Page 17

It wasn’t hard to do anymore. Not with Nightmare’s fingers inside him and around him, his shadows kissing Matty’s skin.

But Matty needed him everywhere , so he lunged up, taking Nightmare’s mouth again. And then Nightmare’s tongue was in his mouth, every bit of Matty consumed, and it was finally perfect.

Matty rocked his hips into Nightmare’s touch and whined and whimpered into his kiss, and then everything broke and spun and shattered, and he was curling up and coming into his demon’s hand, and he was also maybe crying, and it was wonderful and perfect but also too much and scary and—

“Sh, sh, shh,” Nightmare soothed. He’d broken the kiss at some point, and he was pressing his mouth to Matty’s cheek. “I have you.”

He flattened Matty back onto the bed, and Matty could breathe again. He was spent and limp as a noodle, his belly sticky with traces of cum.

Matty nodded to Nightmare’s cock. It looked even bigger than before, and the black veins on it were bulging. “Now you.” When Nightmare only looked at him, Matty begged, “Please.”

“You will stay still,” Nightmare commanded.

“I will,” Matty agreed. Nightmare’s shadows were still at his wrists and ankles anyway, though their touch was more comforting than constricting. “So still.”

Nightmare straightened, standing over Matty again at the foot of the bed.

Looming. He started stroking that big cock, and the petals bunched and shifted with each swipe of his hand.

More of that gray substance poured out, coating his cock and hand both.

Matty was pretty sure that was what Nightmare had used to ease the glide of his fingers inside Matty.

Matty had been boneless and sated just a moment ago, but warmth stirred in his belly again, watching Nightmare. Seeing the way his gaze traveled over every inch of Matty as he stroked himself. Getting himself off to the sight of Matty, naked and vulnerable with his own cum on his belly.

Matty could relate. He liked watching Nightmare just as much. Nightmare was so beautiful. So eerie.

“One day I want to get naked and rub all over you,” Matty told him. “Hump you until I come.”

Nightmare’s hand lost its rhythm for only a moment before starting up again. “You may do with me whatever you wish.”

“Except move right now?”

“Except move right now.”

“You act nice, but really you’re kind of bossy.”

“I’m aware.”

“Are you going to fuck me one day?” Matty asked. He kind of wished he could stroke his cock too, but it might hurt this soon after coming.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“When we bond.” It was subtle, the way Nightmare’s breath quickened. The way his hand moved just a bit faster. But Matty was watching closely, so he saw it all.

His demon was close.

“When will that be?” Matty asked. He was ready now, if Nightmare wanted. Especially if it meant getting fucked in the next five minutes.

“Very soon.”

“And then I’m yours forever?” Matty asked.

“ Yes ,” Nightmare hissed. “Mine forever.”

And then the dark, fat head of his cock pulsed, and gray cum spurted all over Matty’s groin and stomach and chest.

There was a lot of it. Matty was covered, sticky with it, and somehow it still wasn’t enough. He wanted it inside him, filling him up.

He was maybe not a very patient person, Matty was learning. Maybe he was even greedy.

How strange to only be learning that about himself now.

Matty made do with watching the rise and fall of Nightmare’s chest. Watching as he tucked himself deftly back into his pants.

“You like that idea a lot,” Matty said, voicing his realization out loud. He’d said the words right before Nightmare had come, hadn’t he? “Me being yours forever.”

Nightmare’s lips twitched into a small smile, and his shadows finally released their hold completely, trailing all together to drape over Matty’s neck instead of holding his limbs down. It was nice. Like a weird, smoky scarf.

The bed dipped as Nightmare climbed next to him, lying on his back with his hands folded over his belly. Matty turned on his side, cuddling into his demon with a happy sigh.

Matty had been so tense on the bus. Jumping at every vaguely familiar-looking face, only to find that they were a stranger after all.

Maybe Nightmare was right, and Dominico really did have to be dealt with before they could live their lives.

But for now, Matty’s tension eased with the comfort of Nightmare’s body next to his, his shadows tucked around Matty’s neck.

Everything in Matty’s life had been temporary so far: his days as his mother’s son, his time with Sascha and Kai, his very life. But Nightmare claiming him—that would be permanent.

Matty could relax, maybe for the first time ever.

“You’re going to keep being nice to me, right?” Matty asked, his eyelids drooping closed against his will. “This isn’t some elaborate trick?”

“No tricks, sweet. If I ever harm you, you may banish me from your side.”

“And you’ll go?” Matty frowned into Nightmare’s chest. That didn’t sound permanent at all.

“No. I’ll watch from the shadows, wanting you always. Waiting to return to your good graces.”

“Ohh, that’s nice.”

Matty drifted off to the soothing rumble of Nightmare’s laugh.