Page 19

Chapter 19

Together

Fenric

I t was suddenly hard to breathe.

Cian was looking at him with an intensity that made his belly tremble and his legs and arms tingle, those mercurial eyes calmer than the sky after a storm and locked on him.

Cian crawled onto the giant pillow after tossing aside the towel, climbing over Fenric, so he lay down on his back, looking up at Cian.

“May I taste you, my kitten?” Cian husked out, long hair falling over his shoulders, the ends tickling Fenric’s skin.

“Yes,” Fenric squeaked out, trying to breathe but the sight of an aroused Cian was stealing the air from his lungs.

Cock hard and thick, with pronounced ridges along the entire length, Cian was a sight to behold. Fenric wanted to touch, to taste the hard length and feel the weight of it on his tongue. Yet Cian was thinking the same thing, as he kissed his way down Fenric’s chest and stomach, the remaining, unbraided silken strands flowing over him in ribbons of mossy green as Cian finally reached Fenric’s groin.

Fenric gasped when Cian took the head of his cock in his hot mouth and sucked lightly. Hands gripped his hips and kept him from thrusting up, Fenric crying out as Cian swallowed him whole, throat and mouth working, tongue undulating along the underside of his cock. The pressure was almost painful, just shy of too much, utterly perfect, the wet heat overwhelming.

He reached out and gently, in case it wasn’t welcome, sank a hand in that glorious mane of hair and held on as Cian sucked and lavished devastating attention on his straining cock. Cian looked up at him, stormy eyes swirling, somehow hungry and smug.

“Oh please, please,” Fenric begged. He needed to come, to fall apart under Cian and give him everything he was. “I need you.”

Cian sucked hard before he gently released Fenric from the glorious torture of his mouth. “No need to beg, kitten.”

Cian went to his knees, and lifted Fenric’s legs, placing them around his waist, trailing a hand along the inside of his thigh until it disappeared, fingers gently exploring along his cleft and finding his eager hole, already wet and aching for him, a blessed species trait he was ever so thankful for in that moment.

Fenric was ready for him, body accepting the finger breaching his entrance. Fenric moaned long and deep as Cian speared him with that finger, finding the clenching muscles within that were desperate to fit perfectly with the ridges on Cian’s cock.

“Please,” Fenric gasped out, writhing under Cian, tightening his legs around his waist, trying to pull him closer. Hands went to broad shoulders and he tugged Cian down to him, mouth captured in a ravishing kiss, deep and wet.

The wide head of a thick cock found his entrance and with a long, deep moan, Fenric welcomed Cian into his body. He was stretched and opened in a way he’d sorely missed, a moan breaking the kiss, and he hissed at the burn of muscles working hard to capture and hold Cian close.

Cian groaned low, balls deep. Tempest eyes glowed bright blue and silver. Moss-green hair fell to one side of Fenric’s head in a curtain, the scent of lightning and rain caught between them.

“You’re perfect,” Cian whispered over his lips. A single roll of his hips, and Fenric keened in pleasure, wrapping arms around Cian’s neck and clinging. There was a flex of muscles and then the ridges on that thick cock expanded and teased Fenric deep inside, just shy of locking into place.

“Fuck me,” Fenric hissed, tightening his inner muscles and trying to make Cian move faster.

A soft chuckle and then there was devastation. A slow withdrawal, then a surging forward, ridges pulling and pushing at his insides, a pleasurable roll of lean hips on the inward thrust and Fenric yowled, back bowing. It was the start of impossible, delicious, engulfing pleasure and Fenric succumbed.

Fenric lost all control, crying out and sobbing at the rhythm Cian set. He never went deep enough to lock them together in release—their bodies held at the cusp of orgasm, Cian rocking them on the cushion, surging and then withdrawing just enough to make Fenric cry out on each thrust back in.

“Oh, goddess,” Fenric gasped out as Cian increased his pace. His control was brutal and destroyed Fenric in the best possible way, liquid heat radiating out from his core and flooding his entire body. Fenric screamed, clawing at Cian’s shoulders, and Cian thrust deep, all the way, and Fenric came, shattering when those thick ridges lined up perfectly with the muscles deep inside, locking them together.

