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Chapter twenty

Ass-ageddon

Gem

It turned out, the thing Rusty had to do Saturday—instead of coming over so he and Gem could bone enthusiastically—was surprise Gem for his hatchday in the middle of the godsdamned night.

He was rudely awoken to people sneaking into his flat and scaring the ever-living daylights out of him.

He’d thought he was being mugged or murdered, but he refused to go down without a fight.

He was too young and pretty to die this way, after all.

Of course, it wasn’t actually a serial killer, but his friends. Which made a lot more sense since he was too poor to be burgled and not special enough to be chosen as a murder victim. The entire cafe crew was there to kidnap him for an even bigger surprise, and Gem had never felt more loved.

The even bigger surprise? They took him to the Illian Caves.

He’d wanted to go ever since he was a child, but he’d never had the funds for it.

Or he’d forget to book in time, and all the tickets would be sold out.

But here he was with the people he loved most watching the moonlight refract through the crystal stalagmites and stalactites of the Wrath mountain caverns.

It was everything he thought it would be and more, and he cried tears of joy as rainbow colors danced over his limbs like a kaleidoscope.

The beauty was blinding, made even more special by the knowledge that it had been Rusty’s idea.

Because of course it had. Because Rusty was thoughtful and sweet and lovely, and how Gem adored him.

As the moonlight faded and the colors disappeared, the other patrons filed out of the caverns. Gem remained, staring up the rock funnel to the dark sky above. He inhaled the musty, moist air and exhaled, his breath clouding in front of his face.

When the cave was nearly empty, a clawed paw grasped his lowest hand, and Gem jumped in surprise. Their group was already heading toward the exit, but Rusty stood at his side, a soft expression on his Mammylion face.

“You ready to go?” he asked, and Gem nodded.

“Yeah. Let’s go home.”

Back in the parking lot, Glyma and Quin waved sleepily before they teleported away, hand-in-hand, and Gem grabbed Rusty’s wrist and led him toward the car with a happy cry. “This was the best night ever!”

As everyone piled into the car, Zef took the front along with Toni and Jude while Tad crawled gleefully into the trunk.

In the backseat, Willow sat in the middle as Liel perched on Oliver’s lap.

Gem’s ass barely fit, but he squeezed in beside Willow, then bundled Rusty in his lap.

The Pyclon grumbled and whined but, eventually, settled as Toni started the car.

Willow fell asleep with her head on Oliver’s shoulder.

Liel blinked sleepily, temple on the window as Oliver snored, forehead resting on the back of Liel’s neck.

Jude curled into Toni’s side, whispering conspiratorially as Toni chuckled.

At long last, Rusty relaxed back into Gem’s chest, and Gem held him loosely, tucking his face into his furry neck as the Pyclon’s lids drooped.

Rusty dozed off halfway back to Lust, and Gem smiled happily as his cute puffy snores turned to purrs.

He felt a familiar gaze on him, and he glanced up with two small eyes to meet Toni’s black stare in the rearview mirror.

His thick brows were drawn into a frown, black eyes narrowed.

Gem arched a challenging eyebrow, tightening his arms protectively around the sleeping Pyclon.

With a rude noise, Toni focused back on the road, and Gem closed his eyes, breathing in Rusty’s spicy tobacco and wild musk.

If things between him and Rusty progressed as he hoped, Toni would quickly become a complication.

Gem loved the Elas, but sometimes, Toni could be a judgmental douchebag.

But Gem would cross that difficult bridge when he came to it.

For now, he was happy and content.

They reached Lust first, and Toni rolled to a stop in front of Gem’s building. Gem gently patted Rusty’s arm, and the Pyclon jerked awake with a startled chitter. It woke Willow, but Oliver continued snoring, unperturbed.

“Do you all wanna crash here?” Gem asked as Rusty opened the car door and crawled out.

Toni opened his mouth, but Jude beat him to it. “Nah, I wanna sleep in my own bed—and by my own bed, I mean Toni’s bed.” The human pointed at Toni, who beamed smugly. “And no offense, Gem, but your couch isn’t the comfiest.”

Climbing from the car, Gem hid his pleased smile in his shoulder before he leaned into the open door to double-check. For courtesy’s sake. “Are you sure? It’s late. ”

“I agree with Jude,” Willow said, a conspiratorial glint in her mossy eyes. “If Toni doesn’t mind driving me home, I would prefer to sleep there.”

“As would I,” Zef agreed sleepily.

Toni worked his jaw, sending Rusty and Gem irritated, suspicious glances, but Jude rubbed his shoulder soothingly. He kissed Toni below his ear, whispering something Gem couldn’t catch, and Toni grunted.

