Page 25 of Night Fae (Monsters of Veridia #3)

Too willing. He wouldn't stop Zev if Zev lost control and drained him dry—and that terrified him more than he wanted to admit.

More than it should.

This human...

Why was Zev still so firmly linked to him? Their dream connection should have faded by now. And yet... Zev could easily tap into the current of power flowing between them. Could take whatever he wished from Malik.

Could consume him utterly and completely.

How was that possible?

"Zev." Malik said his name softly, drawing his attention back into the room. Back to those warm brown eyes. "Please?"

There was so much trust in that word. Did Malik even know what Zev could do to him?

Before he could respond, Malik reached out again and stroked him through his pants—the touch firm, insistent. The heat radiating from his palm seared through cloth. It took all of Zev's willpower not to thrust forward, not to chase the sensation.

Malik leaned closer, his breath hot on Zev's neck, his words a seductive invitation whispered right into Zev's ear: "Take me."

Zev's self-control snapped.

With a groan, he pushed Malik back onto the mattress, pinning his wrists above his head and holding him there. Then he captured Malik's lips in a bruising kiss that left them both gasping for air by the end.

"You'll drive me insane." His words came out harsh.

Malik grinned up at him—and if Zev hadn't already wanted this human beyond reason, that would have done it.

That smile...

It made something twist painfully in his chest—something that went deeper than physical desire alone. Something he refused to examine too closely for fear that it might prove deadly to both of them.

Instead, he freed himself from his pants and scanned the contents of Malik's bedside table for something that would serve as lubricant. The healers had left some sort of lotion there. It wasn't ideal, but...

Better than nothing.

Zev coated two fingers liberally in it before returning to Malik. He pressed them against Malik's entrance, sliding in slowly.

Malik shuddered beneath him and bit his lip hard.

Too much?

No. Zev didn't know how he knew, but he could almost tell what was going through Malik's mind—a mixture of pain and pleasure as the stretch intensified when he added another finger.

Malik wanted this, so much that Zev's own arousal spiked sharply in response.

It took effort not to rush through preparations, to take Malik immediately. To claim him. To own him.

The thought came unbidden, but too strong for him to deny. He wanted to possess every part of Malik, body and soul.

How could he not, when Malik was looking up at him like that—eyes half-lidded, expression dazed with desire. Lips parted slightly as he panted, breathless from Zev's touch.

Stunning.

Zev couldn't resist leaning down, capturing those lips again. Kissing deeply until Malik melted under him, pliant as Zev continued preparing him.

Zev had to have him. Had to feel him around his cock, had to bury himself inside Malik. The need was overwhelming; he barely managed to retain enough control not to hurt Malik when he finally removed his fingers and replaced them with his painfully hard cock instead, easing in slowly.

Malik gasped, eyes wide, fingers gripping the sheets tightly. Zev held still, giving him the chance to adjust before moving further. He wanted this too badly to rush.

When he finally slid all the way home, Malik let out a soft moan. "Zev," he breathed. "Oh my god?—"

The desperation in Malik's voice sent heat racing through his veins. It was impossible not to want to hear more of those sounds; impossible not to want to make Malik beg and moan and scream.

Impossible not to want him completely.

Zev began moving, pulling back and thrusting forward in long strokes designed to draw it out—to savor each sensation—to make Malik fall to pieces underneath his touch. The human writhed and gasped, clutching at Zev's back, nails digging into the fabric of his shirt.

Zev growled, wanting to feel those fingers on bare skin, wanting no barriers between them. He sat up abruptly and tore his shirt off before grabbing Malik's hips and flipping him over so fast that he let out a surprised cry.

Then he yanked Malik's hips up and drove into him again, eliciting another moan.

"Fuck!"

Zev gripped Malik's ass, spreading his cheeks to get better access. To go deeper. Harder. To watch the muscles in Malik's back flexing as Zev took him relentlessly from behind.

To listen as those delicious noises grew louder with each thrust.

"God, yes, Zev..." The sound of Malik moaning his name made him throb inside the tight confines of Malik's body. Made something primal within him roar with satisfaction.

Malik's knuckles were white as he clutched at the sheets below him, his head dropping onto his forearm as Zev slammed into him again and again.

He was close to climax already, Zev knew—could feel it building in his own gut. It was strange, being able to sense Malik's feelings this way, but in the moment, it made perfect sense. He owned Malik; of course he could read his emotions. Of course they were connected.

He leaned over Malik to press against him, skin-to-skin contact heightening the sensation. Magic sparked between their bodies, invisible but crackling with energy. It flowed freely through them both, mingling together into something new.

Something powerful.

Malik shuddered under the intensity, gasping for breath as Zev wrapped a hand around him, stroking his cock while continuing to drive into him as hard as he could.

Malik tensed, arching back against him with a loud cry. "Zev, I—ah!—can't?—"

His body clenched around Zev's length, muscles spasming in time to each pulse from Malik's cock, painting the sheets below him with hot spurts of cum.

His climax triggered Zev's own release; he buried himself as deep as possible before emptying his load inside Malik. He bit down hard on the side of Malik's neck to muffle an animalistic growl that threatened to escape his lips. Gods, this human...

Zev wanted to make him his completely, consume him, absorb every drop of his power until there was nothing left.

No.

He made himself ease out of Malik, and the human rolled to face him.

There was that smile again. Dazed and exhausted, but still. That beautiful smile.

Zev kissed it without thinking, without hesitation. Malik's arms wound around him, pulling him close, clinging to him.

Zev broke the contact to look at his mate—no, not mate. Not mate.

But it was so difficult to think of him as anything else right now, with the magic humming through his veins and the scent of sex filling his nostrils and the taste of Malik's lips lingering on his tongue.

"Thank you," Malik murmured.

Zev swallowed past the tightness in his throat before replying, "You don't need to thank me."

Malik reached up to trace the lines of Zev's jaw, his touch gentle. Almost reverent. "I disagree."

Zev caught his hand, pressing a kiss to Malik's wrist and then the inside of his palm before releasing it. He stood, straightening his clothes. "I should go."

"What? Why?"

Zev paused, unable to meet Malik's gaze. The truth was that if he didn't go now...

He didn't know if he would go at all.