Page 27 of Through the Veil (Endangered Fae #2)

From everything Diego had heard, Faolchú had been a screw-everything-with-a-heartbeat kind of male, alpha to the extreme, stalking his conquests until they surrendered.

Now, though affectionate with his friends, he showed no interest in anyone but his beautiful garden snake.

If their relationship could work, blending the wild and the domestic so successfully, surely there was hope with Finn.

Diego loaded his backpack with food, blankets and a few other necessities, laced up his hiking boots and ventured out into the woods.

Finn had been wary of the Flathead at first, saying it was an arrogant river with a high opinion of itself, but he had eventually warmed up to it, and Diego knew all his favorite fishing and sunning spots along the three-mile stretch near the house.

A strange, harried quality lurked in Finn’s thoughts when he reached out for him—the glimpses Diego caught were chaotic and scattered.

From this, he was certain where Finn would be.

The huge, black fish he spotted leaping upstream against the rapids confirmed his suspicions.

He spread the blanket out on the sandspur and settled in.

“Finn, I’m here. I can see you from where I’m sitting, mi amor . Come out of the river and talk to me, please.”

At first, only the jumbled images of rapids and rocks reached him. Diego persisted, calling again and again. Finally, Finn’s thoughts took shape.

“You’re here? In the river?”

“No, on the bank. Come out to me. You sound exhausted.”

Silence, then a sleek, black shape arrowed toward the bank, shifting from fish to otter as it knifed through the water. The otter crawled up onto the sand, collapsed in an untidy heap, and shifted to Finn, who lay panting, eyes staring into the distance.

“You were a fish too long, weren’t you?” Diego said gently as he covered Finn with a second blanket. “Is this what you’ve been doing for two days? Fighting class-four rapids?”

“Diego…” The whisper was weak and raw, as if Finn’s vocal chords had been flayed.

“All right, it’s all right.” Diego shoved him up so Finn could lean against him.

With a third blanket, he ruffled Finn’s hair dry. The pack then gave up a hairbrush and a stack of chicken sandwiches. After devouring three out of five sandwiches, Finn was steady enough to sit up on his own so Diego could brush out the tangle of his waist-length, blue-black hair.

“Now, then,” Diego began in what he hoped was his sternest voice. “I don’t care what anyone’s told you, and I don’t care what nonsense you’ve told yourself. We belong together, you and I. Do you hear me?”

“Yes,” Finn whispered miserably. “Are you angry with me?”

“No, caro , I’m not angry with you.”

“You should be.”

“Why, because you let your hormones override your brain for a couple of minutes?”

“I could have caused you harm.”

“You didn’t.”

“I ran away when I should have stayed with you.”

“You need solitude sometimes. I know that.”

“Diego?” Finn turned to face him. “I wish I could be more for you.”

“I don’t want more.” Diego smoothed his fingertips over Finn’s cheek where a dark bruise, probably from a rock, had formed. “I don’t want anything else. Anything different. I don’t want anything but you.”

Finn put his head on Diego’s shoulder, his breaths hitching.

“Don’t you dare cry,” Diego said in a mock growl. “Or I’ll knock your silly head into next week.”

The beginning of a sob turned into a strangled snicker, since they both knew he would never do any such thing. Soon they were both howling with laughter, rolling in each other’s arms on the blanket in a release more necessary than sex.

When they quieted, Diego stroked the wild hair away from Finn’s eyes. “I’ve missed you, mi vida . Our bed’s been cold.”

“Forgive me, my hero.” Finn’s long fingers stole over Diego’s collarbone, sending a shiver through him. “I have not…been myself.”

Diego nipped the end of his nose. “Then who are you?”

“I hardly know some days.”

“We are, all of us, a hard kernel of self at our core.” Diego rose up on his knees, determined the moment would not pass again.

He crossed his arms, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and yanked it off over his head.

“But we find our definition in relation to others. How we perceive them, how we act toward them, how they perceive us.” He undid the button on his jeans and unzipped the fly slowly, feeling the heat of Finn’s gaze like miniature suns.

“You are my Finn. My brave Finn who fought for me against a monster, who was my light in my greatest despair, who was willing to face a seasoned magical warrior to try to find his way home to me.”

“But I didn’t—”

“It doesn’t matter what happened. It matters that you tried. My Finn. Te amo, te quiero. ” He stood to yank off his boots and peel out of his jeans and briefs. “Take me. I need you so.”

For a moment, Diego wondered if Finn’s brain was still stuck on fish as he sat with his mouth opening and closing, gaze running up and down Diego’s naked body.

