Page 20 of The Prince of Hidden Shadows (Runaway Prince Hotel #5)

Chapter Fifteen

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

Zagreus

H uman emotions are so foreign to me. Théo is, and always will be, a mortal.

I want to feel what he feels. I need to; otherwise, what’s the point?

And the staggered breath and hammering in my chest are indication enough.

This is too much, too fast. I am indeed experiencing emotions and reactions I’ve never encountered before… WTF?

Pace yourself, Zag , I chide myself.

Tearing away from the kiss before our tongues connect, I tilt my hips just enough to lighten the contact against Théo’s thigh. My hard-on never wavers whenever he’s near. I heave a breath, though I could manage without.

Still, sending a clear message about how he affects me is vital. Right now, though, all I really want is to unclothe him and encourage his creativity.

Bring on every one of your dirty tricks, Théo!

“Come back here,” he groans, his fists tightening in my shirt. With a swish sound, he drags me closer to him.

Whimpering, I cup his cheek and nuzzle my lips against his, going for gentle.

He owns the kiss. Fusing our mouths together. Opening for me. Capturing my tongue with his. He smells like coffee and caramel, the same sauce he slathers on his crème renversée at Café Magnifique. Why do I enjoy Théo’s sweet tooth so much?

I growl.

He manhandles me with ease. It should be embarrassing, but I revel in being at his mercy.

He moans.

Eager, I maneuver my tall body, reaching for his toned ass, and squeeze. I quiver, wanting more, so much more.

We grunt… pleased with the friction between us, my stubble against his, but frustrated by the layers preventing our complete satisfaction.

So much for my attempt at being good. The more we explore each other’s mouths—our tongues dancing at a frantic pace—the less restraint I have. It’s a welcome-home kiss. At long last.

Our first kiss was hopeful, tentative, and blissful. This one is so raw. Greedy. Urgent. My desire flares. My dick hardens. My face reddens.

In a few heartbeats, I’ve synced with Théo’s human flow of emotions and physical reactions without control.

Who cares? I’m sooo ready and embrace the tickling sensation associated with the flush that’s spreading down my neck.

These human sensations aren’t normal for me—or any other god—but I crave them… crave him. There’s no turning back now.

He ruffles my hair and ends the kiss, pulling back mere inches, and I’m left aching for more until he croaks, husky and hungry, “Naked… I want you naked, now!”

Our pulses quicken at this enticing thought.

If I weren’t immortal, I wonder how I’d survive this experience.

It’s merely the beginning, and I’m all over the place.

With each touch, I wrestle my instincts, wanting to align my needs with his.

How do I navigate a mortal’s limits? I want to give him pleasure, but the back of my neck stiffens as anxiety creeps in.

Gods aren’t known for gentleness. Hurting him isn’t in the plan, either in body or in heart.

I tread cautiously, perhaps too cautiously, but I can’t help it.

“My pleasure.” I’ve longed for his touch on my bare skin since he came through the door this evening; his misplaced jealousy and demanding kiss stoked the fire.

By now, I’m no stranger to the effect that this mortal has on me, no matter how worlds apart we may seem. I’m looking forward to the rush that our chemistry brings.

“Damn buttons!” He wins the battle against my dress shirt as his wicked tongue travels across my neck, joined by his nibbling teeth. One button flies and almost hits me in the eye. We burst out laughing.

Tops are gone. Zippers are open. Pants are down.

I’m so fucking nervous, a fish yanked from water.

Rivalling Théo’s intensity, I surrender to the moment.

The sensations are unprecedented—more powerful than with any encounters with the gods and the like.

But today, with Théo—a human—everything hits harder, sharpens to a point that leaves me trembling for no apparent reason other than being with him.

My mind reels. My skin burns. My body aches... for more.

Without voicing the overwhelming emotions assaulting me, I store each and every one of them inside my stupid heart. Regardless of what unfolds between me and this extraordinary human, I won’t forget. Ever.

His hands are everywhere, and I welcome his fervor. Sensitive skin. Frenzied touches. Sloppy kisses. Within seconds, we rub against each other. The skin on skin is fantastic. My arms are splayed on either side of my expectant, wired, and eager body.

The tip of his tongue traces my collarbone, and I writhe beneath him, bucking my hips to intensify the friction between our cocks. His hooded gaze flickers in that direction, and so does mine. His front teeth gnaw at his bottom lip.

Wanna bite that lip … but I refrain, loving that he’s in charge.

