Page 14

Azrael

A few shaky breaths leave my mouth as Beau processes my words, and I can’t manage to refill my lungs as I wait. He blinks a few times, comprehension finally dawning in his eyes. “You love me?”

My heart is a caged beast, thrashing against my windpipe as I nod. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid the arrow was influencing me. It wasn’t fair to turn this into more if something in me was going to change.”

“Turn this into more?” Indignation raises his voice again, and I force myself not to look away this time. “Az, this has been more for a while now.”

“I know,” I whisper.

“Was I…” He trails off, a nervous swallow catching in his throat, as if he’s unsure if he wants to know. “Did you shoot me? Am I feeling this way because of some sort of magic?”

“No!” I shout, and he watches me carefully, his guard up. “No, I didn’t shoot you, Beau. The arrows don’t affect me, and I would never, never do that to you… not on purpose, at least. But I didn’t. I swear. Everything you feel… this insane connection between us… it’s all real.”

He inches closer with his hand outstretched, but he pauses halfway as if he’s daring me to meet him. His name leaves me in a whimper as I leap into his arms, throwing him off balance as he stumbles back a step. My quiet sob is muffled into his shoulder as he cups my head, hugging me against him.

“This is a lot to take in,” he whispers, and I choke on a wet laugh.

“That's putting it mildly.”

“I’m going to have a ton of questions.” My cheek rubs against his shirt as I nod. “Like… so, so many questions.”

“I’ll do my best to answer them,” I say, unable to stop my smile as he presses a kiss against the top of my head.

“How can I be sure I’m not stuck in a coma with a gunshot wound to the head? Tubes in my throat, squeaky mechanical bed, ass hanging out of a too-small hospital gown? This whole thing could be some sort of fever dream. I’ll wake up in a few months and ask you about being Cupid, and you’ll have me committed.”

“ The Cupid,” I correct. “It’s a position, not a person.”

“Because that’s more sane,” he snorts into my hair and hugs me tighter with a half-hysterical laugh.

For a few minutes, we sit there holding on to each other, the stress slowly being erased from my body. I should drop my feet, let his arms rest, but he’s just as reluctant to put me down as I am to be put down. Afraid that once there's distance between us, I won't be able to close it again.

“It was all supposed to be temporary,” I finally say, breaking the thick silence between us. “The position. It was never intended to be permanent. When Micah told me the arrow wasn’t affecting me, I made my mind up on the spot. There is only a week left in my time as The Cupid, and then I was going to give up my wings. We’d be normal, boring mortals together, and we’d be so happy.”

“Wait, wait… hold up a second, Az. Slow down, okay? I might not understand what's happening, but those sound like some major sacrifices. I’d never ask you to give up so much for me.”

“You wouldn’t ask, but what other choices are there? Sit back while you age, knowing you’ll leave me someday? No, Beau, that’s not an option for me.” My eyes close as I take a deep breath, recalling my conversation with Micah. “But then…” I trail off, and he gives me a gentle nudge.

“Then?”

“They asked me to stay on… to be The Cupid, not just temporarily. And I’m good at it, Beau. I’ve never been good at anything in my life, but I’m good at this… really good, and now I’m in this impossible position. I can't have you and be The Cupid at the same time. That’s incredibly selfish, and frankly, far more than I have any right to ask for. Why should I get everything I’ve ever wanted?”

“Because you deserve all the happiness in the world,” he whispers, hugging me as he pushes his nose into my hair and takes a deep breath. “There are a lot of decisions that don’t have to be made this second, Az. You have time.”

I release a shaky sigh as I nod. “But there is something I need you to answer,” he says gently. “Something that can’t wait.”

“Yeah?” I whisper, bracing myself for the worst.

“Where does this leave us? Where do we go from here?”

Strangled and breathless, a noise between a sob and a hysterical laugh claws its way from my chest. “You… you still want to be with me?”