Cian shouted, eyes closing, and his cock jerked and grew even harder, firmer, and he flooded Fenric with his wet, hot release. They clung to each other, shivering through their orgasms.

Cian

Fenric lay sleeping on his chest, passed out and limp. They smelled of sweat and sex, and for once in his very long life, it didn’t bother him. Usually after sex he was the first to get up and wash off, eager to get clean.

There was no urge to remove himself from the pillow or Fenric, only the desire to rest there with his lover in his arms, enjoying the time together.

Fenric was purring in his sleep, low and sweet. Cian pressed a kiss to soft black hair and breathed in Fenric’s scent. He held Fenric to him, both arms firmly embracing the cat-sidhe, and he contemplated falling asleep as well when he felt Rory’s presence in his mind.

Brother, he thought. What do you need?

Rory’s mental touch was gentle and nonjudgmental, perhaps a bit gleeful. Merely checking to see that all is well after tonight’s events.

Daniel wants to know what’s going on, hmm?

Yes, Rory replied, not pretending that his husband’s curiosity hadn’t made him reach out.

Tell your husband he can get his own gossip, Cian replied, smirking, perhaps he can ask Fenric how he fares in the morning.

He shall; never fear.

Rory retreated from their bond, ensuring privacy for them both through what was left of the night.

Cian

Fenric stretched in his arms, yawning wide, and Cian enjoyed the lean muscles and lithe form wriggling in his embrace. Fenric opened his eyes and blinked up at him, hair a beautiful halo about his head. His purring resumed, and Fenric slid higher along Cian’s frame, smiling down at him, hovering face to face.

“Good morning,” Fenric said, voice rough from sleep and sex.

“Good morning,” Cian replied, brushing back hair from Fenric’s eyes. “How did you sleep?” he asked, despite knowing that Fenric slept deeply and happily, strewn across his torso, purring until the wee morning hours.

“Very well, thank you,” Fenric said. “You?” He leaned down a bit, their lips a bare breath apart.

Cian slid a hand along Fenric’s sharp jaw and cupped the back of his head, pulling him down that last distance for a brief kiss. “Wonderfully.”

“Hhmm, I like that,” Fenric said. “Can I have another?”

“As many kisses as you desire,” Cian promised him. He kissed Fenric slowly, taking his time, and Fenric pushed into the kiss.

They parted for air, and Fenric lowered himself so they were pressed together, no room for air or thoughts of separating.

Sometime in the early morning hours a blanket had covered them, keeping them warm. Beside the mattress-sized cushion lay a brass platter with a plate of fruit and a clear glass pitcher of water, with two water glasses. Grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and a large bowl of yogurt and granola. There were two spoons.

The underhill apparently expected them to share.

Cian reached out a hand and plucked a couple grapes from the bowl, and held one to Fenric’s lips. He opened his mouth and accepted the grape, lips brushing fingertips as he closed his mouth and chewed.

Cian ate the other grape, lingering over the subtle taste of Fenric on his fingers. The fruit was crisp, cool, and sweet, perfect for a light breakfast.

“Mm, that’s good,” Fenric hummed. “Is there more?”

“A whole breakfast for two awaits us,” Cian shared.

Fenric kissed Cian’s cheek and then sat up, hair a wild mess, and Fenric brushed it back from his eyes as he took in the morning offering from the underhill. “Did you do that while I was asleep?”

“The underhill is content to provide,” Cian replied, sitting up as well, reaching for the large bowl of fruit and passing it to Fenric.

“How does the food work?” Fenric asked, immediately diving in for the strawberries, biting a large berry in half with his pretty white fangs.

“I have food in storage and the underhill makes use of it,” Cian explained. “It has its own water, thankfully. I’ve managed to work out a balance with the underhill so that it does not need to provide everything. Converting energy to matter and back again is a huge expenditure of power, and I try to lessen the burden as I can.”

Fenric chewed slowly on his berry and swallowed. “Big words. Still asleep.”