“Yeah, I’ll get you all home. Don’t worry about it,” he said at last, casting another heavy look at Gem.

“Thank you for my hatchday surprise,” Gem said, blowing him a kiss, and the Elas softened.

“Anything for you, Gemmy,” Toni said, and Gem preened as he shut the car door.

“Love you all.”

Gem blew more kisses, and Willow scooted to take his spot on the other side of the backseat so she could stretch. Half-awake, Liel slid off Oliver’s lap but curled up against him to go back to sleep. Gem waved as the car pulled away, aware of Rusty shifting his weight awkwardly behind him.

A heavy silence stretched between them. Rusty glanced over his shoulder, in the direction of the station where he lived, like he was considering walking home.

If that was what he wanted, Gem wouldn’t fight him.

But he wanted Rusty to stay. Even if all they did was share Gem’s bed as they slept, he wanted the Pyclon to stay.

“Wanna come up?” he asked, doing his best not to make it sound like a proposition.

Rusty’s gaze burned into his with an intensity that had his taint tingling. “Yes.”

“Good,” Gem said, taking Rusty’s hand and leading him toward the door.

As they rode the lift up, Rusty rested his furry head on Gem’s arm, their fingers twining, and excitement and nerves battled for dominance in Gem’s stomach. Inside his flat, he removed his shoes and his hoodie, then followed Rusty into the living room.

The Pyclon was standing next to the coffee table, staring down at a small rectangular package resting on it. He picked it up and turned around, clearing his throat. “This is for you. I left it here because I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. Figured you’d see it when you got back.”

Gem bit his bottom lip as he slowly approached. “More presents?”

“Just take it,” Rusty huffed, holding it out.

Letting his fingers drift over Rusty’s claws, Gem took the present. The rectangle was thin and hard, fragile. He handled it with care as he unfastened the wrapping.

“You don’t have to open it now,” Rusty said, like he was embarrassed, but Gem ignored him.

He tore the wrapping free and gazed down at the small picture frame.

It was simple dark wood, with a black felt background.

Nestled in the middle behind the glass was a playing card, a purple three of keys.

The bottom of the frame held a thicker piece of wood, like a plaque.

Words had been carved into the wood by hand, in sharp writing Gem recognized immediately.

It read, “From the night I touched your ass.”

Laughing, Gem traced the words, then the card behind the glass. “I knew you stole it back. I fucking knew it!”

Rusty smiled, whiskers twitching. “Sleight of hand.”

Hugging the frame to his chest, Gem beamed down at the Pyclon. “Thank you. I love it so much.”

“It’s just a card,” Rusty said dismissively, but Gem was already shaking his head .

“No, it’s not.” Setting the frame down, he closed the distance between them and bent down to kiss Rusty firmly on the mouth. “Thank you, Rus. For everything. The caves and the card, the cow earrings and necklace, and my Cowabunga figurine. Just all of it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Rusty whispered, brushing his button nose against Gem’s small one. “You deserve beautiful things too.”

His eyes burned, but he refused to give in to tears. Not when he was so overwhelmingly and incandescently happy. “This is a beautiful thing.”

Popping onto his toes, Rusty gripped Gem’s wrists and connected their mouths again.

This kiss was hungrier than the others they’d shared, heavier with meaning and expectation, and Gem met him, curling his tongue around Rusty’s rough one.

With a sexy little growl, Rusty shifted his grip on Gem’s arms and somehow managed to scale his body like he was one of those desert trees.

“Oh shit, that should not have gotten me as hard as it did,” Gem commented as he banded several arms around the Pyclon to shoulder his weight.

Rusty laughed and loosely looped his arms around Gem’s neck. “Shut up, and fuck me, Akyllo.”

And oh, it was fucking on! They were going to smash, and Gem didn’t care if it did destroy the universe. Ass-ageddon was here, and if the world was going to end tonight, he would be dying with Rusty’s cock in his mouth and his name on the Pyclon’s lips.

They kissed feverishly as Gem stumbled toward the couch. They’d make it to the bed eventually, but he needed a surface now and the bedroom was just too far away. Rusty sucked on Gem’s tongue as he collapsed onto the couch, barely avoiding tripping and dropping the Pyclon on his ass.

Settling in Gem’s lap, Rusty pressed close, shuddering as Gem mapped his body with his many hands. The silky fur of his back. The satin of his squishy belly. Gem’s lowest hands gripped the underside of Rusty’s thighs near his knees, tugging him impossibly closer.