Page 103 of Knox

Knox groaned against his lips. "Yes," he urged. "Just like that."

The demon leaned up, but only so he could ride Adrian harder. Adrian gasped, his head falling back against the pillow as Knox rolled his hips in a way that made everything behind his eyelids turn white.

His fingers dug into Knox's thighs, desperate for something to hold on to, but there was no holding on. He felt himself tightening, his release building until he could barely breathe around it. Every muscle in his body tensed, and then he fell over the edge, Knox's name falling from his lips like a prayer, over and over, the only thing on his mind as pleasure rolled over him like a wave, washing away all the shame he'd cloaked himself in for so long.

As the last aftershocks subsided, Knox pressed soft kisses along his jaw and down the column of his neck. "You're amazing," he murmured against Adrian's skin.

Adrian shivered at the feeling of Knox's lips against him, as he became aware of the evidence of Knox's release on his stomach. He couldn't believe what had just happened—how much he had enjoyed it.

They remained like that for a moment longer before Knox slowly pulled off of Adrian with a low groan. As soon as their bodies separated, Adrian felt a pang of loss.

But then Knox settled beside him on the bed, and Adrian nestled close to him, feeling the warmth of the demon's body seep into his own. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their cocoon of comfort. Knox's strong arms wrapped around him, holding him securely against his chest. His fingers traced gentle patterns on Adrian's back. "I'll never leave you," he murmured into Adrian's hair, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through Adrian's entire being.

The words wrapped around Adrian like a warm blanket, dispelling any lingering doubts as he listened to the steady beat of Knox's heart under his ear.

His breathing slowed, syncing with Knox's as he drifted off to sleep, happy, for once, with his new reality.

Daniel crept down the unfamiliar stairs of the Airbnb, his bare feet silent against the wooden steps. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, casting long shadows through the windows. A metallic clang from the living room made him jump.

Leon knelt on the floor, wrestling with what looked like pieces of a wire cage.

"Need help?" Daniel moved to steady the wobbling structure.

"Thanks." Leon showed him a grateful smile. "These things can be finicky."

Together they clicked the final panels into place. "What's this for?"

"My guinea pig, Nutmeg. I'm having her moved here today." Leon adjusted the water bottle in the cage. "Been staying with my neighbor since everything went down."

"You have a guinea pig?"

"Had two, actually. But old age..." Leon glanced aside. "Need to find her a new friend soon. They're social creatures."

"I never knew." Daniel sat cross-legged on the floor, picking up a small wooden guinea pig house.

"A community where people lust over hot fictional guys didn't seem like the right place to talk about my guinea pigs." Leon shrugged, then took a closer look at Daniel. "You're up early. Is everything okay?"

"Can't sleep."

"Because of…?"

"The kidnapping?" Daniel forced a laugh. "Yeah, quite the experience. But I'll get over it."

He focused on placing a hay rack in the cage, avoiding Leon's concerned gaze. The truth burned in his throat —how Caelen's touch burned him in his dreams, how his voice haunted every quiet moment. How sometimes, in the stillness before dawn, his fingers itched to steal the artifact from Lyrian.

To bring the Shadow King back.