Cian shook his head in amusement and reached for the bowl of granola and yogurt, passing Fenric one of the spoons.

They shared breakfast in comfort, taking their time, passing a few words between them but not needing to speak of anything in depth or of too heavy a topic. Ease and contentment accompanied their repast.

After they finished, Cian set aside the dishes and platter, which shimmered out of existence once his hand was clear. Fenric hardly batted an eye as the remains of breakfast shimmered away and then a stack of clothing appeared.

Fenric reached out and grabbed the shirt from the top of the pile, shaking it out. “This is mine.” He quirked a brow. “I think it’s telling us to get up.”

“So it seems,” Cian said and pushed aside the blanket. “If it’s giving us clothes, we’ve been too long abed.”

“Is there something wrong?”

Cian stood, and Fenric stared at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. He smiled, unable to help it, and put a finger under Fenric’s jaw and lifted his face, gently tearing Fenric’s gaze from his groin.

“No getting distracted, my kitten,” Cian said, running a thumb over Fenric’s lower lip. “We’ll be abed all day if we don’t get up now.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” Fenric nearly whimpered.

“Are they dressed yet?” a disembodied voice asked, sounding quite impatient.

Rory stood outside the archway from the conservatory, but it was the necromancer who spoke. Cian connected to the underhill and learned that it was after midday, and that Rory, Daniel, and Angel were waiting to enter.

Fenric pouted but reached for the pile of clothes, and Cian walked over the floor where the pool had been the night before, heading for his armoire. The doors opened before he reached it, and he quickly got dressed in a plain t-shirt and light-blue jeans, not bothering with socks or shoes.

A glance over his shoulder showed him Fenric was dressed, looking a bit rumpled but presentable. Fenric left the cushion and came to his side, and both of them nodded once before Cian gathered his focus. A mere thought had the archway open.

Daniel all but burst through the archway, practically vibrating with curiosity and excitement. He immediately zeroed in on the cushion, the blanket all askew, and Fenric grumpily straightening out his clothing. Daniel’s grin was huge and he practically skipped over to them, smugly beaming at them both.

“Little brother,” Cian greeted. He acknowledged Rory with a glance and a wave of welcome along their connection. For Angel, he merely nodded once, a gesture which was returned, and turned his attention back to Daniel, who was still practically vibrating with curiosity and a desire to ask questions that Cian could almost hear aloud.

He sighed dramatically and waved a hand toward Fenric. “Go ahead, little brother.”

Daniel’s eyes went even wider and he immediately blurted out to Fenric, “How was it? Are you together-together now? Are you staying? Rory said you moved into the mound—sorry, underhill—and that you’re staying.”

Fenric stopped fussing with his crooked shirt and a slow, wicked grin crept across his beautiful face. He straightened and met Daniel’s gaze. “We totally had sex last night. It was fantastic. I bottomed and Cian left me a purring mess of cum and sweat. Cian is one helluva top. If you leave, we can do it again. Also, I’m absolutely staying. Cian is stuck with me forever.”

Rory’s brows went up at ‘forever’ but Cian sensed only a deep satisfaction from his brother at Fenric’s words. Rory likely saw it coming over two-hundred fifty years earlier. Cian wasn’t one to lament lost opportunities but he believed that if Rory hadn’t fallen and Cian’s mental state hadn’t been altered by the breaking of their connection, Cian would have fallen for Fenric all that much sooner.

Daniel grinned wide and launched himself at Cian, who caught his little brother with a jolt. Daniel hugged him fiercely, squeezing hard, cheering. Cian hugged him back—hugging Daniel was natural as breathing now.

Daniel let him go and then with a hint of caution, turned to Fenric, as if waiting. Fenric’s lips twitched. “I like hugs from family and friends.”

“May I?” Daniel asked.

“Sure, bring it in,” Fenric sighed, as if put out, but his bright eyes were full of mirth and affection. Daniel promptly hugged the smaller sidhe, rocking them back and forth, and Fenric hugged him back. The hug was short, but sincere, and Daniel let Fenric go, returning to his husband, leaving Fenric a bit flushed in confused delight.

