Page 14 of Relic

FOURTEEN

As I help Emery stand, I take in his supple form with hungry eyes. The boy is too skinny, but I’ll fix him right up with plenty of meals and care. Knowing what he endured with that piece of trash Linx makes me all the more protective of him.

He steadies himself with his hands on my shoulders, gazing down at me with trust in his eyes. He knows what I am, what I’m capable of, yet he still trusts me.

I lift the body wash from the bathtub’s edge, keeping my gaze fixed on my lover. My fear of growing tired of him too soon is only a distant memory now. I don’t think I ever could. Not with the beauty that shines in his eyes. He’s a man on the verge of finding his strength and I’m excited to help him get there.

After soaping my hands, I run them along his body, exhaling in pleasure. Touching him in this way is something I longed for since I laid eyes on him. His cock plumps, bouncing gently between us, so close to my mouth it would be easy to swallow him down, but I resist. I want him in my bed for that.

That doesn’t stop me from sliding my hands up the back of his thighs then slipping a few fingers in his crease, rubbing around his rim. Emery’s whimpered breaths and flushed cheeks are almost reward enough. I can imagine the sounds I’ll coax from him as I slowly take him apart.

“Your body is beautiful, Emery.”

He looks surprised by my praise. “You think so?”

“I never lie.” I shrug. “Well, I rarely lie.”

A sweet giggle escapes his lips, erased by a gasp when I squeeze his thighs.

“I will delight in learning all your secrets, my sweet.” I glide my hands up to his torso and down to his hips again, my journey eased by the slick soap. “What does it take to make you fall apart in my arms? What face do you make when you come undone? What does your cum taste like?”

He shivers in my arms. “This is weird,” he whispers.

“What?”

Emery closes his eyes, shaking his head. When he doesn’t respond, I guide him back into the water, wrapping my arms around him as he rests his back to my chest. I maintain the silence I feel he needs, giving him time to express what he’s feeling.

After a minute or so, he swipes a hand across his eyes. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have any reason to be sorry, but I’d love to know what you’re feeling.”

Emery nods, focusing his gaze on our entwined hands resting in his lap. “No one’s ever treated me like this. Like I matter. Like I’m special. It’s always been…” He pauses with a half shrug. “Just a hookup. At first, Linx acted like I was important to him, but real quick I saw that it was all manipulation to get me to do what he wanted. I don’t feel that with you. You seem…genuine. I guess.”

He wipes his eyes again.

“And it sucks that I didn’t realize my value before now, but I’m really thankful that I know now. I hope you’re not fucking around with me. I hope you’re not saying the things I need to hear to get me in bed. I think that would hurt more than anything ever has.”

The sadness pouring off of him ignites a storm of rage in me urging me to hunt down everyone who has ever hurt him and tear their heads off.

“I ruined it, didn’t I?” he whispers. “I said too much.”

“No.” I wrap him tighter in my embrace. “I apologize, Emery. I was managing my own emotions. I want to find everyone who has even looked at you wrong and ruin them.”

Emery twists his head to meet my gaze. “Your eyes are glowing.”

“Because I’m enraged.” I cup his face. “You are special, and you do matter. Even my jaded, detached self can see it. I’ll never let any harm come to you, and I vow to never be the one who abuses your trust. Hurting you would torture me, and I’m too much of a selfish ass to allow that.”

A gentle smile graces his face. “I believe you. What you did…finding Linx.” He pauses as his voice breaks. “It kind of freaked me out at first, but now I realize you freed me. I know I’m safe now.”

I brush his hair from his forehead. “You’re safe from Linx, yes, but a threat still exists.”

His face falls. “IDVs. Right.”

“Yes, but please believe me, I won’t let them get you.”

“I know.” His hands slide down my chest. “Will you make love to me now?”

“I’d love to.”

Standing, I let the water out before helping Emery from the tub. I wrap him in a towel before scooping him into my arms and carrying him to my bed. Anticipation courses through me like a spring breeze. Just seeing the delicate mortal lying there is more joy than I’ve felt in decades.

His anxious energy pours off of him, filling the air between us.

“I won’t hurt you, bon bon.”

“I know,” Emery says. “I’m anxious, but I want this. I want you to…” He shakes his head, releasing a shaky breath. “Too much.”

“No. Please speak your truth. There’s nothing you can say that will change my desire for you.”

He doesn’t say anything at all for a few beats but his face goes through numerous emotions until he nods with determination.

“I want you to erase everyone who came before you.”

I tilt my head. “Literally or metaphorically?”

His brow furrows. “What?”

“I can literally erase the memory of anyone but me. Or…” I unwrap the towel, gazing down at his body. “I can make you feel so amazing you’ll never think of them again.”

“Oh. Right.” He laughs softly. “Let’s go with metaphorically.”

“That I can do.”

Climbing on the bed, I straddle Emery’s hips, pulling my towel off completely. My love bites his bottom lip as he reaches out to touch me. When he does, I close my eyes for a moment, reveling in his sweet, tentative touch.

“You’re so big,” Emery whispers. “I don’t know if I can handle it.”

“You can, my sweet. Don’t worry. I will only bring you pleasure.”

“I believe you.”

His soft declaration is like a salve for the wounds I carry. “I can’t believe you even exist.” I lift his hand and kiss his palm. “I have waited centuries to feel the way I do right now.”

“You don’t have to say sweet things to me, Horatio. I’m already in your bed.”

The lingering sadness in his voice pulls at something deep inside me. This won’t do. “I thought we worked through this. Do you still think I’m not genuine?”

He averts his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve my baggage in a moment like this. I guess those doubts don’t go away immediately, but your words sound so good I want them to.” He meets my gaze again. “You can prove it by what you do after this.”

“Actions over words. Easy.”

Emery releases a shaky breath. “One more question.”

“Anything.”

“Are you going to bite me again?”

A surge of heat seizes my chest. “I was planning to resist the urge.”

He traps his bottom lip in his teeth again. “Well you can. You have my permission.”

Hope blooms inside me. “Do you mean it?”

He nods. “I do.”

Scooping him into my arms, I smother his neck and face in kisses as he giggles. “You make me so happy, my sweet.”

Emery’s fingers brush softly across my cheek. “I’m trying hard to believe you. I swear.”

I search his eyes. “I know you are.”

He nods. “My judge of character was a little off for a few years, but I don’t feel anything negative right now. I feel happy.” He smiles. “And horny.”

“I can take care of that.”