He finally moved, easing toward Diego as if he might startle.

Still on his knees, Finn curled forward to kiss Diego’s anklebones.

He uncurled bit by bit as he licked a warm, wet line up the back of one calf, stopping to suck on the sensitive skin behind the knee.

Diego let his head fall back on a soft moan as Finn continued his sensual climb up his body, peppering kisses over his thighs. Finn lifted his head, his eyes an adorable mix of lust and confusion.

“You’re certain you want such a beast to take you?”

“Yes.” Diego cupped Finn’s face in his hands. “Take me like a beast. On all fours.”

Finn cringed. “I’ll hurt you. I’ve nothing to ease—”

“Backpack. Front pocket.”

“Ah.” Finn managed a little smile as he fished the lube out. “You seem to have come prepared, my love.”

“I had high hopes.”

Finn took him by the hips, turned him and hugged him from behind. A hard rush of desire slammed through Diego when Finn’s cool erection nestled between his cheeks. He leaned back into Finn’s arms, needing the support.

“We are out in the open.” Finn’s breath stole over his ear. “You do not fear being seen?”

“A little. Dios .” Diego held tight when Finn sucked on the back of his neck. “I don’t care so much right now.”

“You could hide us. Obscure us with magic.”

Long hands traveled up Diego’s torso, fingers pinching his nipples to hard peaks. “I don’t think I could concentrate on magic.”

“Then I will.” Finn lifted a hand and fog rolled down the bank, a thick, unnatural blanket settling all around the sandbar. “There, my heart. Safe from prying eyes.”

Finn tightened his grip and pulled Diego down to kneel on the blanket with him. Diego leaned forward on his hands when Finn pressed a hand between his shoulder blades. Shivers of need danced over his skin and a soft moan escaped as Finn caressed his backside.

“Down on your elbows, love. Easier to balance,” Finn whispered against the small of Diego’s back. “And it will be more pleasurable for you.”

Head spinning, Diego complied. No one had ever done this to him before.

He had never felt comfortable enough with anyone to take up such a vulnerable position, not until this moment.

He gasped as two well-lubed fingers breached him and he rocked back, silently pleading for more, but Finn would only invade so far, gently, slowly.

“ Caro , please,” Diego grated out. “Don’t be so damn careful. I asked you to take me, so do it.”

Finn stilled, shivering against Diego’s back, and for a moment he worried he had pushed him too hard. Then with a shaky breath, Finn withdrew his fingers and a wave of heated relief swept over Diego when the smooth, slippery head of Finn’s cock replaced them.

“Ready, love?” Finn murmured against his shoulder.

“Damn it, Finn, just—” Diego’s words cut off in a sharp cry as Finn plunged inside.

He panted through the initial pain, then as Finn caressed that sweet spot deep inside with each deep stroke, the pain melted, firefly sparks of intense pleasure dancing through him.

Finn filled him so completely, stretched him so perfectly, as if they had been made just for each other.

Diego gripped the blanket with both hands, shoving back to meet Finn, encouraging him deeper, faster, moaning when their balls slapped together with each hard thrust.

“My heart, my light,” Finn panted out. “So beautiful. So…gods…”

Diego felt the stutter in his rhythm and knew Finn was close.

He reached back and grasped one of Finn’s hands to guide to his aching cock.

Finn took the hint, fingers closing around him to pump in time with their bodies.

The pressure in Diego’s groin became unbearable.

His balls drew up tight in a sudden rush.

“I’m coming… Finn…oh, God,” he got out before his climax slammed up through him, stealing conscious thought.

Short, sharp cries leaped out as the pulses shot through him one after another.

Finn’s arms wrapped around him tight and his teeth fastened on Diego’s shoulder as his body bucked and jerked, his bellows muffled against Diego’s skin as he came.

When Diego could think again, he found himself on his side with Finn still nestled inside him, pressed up against his back, breathing hard. My Finn…

“Did you miss me?” he whispered with a little smile.

“Sweet Mother, yes,” Finn mumbled against his neck. “More than words can say.”

Diego stroked his arm with two fingers. “Then don’t stay away so long next time.”

Finn’s only answer was to pull him in even tighter, nuzzling at his shoulder.

With the magic fog dissipating, Diego decided it was time to go.

He pulled out a pair of jeans for Finn, got dressed and packed up.

They walked together in comfortable silence, Finn’s hand gripping his, as they had not done for many days.

A flight of féileacán flashed by, a moving rainbow of will-o-wisp lights chasing each other in a kaleidoscopic dance.