Page 24 of Night Fae (Monsters of Veridia #3)

Zev didn’t speak. He just stared at Malik, his breath still uneven from the kiss. The air between them felt thinner than it should have. Every movement felt loud.

Malik’s hand remained pressed against his chest. His skin was warm beneath Malik's fingertips, even through layers of clothing.

Malik swallowed thickly. "Please. I?—"

The rest disappeared into a gasp as Zev's mouth claimed his once more—fierce, demanding, claiming. Malik melted into his kiss, opening for him.

The world tilted, and suddenly Malik found himself lifted into strong arms, carried to the bed, where Zev lowered him onto the sheets.

He hovered over Malik, eyes still glowing faintly.

A stray lock of dark hair fell over his brow.

It made him appear softer, more vulnerable, than his usual cold facade.

Malik reached up to brush it back.

For an instant, Zev froze. Then he caught Malik's wrist in a firm grip, pinning his hand to the mattress beside his head.

Malik shivered at his strength, at the possessiveness with which Zev covered his body. He'd fantasized so many times about what being with Zev would be like—about what it would feel like to have that lean body above his, pinning him to the mattress.

He'd never thought he'd get to experience that for real. Never imagined it could happen.

Yet here they were, with Zev staring down at him, expression torn between desire and something deeper. Something darker.

"I don't know what it is about you," he said roughly. "I can't stay away."

A loaded truth, spoken easily as only a fae could.

"Is it my taste?" Malik half-teased.

"Yes," Zev murmured. His free hand traced the curve of Malik's throat, the line of his jaw. The touch was surprisingly tender, considering the hunger burning within the depths of his eyes. "But also something else. Something... beyond that."

Beyond the taste?

What else was there?

Zev leaned close, his mouth trailing along the line of Malik's pulse. "It's the promise of power that whispers to me when I'm near you. And also..." He stopped as if he could not find the words for what he wanted to describe.

Malik understood, though. There was something between the two of them. A faint hum of magic that even he could feel. That connection that had sparked to life to allow Zev to drain his energy so easily.

Should it scare him? That it was still there, still open?

Probably, yes. If he were wise, but he wasn't.

He was just incredibly horny—and glad for anything that would make Zev touch him.

This was Zev , after all. The assassin who'd haunted his thoughts and featured prominently in his dreams since the moment they'd first met.

The fae warrior who'd saved him from the Night Court, who'd kept every promise he'd ever made—who might not return alive from a mission tomorrow, because he needed revenge for his past more than he needed to have a future.

And now that he was so close, now that he was here with Malik, touching him, Malik would never deny him.

He wrapped his legs around Zev's waist, drawing him down so that the weight of him pressed Malik further into the mattress.

Zev released his wrist to brace his hand by Malik's head, holding himself up.

The other trailed down to grip the hem of Malik's shirt, pushing it up slowly to reveal the skin of his abdomen.

Malik sucked in a sharp inhale as Zev's palm slid across bare flesh, fingers tracing lightly up to his ribs. Goosebumps rose under his caress.

Zev's eyes met his, and for one long moment neither of them said anything.

Then: "Are you going to take my shirt off or not?" Malik asked.

"Demanding." Zev's voice came out rougher than expected.

"Only because I've been thinking about you undressing me for a very long time," Malik countered, trying some of that fae honesty for himself.

A faint smile curved the corner of Zev's lips. It made Malik's heart skip a beat. God, the man was beautiful. How could anyone expect Malik to keep his wits about him?

"I suppose I shouldn't disappoint then," Zev replied.

"Definitely should not."

Without another word, Zev gripped the edges of Malik's tunic and tugged upward, pulling the cloth over his head and tossing it to the floor.

Cool air hit Malik's exposed skin. He shivered, but not from the sudden change in temperature.

The heat of Zev's gaze as he drank in the sight of Malik lying beneath him was hot enough to burn.

He didn't say a word, but the way his eyes lingered, traveling from Malik's face down to his chest, down to his still-covered groin made Malik feel like the most desirable thing in all the realms.

Gave Malik the courage to speak the words that lay on his tongue. "Do you want to taste?" he suggested.

Honestly, he'd wanted to offer that since the first time Zev had mentioned liking the taste of his dreams. Since that moment, there'd been something else he'd wanted Zev to taste.

A low sound rumbled in Zev's chest, a predatory growl full of dark promise. His fingers hooked into the waistband of Malik's loose pants, tugging them downward until they were gone.