“Az,” he murmurs, kissing a trail from my head, then along the side of my face and ending behind my ear. “Az, sweetheart, I’m not a complicated man. There aren’t any fancy words I can come up with that will express it any better than you already have. There’s only you… there’s only ever been you. And I love you, plain and simple. We’ll make it work, no matter the cost. I’m yours… and you’re mine. That’s the only thing that matters.”

“Say it again,” I whimper as his kisses move up my jaw and dot around my chin, his beard tickling my cheek. “Please? Tell me again.”

A smile lifts his cheeks as he finds my mouth. “I love you.”

“Take me home,” I whisper as he presses a kiss on my lips.

“No,” he whispers back, and it takes a second for me to comprehend his answer. Brows drawn, I pull away and frown. “If we are going to work—and I want us to work, more than anything else in this life—you have to show me everything. No, darlin’, this time I need you to take me home.”

Consequences…

What are they again?

Doesn’t matter.

A flutter of nerves, edged with excitement, makes my stomach churn as I give a quick nod. “Alright.”

“Alright?” Surprise colors his voice, and I imagine he expected me to say no. I should say no. The thought crossed my mind for a split second, but considering the numerous ways I could have lost Beau today, taking him home is a necessary gamble.

“Fair’s fair, and you’ve given me so much of yourself. It’s only right that I do the same for you.” Logistics are easy enough. Although I’ve never done it, teleporting with someone else is a common occurrence.

I size Beau up for a moment, thinking out loud. “Level with me here… this isn’t going to freak you out, is it?”

A breathy, indignant laugh huffs from his lips. “If we’re being honest, I haven’t stopped freaking out since she pulled a gun.”

“That’s… yep, that’s valid,” I mutter. “The only way to get to my house is to teleport.”

“So, not an Uber, then?” My tongue clicks at the snark in his tone, and his chest shakes as he laughs to himself. “This is some Star Trek shit.”

I take another long, appraising look at him, and while, yes, the signs of his nerves are obvious, there’s also a lot more to see. Love, and acceptance. Complete trust. “Hold on to me,” I finally say, only a little shaky.

“Think I can handle that.” He slides his arms around my waist and kisses my temple as I lay against his chest.

The frantic beat of his heart thrums beneath my ear—a muffled, rapid rhythm interrupted by his breathy, nervous laugh. “Your heart’s pounding,” I whisper.

“In my defense, the past thirty minutes have been rather eventful.”

“ Eventful ,” I snort, hugging him tighter. “You were shot at, then learned I’m not human. I’d say that qualifies for a descriptor more exciting than eventful.” Humor fades away as I concentrate on my home. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

A wave of magical energy crackles, the air buzzing as I push my powers into both of us, Beau holding on tight. I wish I could say teleporting is more thrilling than it is. The convenience is amazing, sure. No traffic. It sounds all sci-fi and dangerous, but it’s actually quite dull.

Barely more than a faint gust of wind blows over us, and we’re standing inside my living room. Beau’s eyes are clamped shut so tight it bunches his skin all the way to his ears, his fists vices in my shirt.

“We’re here, baby,” I whisper, lifting on my toes to kiss his tightly drawn lips.

Dark blue eyes open, a hint of trepidation remaining as he glances around my home, his gaze lingering on various objects. Compared to his well-lived-in house, mine stays pristine, although there are a few personal items on display. It’s small, cozy, and just the right size for one person. A living room and kitchen, with an office and my bedroom. Awe-struck, he makes a beeline for the window, drinking in the panorama before him.

“Part of me didn’t believe it, despite seeing your wings,” he whispers, and I smile as I settle into his side. Our realm is undeniably beautiful. A celestial canvas stretches endlessly, painted in vibrant pinks and purples, and the sun’s rays shimmer in scattered diamonds. Cotton candy clouds float in the sky and hug the ground, forming a lazy pastel mist that obscures the landscape below.

“Told you there were no forests,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his waist and tucking myself under his shoulder. His laugh is borderline hysterical, and I can tell he’s still wound tight.

