Chapter 28
It tooka few days for Zach to feel better. For a little while, he was reliant on the potions to function. But once the worst had passed, he slowly started to look and act more like himself. He smiled a lot and his energy came back. Not even the aches and pains that came and went could keep him down for long. Especially when he walked me through giving him a massage.
“Oh god, I created a monster,” he moaned into the pillow. I had just helped him shower and started rubbing his back when he collapsed face first onto the bed.
“Me?” I queried, shifting lower. He said the aches were in his lower back last night. Probably a combination of illness and being bedridden for a few days. I had to be careful of my claws and only use the pads of my fingers, but Zach’s noises proved he didn’t mind the difference.
“No, me. I’m addicted to this. It’s going to take work not to beg you to do this every time I’m sore.”
I chuckled, pressing against the muscles in his lower back and earning another loud groan. “Ask anytime. But fair warning, if you weren’t sick right now, those noises would make me think of doing something else entirely.”
He shifted, shooting me a lecherous grin over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t say no to the massage with a happy ending.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, fighting off a grin. Under the soothing effects of the potions, he’d asked more than once for a quickie to distract him. I always refused. He didn’t need that kind of attention while he was supposed to be resting. I studied him. He looked a lot better than before. His skin wasn’t pale anymore. He ate his meals without getting sick. He could move around without help. The only reason I helped him in the shower was because I was more clingy since he agreed to be my mate.
My hands moved lower, almost like a question, and when I reached the edge of the towel, I lifted an eyebrow at him. He bit his lip, wriggling to get my hands lower, his eyes hooded and lust filled.
Tugging the towel free, I continued my massage, rubbing along his pert behind. Everything about him was cute, even his ass, and I couldn’t resist nipping at the soft flesh. He squeaked in surprise, but his hips shoved backwards automatically, silently demanding more. Spreading him open, I gave him one long lick, reveling in the noises that spilled from his lips.
“More. More! Oh god!”
“So demanding,” I chuckled, even while I gave in to what he wanted. I licked his hole, opening him up for me, groaning as he ground against my face. So bossy, even beneath me. I loved that about him.
It’d been a while since we last got to do anything like this. It left me hard as a rock and almost desperate. I jerked away from him, shedding my boxers that I”d pulled on after the shower. Zach seemed just as urgent as I was. He scrambled to grab the lube off the bedside table, squeezing a heavy amount onto his fingers and reaching between his legs. I groaned, stroking my erection in tandem to the little thrusts of his fingers.
It didn’t feel like enough time for prep before he was reaching for me, but he didn’t give me any room to argue. He shoved me onto my back, knocking my hand away from my cock and replacing it with his own. He lined my length up to his entrance, a breathless smile flashing across his face. As he sank down, his expression melted into pure bliss, his head thrown back and his eyes squeezed shut. He rocked a little, taking more of me, until he sat completely, a moan escaping him.
“I feel like you were made for me. You’ve got the most perfect dick on the planet,” he breathed, rolling his hips once. I groaned, barely hearing him over the roar of blood in my ears, the tight hot pressure surrounding my cock almost too good. I bucked my hips, urging him on, my words strained.
“We were made for each other. I–” I groaned as Zach lifted his hips and dropped back down, starting a pace slow enough to drive me wild. “Shit, I love you.”
That seemed to surprise him, and Zach froze in my lap, his eyes wide. “What?”
Him stopping was like torture and I couldn’t answer him right away. I yanked him against me, rolling him underneath me, and thrust hard, groaning in bliss. Zach’s fingers dug into my shoulders, his legs wrapping around my waist. I couldn’t answer him with my words, but I could answer him with my body, surrounding him while I rocked into him. He moaned, grinding down, trying to get me to move faster. I refused, wanting this to last forever.
He only let me keep control for so long before his feet dug into my ass, demanding I pick up the pace. Our skin slapped together, my body lowered, so I was touching every inch of him I could.
“Mal! Mal! Oh god! Harder! More!”
I growled, giving him everything he wanted and more. I had no idea how I’d lasted as long as I had, the pleasure so overwhelming I couldn’t see straight. It was only Zach’s words and the tightening of his legs that guided me. I was so close I couldn”t breathe right.
“Zach… please…”
“S-Say it again. I need–” He gasped, throwing his head back as his body arched beneath me. His ass tightened around me, and I knew he was close. I wasn’t willing to leave him wanting though, so I forced myself to speak around groans.
“I love you. I love you. Oh fuck, I can’t–”
I tried and failed to hold back my release, letting out a roar as the explosion of ecstasy ripped through me. I was beyond grateful that Zach was seconds behind me, his cry loud enough to hear over the pounding in my ears. The tight squeeze of his ass only drew it out until I couldn’t see straight. I collapsed heavily on top of him, knowing I was squishing him, but too blissed out to move right away. Zach didn’t seem to be in any more of a rush than I was, his arms snaking around my neck and hugging me tightly.
“I love you too.”