Malik was fully naked now while Zev still wore all his clothes. Somehow that only turned him on more—knowing that he was at his most vulnerable yet Zev was still dressed, still exuding power. Still completely in control as he gazed down at the feast laid out before him.

Everything was as it should be.

Zev's hands settled on Malik's inner thighs, gently coaxing them farther apart. Then he lowered his face, his lips brushing against soft flesh.

His breath was warm against heated skin, sending shivers through Malik's entire body. Zev nuzzled the base of Malik's cock, teasing with his mouth and nose. His tongue darted out to lick along the underside in slow, lascivious swirls that made Malik arch his hips off the bed with a strangled moan.

"Fuck," he gasped, unable to tear his gaze away from the sight of Zev's mouth on him.

Zev looked up at him from between his spread legs, and there was something wicked in his violet stare. Something that made Malik shudder. Made him feel as if Zev could devour him whole.

He wouldn't protest.

Instead, he threaded his fingers into Zev's dark hair, urging him on wordlessly.

Zev obeyed, wrapping his lips around the tip of Malik's cock in a wet heat that sent sparks flying through his veins. His head fell back onto the pillow, his breath coming out in ragged pants as Zev's mouth descended, taking him deep.

"God." Malik's hips bucked helplessly, but Zev's hands held him down firmly, preventing movement.

Malik didn't try to fight. Instead, he surrendered entirely, letting Zev take what he pleased. He couldn't think, couldn't focus beyond the pleasure of Zev's mouth moving over his length. Beyond the feeling of Zev's tongue swirling around him and the suction building as Zev bobbed his head.

Holy hell.

He'd dreamed of this. Fantasized about it countless times. But nothing could compare to reality; to having Zev's actual mouth on him rather than just in his mind—to the feeling of Zev's actual hand gripping the inside of his thigh rather than just in his imagination.

"I can't—" Malik moaned, his fingers tightening in Zev's hair.

He wasn't going to last much longer at this rate.

Zev's grip loosened, and Malik's hips jerked up instinctively, thrusting into Zev's mouth. Zev didn't resist, letting Malik fuck into him as deeply as he desired, allowing Malik to set the pace.

The pressure built, and before long, he was crying out, spilling hot and hard into the waiting warmth. Stars danced along the edge of his vision, and he closed his eyes briefly against their brightness, trying to catch his breath.

Zev released his softening cock and crawled over him, hovering above Malik on his elbows, his face inches away. His lips glistened with moisture, his cheeks flushed slightly with exertion.

He was gorgeous.

Malik couldn't resist reaching up to cup his cheek, thumb brushing across Zev's bottom lip.

Zev captured it in his teeth, biting down lightly before releasing it. He leaned in closer until their breaths mingled.

"Let me have you," he murmured, voice rough from use.

The words sent a thrill racing down Malik's spine, pooling low in his stomach with renewed desire. "You can have whatever you want."

Zev's eyes flashed, and then his mouth claimed Malik once more, stealing what little air remained in his lungs. The kiss was fierce, demanding. Hungrier than the others.

It tugged at Malik, at his core. Lightly, but still. The magic between them pulsed, flaring brightly. Suddenly, Malik wasn't sure if Zev had asked permission to feed or permission to fuck.

Maybe both. He was fine either way because the answer remained the same. Yes. Yes to everything. Anything Zev wanted. Anything at all as long as he didn't stop kissing Malik, touching him, pressing him down into the mattress.

Malik arched up, rubbing against Zev's body, feeling Zev's erection through the material of his pants. He ached for more, for that thick length buried within him. He needed it. Needed Zev.

Needed whatever the night fae had to give him.

But Zev pulled back, breaking the contact. His breathing was unsteady as he gazed down at Malik.

"You make me want to do things I shouldn't," he whispered.

The words sent another wave of arousal rushing through Malik despite his recent orgasm.

He reached out tentatively, running his hand over the front of Zev's shirt and then lower, palming the outline of his cock through his pants. "Do them anyway," he urged.

The world hung suspended between them, and Malik worried that Zev would withdraw. But they'd both come too far to turn back now. Too far to pretend that they could stop.

Zev studied the human under him.

Malik stared up at him with lust-clouded eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His cheeks were flushed with color, lips swollen from kissing.

He looked perfect.

Beautiful. Eager. Willing.