Cian reached out and gently tugged Fenric to his side, putting his arm around Fenric’s shoulders and holding him close, pressing a kiss to his hair. He then turned to Angel. “What do you need, necromancer?”

“Now that I know too much about your sex life, I’d like to talk about what happened last night,” Angel said. “The vampires you captured are at the Tower with Constantine, and the practitioners you killed—their bodies?”

“Returned to the earth,” Cian answered. “There will be nothing to find in a few days.”

“I don’t want to explain to O’Malley about corpses on the estate again,” Angel replied wryly. “That conversation is getting old.”

“What has you worried?” Cian asked outright. There was another reason that Angel was there, since he could have gotten everything he needed to know from Rory and Daniel.

Angel grimaced. “State authorities are coming to the estate this afternoon. I’ve put off dealing with them for long enough. I wanted to make sure you stayed hidden and to explain that to you directly instead of through Rory.”

“I appreciate the effort,” Cian said. “I will remain in the underhill. There’s much I need to tend to so the ruse of my death shall hold.”

“Talking fancy,” Fenric said under his breath, giving him a flirty glance from under thick black lashes. Cian’s lips twitched in amusement.

“Good—thank you. I appreciate you keeping up the charade. I’ve called a family meeting again while the humans are here, so I don’t need to explain everything to everyone multiple times,” Angel replied. “I trust that you can keep up with what’s happening through Rory?”

“I can.”

“Alright. I need to wait for everyone to arrive. It shouldn’t be long.” Angel paused for a second. “And we need to have a chat about teaching a child how to make a lich, but that can wait until later.” Cian grinned, and Angel rolled his eyes at him before he gave him and Fenric a nod, then turned and left the underhill, exiting the arch and disappearing from view.

“You really made a lich for Leo?” Daniel asked, incredulous.

“I taught the boy how to do it himself,” Cian clarified. “He has nothing to unlearn and no limits placed on him yet by human teachings.”

“I’m shocked Angel didn’t read you the riot act,” Daniel breathed out. “I wonder how mad he is.”

“I can handle an angry necromancer,” Cian said, not worried in the slightest. “Though he does not strike me as angry, merely resigned.”

Rory chuckled and shook his head.

“We need to be at the family meeting for a show of numbers,” Daniel said, amused despite himself. “But if you need help down here for anything, we can probably skip it?”

Cian shook his head. “I’ll be fine, little brother. Go support Angel and the clan.”

“Okay. Reach out through Rory or text me if you need anything,” Daniel said.

Rory smiled at his husband, clearly proud of him, and then came to Cian, gently pulling him into a hug. Cian held onto Fenric with one arm and hugged Rory back with the other. It should have been awkward but felt perfectly natural.

Well done, brother , Rory said in his head. I am happy for you.

Thank you.

“Reach out if you need me,” Rory said out loud. “And welcome to the family, Fenric.”

Rory and Daniel walked out of the underhill, hand in hand. Once they cleared the archway, Cian essentially locked the door behind them—no chance for a tween necromancer and an adolescent dragon to sneak inside for shenanigans.

“‘Welcome to the family?’” Fenric repeated, peering up at him.

Cian turned so they were face to face. “My brother knows how I feel about you.”

Fenric leaned against his chest, hands sliding up his pecs and then around his neck, fingers threading through his hair. “And how do you feel about me?”

Cian took a breath, a moment, then said, “I love you.”

Fenric shivered in his arms, clinging, and the wonder and heat in his peridot eyes caught Cian and refused to let go. Fenric lifted on his toes and Cian leaned into the kiss.

It was heat and desire, and Cian tried his best to convey how he felt with each sweep of tongue and press of lips. He reached down and grabbed Fenric under his thighs, then lifted him up, and Fenric wrapped his arms and legs around him in return, holding him tight.

Carding his fingers through Cian’s hair, Fenric broke the kiss with a gasp of air, then pressed their foreheads together. “I love you, too. I have for a very long time.”

The next kiss melded into another, and another, and Cian carried Fenric to his bed this time, tipping them both onto the soft bedding.