Page 16

Chapter 16

Donovan

B y unspoken agreement, neither of us said anything on the short walk home. And Alex’s house truly was home. In all the chaos, I hadn’t had time to really process that he’d asked me to move in. We had a lot to figure out, but it would have to wait. All I could focus on was Landon. I’d really hoped we’d find him before it got bad.

Alex didn’t push for any words once we were inside. Instead, he turned to me and gently unwound my scarf, draping it across a coat hook in the small coat closet by the front door. He did the same with my jacket, unzipping it and helping slide it down my arms before putting it away. When he went for my sweater, I gently caught his hands, brushing a soft kiss to his knuckles. Alex’s soft little smile kindled a little ember of hope inside me, assuring me that we would be okay.

I took my time with him, showing the same care he’d shown me as I helped him out of his scarf and jacket. Our boots followed, kicked off inelegantly and landing in a tangled heap in the closet. Alex’s laugh was music to my ears and when he stepped close and kissed me, I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep him forever.

“Do we need to talk?” I breathed into the space between us when he broke away.

“It can wait.”

His hands in mine, Alex drew me through the dark house to the bedroom we’d shared for months, the bedroom that was now ours . The falling snow muted the weak light of the sun, casting the room in soft shadows.

When the door closed with a gentle click, Alex released me, only to slide his hands under the hem of my sweater, pushing it up, up, and off. It fell in a heap on the floor, immediately forgotten. Barely half a day had passed since I’d felt his touch, but it seemed so much longer.

I reached for him, but he lightly caught my wrists and shook his head.

“Let me. Please.”

I could deny him nothing and let my hands fall, giving him free rein. Alex took his time, each touch lingering, like he was memorizing me all over again. His fingertips trailed across my collarbone and down my chest, drifting across the button of my jeans. A moment later, his lips followed the same trail, leaving goosebumps in his wake. In the gentle darkness, all I could do was feel, and every moment was electric, my skin sensitized to his touch.

His breath fluttered across my stomach and I couldn’t help a little shudder, arousal surging through me. Slowly, almost teasing, he sank to his knees in front of me. I could just make out his silhouette, but I didn’t need to see him for my body to react. When I felt the tiniest touch of his tongue just above the top of my jeans, I groaned out loud.

“Alex…”

“I’ve got you,” he hummed, pressing a soft kiss to my bare skin. His hands were firm as he ran them up my thighs, avoiding where I really wanted him in favor of undoing the top button. I thought for a moment he would keep teasing me, pushing me closer to the edge, but Alex took pity on me and kept going, undoing the zipper and pushing my jeans down just enough to free my aching cock.

The first touch of his lips nearly sent me over the edge. My hips jerked before I could stop myself, and the soft huff of laughter from Alex did nothing to cool my need. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Alex Copeland. For him, I forced myself to go still, fighting the instinctive urge to move.

He tugged my jeans further down, a little impatient now, pushing and pulling until he got them to my ankles and I could kick them off. I stood bare before him now, completely naked, while he knelt in front of me still fully clothed. Need pulsed through me and I nearly cried out when he finally touched me again. His warm hand wrapped around the base of my cock, holding me steady as he slowly, so fucking slowly, trailed his tongue along the exposed length, lingering at the tip before pulling away again.

“Alex, please.” I sounded like I’d gargled gravel, my voice so rough with need that I barely recognized it. I wanted to be patient, to let him take as long as he needed, but at this rate, I wasn’t going to last.

He knew my body well, though, and instead of taking me in his mouth, he ran his tongue along my length again, one long, slow tease, until my knees were shaking. A quiet buzzing settled around me, a haze of pleasure blocking out anything and everything that wasn’t Alex. My world began and ended with his touch.

When his soft, plush lips finally wrapped around the head of my cock, my shuddering gasp seemed to echo in the quiet room. It took every bit of willpower I possessed to not buck into that wet, warm heat. Without a thought, my hands slid through his hair, not to demand more, but just to touch him.

Alex set a slow pace at first, allowing the pleasure to build and build, a fire simmering within me, growing hotter with every stroke of his hand and flick of his tongue. Time spun away into the darkness, leaving me alone with Alex, the center of our own little universe. He was my sun, moon, and stars. My everything.

I was so far gone, so drunk on his touch, my orgasm took me completely by surprise. I tried to pull away, but his firm hands gripped my thighs and pulled me in closer. With a gut-punched gasp, I curled over Alex, my whole body shaking, my thoughts muddled and hazy. When he released me, I sank to my knees and sagged against him.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he chuckled, his voice a little rough. I just groaned in response, earning another of those adorable little laughs. He let me rest a moment, then got us both up on our feet.

“Give me five minutes to catch my breath and I’ll return the favor,” I murmured. My brain still felt slow, my body relaxed and heavy. Alex guided me over to the bed, then disappeared, only to join me as I was slipping under the covers. His bare legs brushed mine and I realized he must have taken the time to undress.

“No rush. I know you’re good for it,” he teased. He curled up beside me, facing me across the few inches of bed separating us. His eyes were distant, like he was deep in thought, but it took me a few seconds to push my own mind into action.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah. Well, kind of. Nothing that can’t wait.”

“Tell me anyway?”

He glanced up at me. “Okay. I was thinking about today and I remembered something Ori said to me before we went out searching.”

“What’d they say?”

“They reminded me again that they think my power is finding the lost, not just the dead. They were kind of snippy about it when I said I didn’t have time to figure it out while we were looking for Landon.”

I pushed myself up onto my elbow, forcing myself to stay awake and focus.

“What you do with your own ability is none of Ori’s business and they have no right to judge you for it,” I said. The heat of growing anger did a good job of waking me up.

“It’s okay, I’m not upset,” Alex assured me, his hand coming to rest on my chest. “Thank you for the support, though.”

“Always.” I took his free hand in mine and kissed his fingertips.

“I fucking love you,” he sighed. “But anyway, I was thinking about it and maybe they’re right. We can’t do anything until the snow lets up, right? So maybe I can try finding him somehow?”

“If you want to try, I’ll do whatever I can to help you.” I tried not to sound too eager, but I had to admit that the idea was an exciting one. I wasn’t stupid enough to go down that path again, though. This was Alex’s decision, and I’d stand by him no matter what he chose.

“I know it’s still the afternoon, but I’m exhausted. Can we just sleep for awhile?” he asked, already moving to cuddle against me. “I can try once we rest a little.”

There was only one response to a warm, sleepy Alex snuggled up in my arms.

“Yeah, we can sleep. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he murmured and between one breath and the next, he was asleep. I couldn’t let go quite as easily, but holding him close, my mind still adrift with pleasure, I could at least drift and keep the disappointment of the day at bay for awhile.

My blinks grew slower, heavier, and the last thing I saw before sleep eventually claimed me was Alex’s beautiful face, resting on my shoulder.