Page 29 of Inferno
Yorin leaned down towards him, and Nerik tilted his head back, pressing himself closer to Yorin. Just as Nerik had done a few minutes ago, Yorin hesitated before closing the distance between them, a teasing grin ghosting across his face… and then their lips met, warm and soft, a tentative exploration that had Nerik rising onto his toes for more.
He felt a hand in his hair, and then Yorin was cupping the back of his neck, holding him close. Nerik slid his hands around Yorin’s waist, pulling their bodies together. He felt Yorin’s other hand on his back, then Yorin tilted his head, deepening the kiss.
A breathless minute or two later, Nerik finally pulled back. “Um… not that I’m complaining, or anything, but maybe we should go inside?” The pathway beside his house was not frequently used, but nonetheless, it might be better to do this without a potential audience.
Yorin’s face heated as he jerked back and looked around, as if they’d already been caught in the act. “Yes! Of course. Sorry, I…”
“I said I wasn’t complaining,” Nerik said, pressing a finger to Yorin’s lips to silence him. “Come on.” He opened the door and tugged Yorin inside, toeing off his boots as he closed the door behind them. Then he wrapped his arms around Yorin’s neck and kissed him again, taking his time, exploring Yorin’s hair, his shoulders, and pressing a knee in between his legs…
“Oh!” Nerik pulled back, somehow not having connected the idea of what they were doing with Yorin’s natural reaction to it.
“Sorry,” Yorin apologised immediately, stepping back, his face flushing. “Sorry, I… um…”
“No, no, it’s all good,” Nerik said, tugging him closer again. Gods, he felt like a naïve young spark, fuelling his own fire for the first time. “I just… I guess I hadn’t really thought this through, and I…”
“Do you want to stop?” Yorin asked, looking simultaneously like it was the worst idea in the world, and that he absolutely would, if Nerik asked him to.
Nerik looked up into his face. He’d wanted to be here, in this exact situation, for so long. It felt surreal to finally be here. “No,” he said, with a slight shake of his head. “I mean, unless you do…?”
“Not at all.” Yorin leaned in to kiss him again, and this time when their groins met, Nerik was aware of not just the bulge in Yorin’s trousers, but the one in his own, as well.
Given that infernals didn’t have sex – at least, not in the way that water-based species did – it had come as a significant shock to Nerik the first time he’d developed an erection. Gosta had been there at the time, waking him after a night of restless tossing and turning, and at his apprehensive questioning, she’d offered him a clinical explanation of what his body was doing. It was only a couple of days since he’d activated the gem for the first time, and he’d still been figuring out all the intricacies of being human, at the same time as learning how his fire interacted with his new form.
The news that he could now have sex had been staggering. And the experience itself, when he’d stroked himself to completion some hours later, once he’d been alone, had been sublime. Figuring out all the other parts of his body that he could have fun with had been both confusing and highly satisfying.
Nerik gently rocked his erection against Yorin’s, enjoying the way the other man tensed and drew in a sharp breath. Yorin’s hands were stroking up and down his back, restless and greedy, and Nerik leaned in to kiss his neck.
Yorin groaned, his head falling back as he stroked Nerik’s hair. “You’re so warm,” he muttered, pressing his torso against Nerik’s, his arms sliding around his waist.
Nerik was feeling warm, which was a huge relief after last night. With an effort of will, he stepped back, then hooked a finger into Yorin’s trousers and tugged him forward. “Come over here,” Nerik said, leading him over to the sofa. He pressed Yorin down onto the seat, then straddled him, settling gently into his lap.
He leaned in to kiss him again, but now, Yorin felt tenser beneath his hands, his mouth a fraction less responsive. “Are you okay with this?” Nerik asked. Yorin seemed fairly enthusiastic about it, but it was as well to check, just to make sure he didn’t regret anything later.
Yorin paused, leaning back a fraction and seeming to take stock of the situation. Nerik waited, holding his breath as he anticipated the answer… and dreaded the thought that Yorin might say no.
“Actually, yes,” Yorin said, sounding surprised at himself. Then he looked down and blushed. “But… well, I have to admit, I’m probably not very good at this. I haven’t… I haven’t dated a man before. Well, actually, I’ve never dated anyone before.” He swallowed hard, clearly feeling ashamed of having to make such a confession.
Nerik slid a finger under Yorin’s chin and lifted his face so he could look him in the eye. “I absolutely don’t care how many men – or women – you have or haven’t been with. You’re here now, with me. That’s all that matters.”
“It’s just… you might have to be a little bit patient with me. Show me how things work.”
Nerik grinned. “It would be my pleasure.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Yorin felt his heart pounding as he stared up into Nerik’s eyes. The look on his face was pure heat. He leaned in to kiss Yorin, and Yorin could feel his own hands shaking as he tried to figure out what to do with them. Suddenly uncertain, he rested them on Nerik’s hips, unsure whether he could slide them around to Nerik’s ass or not. He felt lightheaded and was suddenly glad he was sitting down.
He’d been so doubtful earlier in the morning, desperately wanting to do so much more than justtalkwith Nerik, but being entirely unsure about how to make that happen. They hadn’t even kissed, and Yorin had been driving himself crazy, his thoughts running in tight circles as he tried to come up with an excuse to touch Nerik, or something suggestive to say to break the ice.
And then Nerik had gone and asked to kiss him, just like that. No mess, no fuss.
Perhaps it had been lingering surprise at the request, or maybe it had just been desperation that had made Yorin bold enough to kiss Nerik once they’d finished checking on the fallen branch. But now that he’d stopped to think about it, all his previous doubts and fears came rushing back. How much experience did Nerik have? Would he be disappointed? He’d never say so, of course. He was too nice for that. But he might still feel it, inside.
He felt a hand tugging his shirt loose from his trousers and squirmed slightly against the back of the sofa. Nerik pulled back, their lips parting reluctantly. “Can I take this off?”
Yorin nodded, unable to find words for the time being, and then he fought not to fidget as Nerik undid the buttons on his shirt, then tugged it down his arms and tossed it to the floor. Nerik took a long, appreciative look at Yorin’s chest, tracing his fingers over Yorin’s bicep. He couldn’t believe he was actually here, with Nerik, taking his clothes off.
His groin surged at the thought, and Yorin was torn between pressing closer to Nerik to enhance the sensation, or pulling back so as not to get too excited too soon. He felt Nerik run a hand down his chest and realised he’d closed his eyes. He opened them again, not quite able to catch his breath.