things, jerking away when Jude placed a hand on his arm. “Come on, don’t touch me. I’ll never get flaccid if you touch me!”

Jude stepped back, pressing his hands together in front of his mouth like he was praying. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, you’re not! Don’t lie to me. I know what you’re doing.” Toni pointed accusingly. “You’re evil. But in a very attractive way. Are you sure you’re not part Incubus or something?”

“Just plain human,” Jude said, biting his bottom lip as he stole glances down at Toni’s erections.

“You’re not plain anything,” Toni said stiffly, grabbing Jude’s wrist and hauling him toward the door to his building. “I need to get you inside before you make me come on the sidewalk with nothing but your human witchcraft!”

“My Jewish ancestors would roll over in their graves if they heard you accuse me of being a witch.” Jude inspected the inside of the foyer as Toni pressed the button for the lift. “I like the domed ceiling in here,” he added, more to himself than to Toni.

“Yes, very nice,” Toni dismissed, pulling Jude into the lift and clicking the button to close the doors repeatedly.

“What are you—”

The second the doors closed, Toni pounced on Jude, trapping him against the wall and burying his face in his neck. “Can I please kiss you now?” he begged, fingers flexing on Jude’s hips.

Jude gasped as Toni’s still hard cocks pressed to his thigh. “Toni.”

“I’m trying to be good, but you’re making it very hard. Literally,” Toni said, rolling hips, and Jude moaned. Fuck, he moaned, and it was everything. “Yeah, baby, make that sound again.”

The lift dinged, and Toni snarled viciously as he spun away from Jude, both of them trying to stifle their panting breaths as the doors opened and several people joined them in the lift.

“Good afternoon,” one of the women, an Octopod, greeted them.

Toni nodded and hummed in response, not trusting his voice enough to speak. Since Jude didn’t understand Hellia, he remained silent as well. The Octopod frowned at both their poor manners, then turned to face forward with a harrumph.

Slumping, Toni stealthily calmed his breathing as Jude fought to stifle his laughter. Toni flipped him off, which just made him laugh harder, the little shit.

When the doors finally opened, Toni had never been more thankful to leave an elevator. He took Jude’s hand and led him into the hallway with a strained, “Ladies,” of farewell to the women they were leaving behind.

As the doors shut, the women burst into laughter, and Jude snorted. “I think they saw the problems you’re having in your pants right now.”

Toni turned, and Jude bumped into him, nearly losing his balance. Toni caught him, keeping them pressed together as he growled out, “Just wait ’til those problems are in your mouth, and you can’t talk shit no more.”

“You seem to think I want those problems in my mouth,” Jude retorted, another infuriating grin on his face.

And Toni was on a hair-trigger. A constant rumble was vibrating in his chest as he, once again, backed Jude up against the wall. His fingers went to the human’s fly, and Jude inhaled sharply as Toni flicked the button open. Watching closely for any hint of hesitation, Toni slowly slid the zipper down, giving the human ample opportunity to stop him.

Jude didn’t stop him. His hands—which were gripping Toni’s neck—tightened, fingers digging in. Toni’s gills flared, and Jude’s gaze dropped to them, eyes widening as they fluttered against his palms.

“Tell me to stop,” Toni said, running a finger along the waistband of Jude’s underwear.

Swallowing thickly, Jude shook his head. “I don’t want you to stop.”

“You want me to touch you here?” Toni asked, dipping a fingertip under the fabric to ensure there was no miscommunication about what he meant.

Jude nodded. “Yes.”

That was all the encouragement Toni needed. He slipped his fingers inside, finding Jude’s packer first. The soft, flexible silicone was a little warm from Jude’s body heat, and even though Jude couldn’t feel it, Toni gave it an appreciative squeeze.

Then he maneuvered around the packer and—

“Oh fuck,” Toni breathed into Jude’s neck as the human’s head fell back against the wall with a moan. “Baby, you’re so—” He cut himself off, suddenly worried about what words he should use or avoid. Shit, they should’ve talked about this before Toni had shoved his hand down Jude’s pants, but here they were.

“You feel good,” Toni said instead, and Jude shuddered. “I think it’s safe to say you want me in your mouth. Your body don’t lie.”

“Dickhead,” Jude said, and Toni chuckled.

Jude was wet and soft, with a swollen area near the top. His dick? Though Toni wasn’t sure if that was the language Jude used.

“You hard for me, baby?” Toni asked as he rubbed the pad of one finger over the swell of flesh.

Another shiver wracked through Jude’s body, nails carving into the back of Toni’s neck. Toni hoped he left marks.

“Not hard the way you are,” Jude gasped out. “Oh fuck, Toni.”

“Does that feel good?” Toni kissed the edge of Jude’s jaw. “Tell me how to make you feel good. Want you to come all over my fingers.”

“Oh my god,” Jude whimpered as Toni explored, fingers sliding through slick folds.

A door shut somewhere close by, and Jude went hard as stone. Toni froze too.

“We’re in the hallway,” Jude said, voice strained but not from desire. “Toni, we’re in the hallway!”

“Okay, sorry. Hold on.” Toni pulled his hand out of Jude’s pants and used his body to shield him as he checked their surroundings. Whoever had left their apartment wasn’t in their hallway—yet—so he hurriedly zipped and buttoned Jude’s shorts closed, keeping his glistening fingers as far from the fabric as possible so as not to leave a mess behind.

“I’m sorry, Jude.” Toni cupped Jude’s face with his clean hand and caught his anxious gaze. “You’re safe with me okay? I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I… I’m just really not into exhibition,” he said with a nervous smile.

“You’re right. You said that, and I didn’t listen. I shouldn’t have started this here.”

“I didn’t tell you to stop,” Jude reminded him, which only made Toni feel marginally better.

“Still.” He lifted his other hand to caress Jude’s curls but stopped himself when he caught sight of his wet fingers. “Oh, right.”

Instead of wiping them off on his clothes, Toni grinned darkly at Jude as he slipped his index finger into his mouth. Jude’s eyes widened, another splash of color darkening his flushed face even more. Toni hummed around the digit.

“I knew you’d taste sweet,” he said, and Jude scoffed.

“Liar.”

“Now, now. We can’t have that.” Toni hovered his middle finger in front of Jude’s mouth and arched a challenging eyebrow. “Open.”

When Jude parted his lips, Toni pushed his finger inside, rubbing the pad along Jude’s tongue. He slid back until he felt Jude’s throat react, then retreated, letting Jude suck his finger clean.

“Taste good?” he asked, voice deep and gravelly.

Jude nodded.

“Now who’s a good boy?” Toni said, hissing when Jude scowled and bit down on the finger still in his mouth. “Fuck! You better think long and hard about putting biting on the table, baby.” He bared his sharp teeth, and Jude snickered.

Removing his finger, Toni painted Jude’s bottom lip with his own spit as the human said, “Afraid you can’t take it?”

With a chuckle full of sinful promises, Toni purred, “Oh, baby, I’m confident I can take everything you want to give me.”

“Then take me inside and prove it,” Jude said, and Toni could do nothing but obey.