Soon, his face morphs from what I interpret as frozen astonishment into raw desire.

One of his hands grazes my side while the other fists my curls, sending a jolt of delicious pain zipping through me.

Sensing the hesitation between his panted breaths, I growl, “Don’t hold back on my account, T.

” He glues his heated body to mine. So right.

It hums, yearning for more. I love how his thumping heart resonates under my skin.

His fingers tug on my hair. “More… I need more of you.”

A satisfied smirk flashes on his gorgeous face. “What do you have in mind?” Licking his palm with a wicked, raunchy edge, he finds space between us and grips our cocks, then jacks us off.

Air rushes from my lungs.

I’m breathing… Since when do I do that without thinking about it?

This beautiful mortal is turning my world upside down. As mad as I was at Eros in the beginning, I’m so glad he stepped in when he fathomed who Théodore Cassel might very well be: my soulmate. Can that be true? I’ve been fighting it so hard. A soulless god. A brooding human. A match made in…

Glimpses of the past assault me, but I shove them to the back of my mind.

Later…

How could I have ignored the insane connection when I first saw Théo? Such a surreal intensity.

Are the recent dreams I’ve been having about him foresight?

If my memory weren’t so fuzzy, I might piece it all together. What counts right now is that I want him. So fucking much…

Forget about self-control.

“I’m game for anything. I…” I pause, weighing how to phrase it.

“It’s been a while… a long while.” My thoughts stray to Hermes; they shouldn’t.

“I have to be… mindful of you… Make sure I don’t hurt you.

.. If I… well…” Despite the desire coiling tightly inside me, I wince at my incomplete sentences. I hate the uncertainty in my voice.

He slows down, his swollen lips capturing mine for a hurried kiss before letting go. “Zag, are you asking me whether I’m a top or bottom? Whatever you want me to be, I can be… But going soft on me isn’t my top priority.”

Blissful tingles course over my skin at his sweet words and innuendo. My possessive arms wrap him in a gentle embrace, and my flushed face breaks into a lazy smile.

Nobody talks to me with that kind of fire, besides… A rapid flashback takes the forefront. What’s happening to me? Why does Théo’s proximity stir echoes of something lost—buried so deep, it’s struggling to resurface?

Enough, Zagreus, it won’t do any good…

What’s the point of remembering his name? Could they be one and the same, holding a soul I cherish? A soul I saved once. It’s been so long. A soul I hadn’t encountered since.

Note to self: Grill Eros about the technicalities of reincarnation. Also, why is my memory so patchy?

After all, it’s one of my areas of expertise, and he carries knowledge I fail to grasp.

Like the fact that I haven’t run into my soulmate in ages.

Like the fact that I lack a soul, and somehow, against reason, I’m bound to this one.

Like the fact that Eros was the one to identify said soul when I remained blinded.

Hoping I read him right, I offer, “Same, but for our first time, I want you to fuck me. Lube’s in the drawer.

So are condoms… But I’d prefer you take me bare.

” He doesn’t blink, as if awaiting more.

“STDs and such got nothing on me…” I should be unapologetic: I’m the Prince of the Underworld, after all.

But my sheepish glance expresses the unfairness of it all.

It switched back to half-lidded in a split second when I add, “Truth be told, I’d hate anything to come between us.

And next time ,” I suck in a breath as he blushes.

“Yeah, next time.” Yes, Théo, there’ll be a next time. Soon . “I’d love to own your ass…”

With that, he utters, “Deal! But for now, you’re mine,” into my ear and brushes a kiss behind my earlobe.

I nod. “Nothing between us…” His tone shoots straight to my dick.

Thickening. Hardening. Expanding. But he lets go of me, contorting his ripped body to grab the aforementioned lube while managing for me to stay within arm's reach.

“Thank you.” I chuckle as I revel in his possessiveness. Glad we’re on the same page. Snatching a pillow next to me, I slide it under my shoulders and reposition myself to offer him easier access. I lick my lips, gesturing for him to come closer.

“I want to taste you. Taste your cock.” Théo’s voice scrapes out, ragged and primal, thick with need.

“Can I do that while you prep yourself?” His breath falters, pupils dilating with raw, feral intensity.

He hands me the lube and sinks to his knees between my thighs.

My throat seizes, parched in the instant.

I coat my fingers with a generous amount before proving that I’m a man of my word. I may not feel most human emotions, but I’ve trained myself. Considering how well-endowed Théo is and how long it’s been since I’ve bottomed, I shouldn’t rush getting ready for him.