“Come on, let me show you around.” The tour through my house takes less than two minutes, then we’re in my bedroom.

“Of course you make your bed in the mornings,” he scoffs, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up from my chest. “That means there’s only one thing left to do.” A delighted shriek bursts out of me as he scoops me up and tosses me on the mattress, prowling over me. “Such a pretty, neat bed for a pretty, neat boy,” he teases, running his nose up the column of my throat as he rumbles a low, growling purr. “It’s too bad we gotta mess it up now, isn’t it?”

“A damn shame,” I mutter, and he breathes a laugh, his breath blowing against my neck.

A heavy palm runs up my thigh and traces the line of my hip. My cock instantly takes notice as his weight bears down, his voice rasping and husky. “What are you wearing underneath these jeans today?” That hand smoothes along my groin, barely skimming my cock, and I shamelessly rock my hips as I search for friction.

A salacious smile plays on his lips as his eyes pin me in place, and even without physical restraints, he holds me captive. Deliberately, he works my button loose, then tugs my zipper down so slowly that every tooth clicks. Light pink peeks out of dark denim as he peels my pants back, a snarl pulling on his lip as he yanks at my jeans. My cock strains against the thin fabric, and a broken moan leaves me as his thumb swipes over the damp spot at the tip.

Another of those baritone rumbles forms in his throat as he pulls his hand away, sticky pre-cum webbing with his finger. “Fuck, Az,” he whispers, almost reverently, as he holds my hips against the mattress, surrounding me with his lips as he takes all of me at once.

After a few long, leg-shaking sucks, he pulls back. Fabric pinches between his teeth as he snags the elastic and yanks, wild eyes locked on mine. He gives a few tugs, watching as my cock bounces with the material before releasing it and letting it snap against my skin.

“Do you still have that dildo?”

“Y-yeah,” I groan as he dives back in for more, his tongue lapping at my leaking tip through the fabric. By the time he pulls away, it’s soaked and transparent, every vein and ridge showing through.

“Will you get it for me? I want to watch you use it… wanna see that pretty hole open as you fuck yourself with it.” Really, how could I say no to that request? I practically leap from the bed as I dart into the bathroom, grabbing the toy and a bottle of lube. My eyes snag on something else in the drawer, and my hesitation only lasts for a second before I grab it.

Back in the bedroom, I stumble to a stop with a whine. Beau stands shirtless with his head thrown back, his hand moving under the fabric of his shorts, mouth sagging open as he strokes himself.

“God, you’re fucking beautiful. No one else gets to see you like this, do they? Gorgeous and desperate, but just for me.” Heavy eyes rake over my body as he gives another few languid passes of his fist. “I brought something for you, too.”

“Oh, did you now?” His predatory gleam is softened by curiosity as I open my hand and show him the plug. A soft whimper escapes his throat as he releases himself, and my eyes are drawn to the bulge pushing against his shorts. Somehow, it’s even more obscene than the way he touched himself beneath them.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I hurry to say. “I just thought…”

“You thought it would be hot to know my ass is full when I come?” Heat rises in my cheeks at his breathy, eager words, and I nod, unable to look away. The pad of his thumb swipes over my burning cheek, and I go weak-kneed at the touch.

Such a simple gesture, nothing special, but when it comes from him, it communicates so much.

It says, 'You're safe with me.'

'There's only you.'

The bed dips as he kneels, elbow sinking into the mattress as he falls forward, shaking his butt at me. “Well? Get busy, darlin’.”

“Sassy,” I mutter, slapping one side of his ass with a laugh and hooking his waistband, slipping his shorts down until he’s exposed. My thumb skims over his hole, a grin tugging at my lips when he clenches. “Has anything ever been in here?”

His grunt sounds self-conscious, and I crane my head to find his face flaming. “Just, uh, my fingers.”

“Naughty boy,” I tease, and I swear, he flushes a deeper red. “Did you like it?”