* * *
We were wrapped around each other, cleaned up and ready for bed, when a familiar smoke filled the room. My heart stuttered, and I was hesitant as I drew the communication crystal from where I’d stored it in my pocket earlier. My heart pounded in my ears as I stared at it, beyond afraid of what the message might say.
“You never told me what that was.”
Desperate for anything to stall me from hearing the worst, I answered him. “It’s how we communicate between realms. They haven’t figured out yet how to get cell signal between realms. We can use cell phones in the Other Realm, but not between realms. I know by the color who sent me the message. It’s Myra.”
Zach cupped my hand, bringing it closer to me. “Answer it. I’m right here.”
Nodding once, I whispered my name, letting the message play.
“Malakai! He’s awake! Get over here!”Myra screeched.
My heart leapt in my chest and I launched upright, my eyes wide. When I whipped my head around to Zach, he beamed at me.
“Well? What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
With a breathless laugh, I tore out of bed, dragging Zach with me. We waited only long enough to pull some clothes on before I scooped Zach into my arms. I hesitated for a second, worried Zach’s stomach couldn’t handle it, but he shook my shoulder with a grin.
“I’m fine! Go!”
Smiling brightly, I did as he asked, teleporting us to the transportation tunnel. Since it was so late, there was no line and we tore through the tunnel without waiting. I teleported again on the other side, dropping us right outside the facility. You couldn’t teleport inside, that could be dangerous, but luckily it wasn’t so big that we had to go far. Zach raced ahead of me, but his legs were way shorter than mine and I quickly overtook him. I grabbed his hand, dragging him along, and we were both breathless when we skidded to a stop outside my dad’s room. My sisters were all there, smiling, crying, and hugging each other. Vienna waved me inside, hugging me tightly when I tried to go past her. I hugged her back, but I couldn’t stay still for long. I had to see him.
I held my breath, stepping into the room, and nearly burst into tears with relief when I saw him sitting up in bed. He looked so much better. He had weight to gain, for sure, but his color was back, his eyes open, and a familiar smirk on his face.
“Dad.”
He turned to me, the smirk growing into a bright smile. “Kai. You came.”
“Of course, I did. How are you? How do you feel?”
He hummed, tipping his head back and forth. “A little weak, but they said that’s normal. I’ll need some physical therapy, but I’ll be back in the kitchen in no time.”
The hope building in my chest was almost suffocating. I didn’t know what to do about it. Only Zach’s comforting hand on my back kept me steady. I shuffled closer, moving to stand beside him.
“So… Does that mean–”
Mom nodded, giving Dad a tearful smile before looking back at me. “Healer Malatesta says he’s gotten past the worst of it. A few more sessions and he’ll be all better. He’s going to be okay.”
The dam broke instantly, and a sob ripped from my chest. I sank to my knees, my head buried in my arms on the edge of Dad’s bed. The relief was too much to bear. I thought I’d lose him. When I saw him in that bed, almost lifeless, I thought that I’d have to say goodbye. I did my best to stay positive, but I could see on other people’s faces that they thought the same thing. Only Zach kept me from giving up completely. His hand rubbed slow circles on my back, his warmth pressed against my side. I didn’t know what I’d do if he wasn’t here.
Gentle fingers carded through my hair, Dad’s tone soothing. “I’m okay, son. I didn’t think I would be. I don’t know what made Healer Delano go against my wishes, but I am grateful for it.”
My head whipped up. “Wait. What?”
Mom looked just as confused as me, her brows drawn together tightly. “What wishes? Andreas?”
Dad looked reluctant to admit anything, but my sisters slowly filled the room, all of us waiting for him to explain. He sighed, his expression remorseful.
“I didn’t want to drag it out. Once I had my first turn and saw the effects it had on all of you, I decided to stop treatment. I thought it would only postpone the inevitable. Why put my family through months of pain just to reach the same conclusion? So I asked him to treat the symptoms and let me pass.”
“Andreas!” Mom cried, her tone hurt and surprised.
Dad grimaced. “I’m sorry, my love. I could see the toll it was taking on you. I didn’t want you to suffer.”
“I would suffer every day without you! How dare you try to rob me of what time we had left!” She looked hurt and angry, and Dad seemed apologetic, but it didn’t make things better. He didn’t understand our side of it.
My sisters all called out their agreement, berating my dad for making that choice on his own. I watched silently. They were all saying the same things that I was thinking, and normally I’d keep my thoughts to myself, but… I glanced at Zach, who was still kneeling beside me. His focus was on me and when he smiled softly, I found the courage to speak.
“I would have hated you.”
My comment was quiet, but they heard me anyway, and the room fell silent. I turned slowly, locking eyes with my dad and shaking my head slowly.
“If I had found out later that you gave up without a fight, I would have hated you for it. We all would have. You would have ripped Mom’s heart to pieces. Mine too. All because you didn’t think we were strong enough to stand beside you. That’s not fair. We should have had a say.”