Eyes finally finding mine, he nods. A second swat to his ass cheek makes him lurch forward with an indignant gasp. “Stop being embarrassed. We’re in my house now, and I don’t tolerate you shaming yourself over what you enjoy.”

“Yes, sir,” he grumbles, adding a definite touch of sass to his tone, and I laugh again as I open the bottle of lube.

He wiggles and squirms as I squirt a dollop on the end of the plug, shifting his knees so he’s spread wider for me. Another docile whimper rises in his throat when I place it against his hole, the submissive sound causing goosebumps to rise on my flesh.

“This okay?” I ask as I circle his rim, spreading the lube, and he gives an abrupt nod. The plug pulses against him until the tip slips inside, and he puffs an exhale as he clenches around it.

His back arches into an exquisite curve as I push it into him, the flare starting to stretch. “If it's too much, tell me.” The tip moves in and out a few times, letting him get used to the burn. Beau’s fingers claw into the sheets as it sinks deeper, moving closer to the fattest part of the flare.

“Fuck, feels so good,” he murmurs in a slurred, drunken pleasure, dropping his forehead to the mattress as his body rocks backward. Shoulders flexing and muscles popping along his spine, he’s a goddamned work of art as he rolls his hips.

“Do you like this, or do you want me to put it the rest of the way in?”

“Please, please don’t stop, please,” he begs on a raspy exhale. “Keep doing this. Don’t stop… don’t stop…” It comes out in a breathless, whisper-quiet chant as the widest part of the plug stretches him.

Tight… God, he’s so fucking tight as he tries to close around it, but I tug it back out at the last second. The muscles in his ass flex, forming deep pits as he grits his teeth. Beau’s thighs tense, a moan forcing his mouth open as he shoves his face into the mattress. Over and over, I thrust the plug, watching as his body tries to draw it in.

“Do you want more?” Eyes hazy with lust, he rocks his hips in a jerky rhythm as he glances over his shoulder. His gaze falls to the dildo in my hand, and his tongue darts out, wetting his lips.

“Please?”

A soft smile curls on my lips as I pull the plug away, loving the way this giant beast of a man whimpers as I leave him empty. “Patience,” I murmur as I coat the toy and press it against him. His spine arches as his knees push wider, stretching the elastic waist of his shorts to its limit. “This is bigger, so we have to go slow, sweetheart.”

“Don’t wanna go slow,” he mutters into the bed, impatient as he bears down and rocks back. His body accepts it easier this time, the first couple of inches slipping inside him with a low moan. Minutes pass as I work him open, ignoring his pleading as he begs me for more.

In and out, unhurried and steady, I watch his cock strain with every thrust until he’s taken the whole thing. Knuckles bleaching, he fists the blanket as he rolls his body back, unrestrained as he fucks himself on the dildo.

I catalogue everything.

The tension in his muscles, and how they bunch and flex as he moves. The way his eyes squeeze closed and the rasping, pitiful breaths that saw from his parted lips as he gets lost in the ecstasy.

“Do you want to come like this?” When he shakes his head, I slip it out, smiling at his needy whine. My eyes fall to his opened hole, clenching at nothing as his hips twitch. Gripping myself tightly, I fight not to explode just from watching him.

“Don’t move,” I instruct with a soft tap to his cheek. “This is exactly where I want you when I come back.”

I disappear into the bathroom and return with a different plug. Bigger than the other by far, it takes a few tries before I’m able to slip it inside him. The base sits flush against him, hugging his skin as his body draws it in. I slide his shorts over his ass, wrapping him up like a present, and press my fingertips against the plug. He lifts into a kneeling position, his huge body trembling as I rub.

A wet spot spreads over the front of his shorts, his cock straining against the material. “Did you come already, sweetheart?”

His brows are drawn, face pained as he shakes his head. “No… just… almost.”

“That’s all pre-cum?” He nods, shivering as I drag my fingers over the dampness. “You're that wet for me, huh?” He nods again, staring as my tongue swirls over the dildo’s suction cup, giving it a few more licks than necessary for his benefit. It sticks to the smooth metal of my headboard easily, and I’m not convinced Beau has even blinked as I reach to lube myself. My spine arches and I press back, a moan slipping past my lips and a shudder wracking my limbs.

Beau lowers himself on the bed, fucking crawling to get closer as I begin to move. The soaked material of my jockstrap clings to my cock as I lift my torso, giving him a show. Any shyness or reservation has disappeared, an out-of-character boldness in its place as I sink onto the toy.

Pleading desperation shines in his eyes as his ass flexes, grinding against the bed. Lips separated and pupils blown, he stares, and the burn of his gaze on my body is more intimate than any touch I’ve ever felt.

He’s crawled close enough for me to lean forward and pop a kiss on his lips before I lift again, my palms running over my chest as I ride the dildo. Fists tight in the blankets, his hips stutter forward once, twice, and a third time before his entire body tenses.

Eyes glassy and control gone, he fucks into the mattress so hard it jars the bed. Deep, aching tension coils in my core as Beau whimpers louder, no finesse to his movements as those frantic thrusts turn into a single, sweeping roll of his hips. A crackled, rasping shout snaps his head back on his shoulders as a shudder sends tremors along his spine and through his limbs.

Heat spreads in a popping, tingling detonation through the center of my body. “Did you just come, baby?” A single, shaky nod is all he’s capable of, still rutting into the bed as he quivers. The headboard bangs against the wall as I move faster, ready to join him on the other side of ecstasy.

“Wait,” he rasps, climbing to his knees. Cum slides down his thigh from underneath his shorts, and a wet puddle shimmers on the blanket. “Fuck me, Az. Finish inside me, please. Please?”

Frantic, borderline hysterical laughter rushes from my lungs. “You’re so tight, I won’t last two seconds.”

“Don’t care,” he murmurs, kicking off his clothes.

The slick noise as I slide off the toy is obscene, the heady scent of sex a cloud in the room. I lean over and drag my tongue over the cum on his leg, holding it in my mouth as he positions himself on all fours again.

After I remove the plug, I spread his cheeks and spit, filling him with his own release. “You’re sure?”

“Please,” he repeats, and I slide my jockstrap aside before positioning myself against his hole. It only takes a single push, his muscles so relaxed that I slip right inside.

“Oh, God,” I grunt, holding still as the tight, burning warmth compresses me. That heat that was sparking in my spine earlier erupts, launching itself straight to my balls as my cock throbs insistently.

Don’t come, Az, not yet.

Only the very tip is inside him, and I’m already struggling to hold back. A few deep breaths and a firm grip on the root of my cock allow me to regain a tiny bit of control, if barely.

Inch by inch, he takes me, fingers knotted in the sheets as flesh meets flesh. My eyes roll into my head as I pull back and bottom out once more. “You are so tight, baby,” I whine, my balls uncomfortably taut by the third thrust. “So good… you’re so fucking good.” The muscles in his shoulders roll as he reaches for his cock, fisting his length with a cry.

Hand moving frantically, he rolls between me and his stroking fist. Pleasure scattershots through my body, and I tense my muscles, trying to stop it. It’s too much, too intense, too demanding, and I’m helpless against it. A strangled shout tears from my throat, his ass rippling with the impact as I thrust into him.

My entire body implodes, every nerve pulsing with the beat of my cock as I spill inside him. Loud, smacking wet sounds, and filthy, desperate grunts ring through the room as he jerks himself. His body is a vice around me as he calls out, shuddering once more before he goes completely limp.

I pull out of him, lick the cum from his hand, and spit it into his hole before I insert the plug again. Exhausted, we collapse onto the bed, doing our best to avoid the minefield of damp spots. He gathers me in his arms like a teddy bear, pulling the covers over us and tucking his face against my neck. “I love you,” he murmurs, and I grunt my agreement.

Sixty seconds later, we’re both sound asleep.