Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Daniel dreamed of snow.
A vast, frozen lake stretched out before him, gleaming under an impossibly large moon, painted in shades of silver and midnight blue.
Snowflakes caught in Daniel's hair, and yet, there was no chill in the air. His feet got neither wet nor cold as he moved forward, drawn to the lake.
Come to me, he heard Caelen's familiar voice inside his head, and he knew that this was Caelen's dream. He didn't know how he got here, but when he saw the half-fae standing by the frozen water, he didn't care.
His heart squeezed painfully in his chest, overwhelmed by too many different too intense emotions. Desire, longing, wariness, weariness , doubt, and wanting, so much wanting.
But which Caelen was this?
The one who'd opened up to him at the store? The one who'd drained him dry? The one who'd walked away from him at the cemetery? Who'd been blocking him all day?
The figure by the lake turned to look at him. "Daniel," he said. A slow smile formed on the villain's lips, and Daniel found himself moving, running, and then they were crashing together, hands grasping, mouths meeting with bruising intensity.
The kiss felt endless, felt like coming home. Different from every other kiss they'd shared. There was no magic exchanged between them and Daniel didn't care to think about anything beyond this moment. There was nothing but the feeling of Caelen's mouth on his, Caelen's hands tangled in his hair, holding him like he might disappear if he let go.
When they finally broke apart, Daniel kept his eyes closed, forehead pressed against Caelen's. He couldn't look yet, couldn't risk shattering whatever magic had made this possible. Around them, snow continued to fall, but Caelen felt warm.
"You blocked me," Daniel whispered. "I kept trying to find you, and you…"
Caelen's grip tightened. "I had to. I could not talk to you like this in the waking world."
Daniel pulled back, just enough to search Caelen's face. His green eyes were clearer than Daniel had ever seen them, free of that haunting darkness that usually lurked beneath the surface.
Caelen glanced at the frozen lake. "You asked me once why I never seem to use ice magic. Simply put, I can't. All my magic is dark now, in the waking world. Corrupted." He shook his head, slowly. "His influence on me is not as great when I am dreaming. He can't reach here. Especially not as weak as I've made him to carve out this moment."
Daniel's heart clenched at the admission. That was what the spectacle at the church had been about. Caelen had expended all his energy on that to tire out the monster in him. "I know about Morthul," Daniel said softly. "I know he possesses you. And I'm going to help you get free of him."
Caelen didn't speak for a few beats, processing that. "Free me from him? Oh, Daniel… Sweet, sweet Daniel." He ran his thumb along the bottom of Daniel's lip. "That's not possible, and even if it were… You'd be a fool to attempt it. Did I lead you to think I was pure and innocent, that I deserved saving?"
"I…" Daniel started, but couldn't finish the thought.
Caelen cupped his face. "Did you see what I did at that church today? I went in there and I recklessly wasted magic to corrupt people, their prayers, their faith. I sacrificed their peace, their futures, perhaps their souls, just so I could kiss you without his shadow between us." Caelen's eyes, so clear and green in this dream space, gazed into Daniel's. "That's who I am. With or without Morthul. I see what I want, and I take it, no matter the cost to others."
Daniel knew he should be horrified at Caelen's words. At the very least, he should take a step away, but he couldn't make himself. He couldn't even make himself stop feeling something warm and fuzzy at the thought that Caelen had done all that for one moment with him .
That was wrong. It was so wrong.
"I want to hate that you did that," Daniel said finally. "I should hate it. Those people didn't deserve that."
"No, they didn't." Caelen's hand slid to the back of Daniel's neck, warm and steady. "And yet I'd do it again. I'd do worse. I'd plunge the whole world into darkness for you."
Caelen's lips met his again, and the kiss was softer this time. Tender. Full of emotion. Daniel let it wash over him.
Fuck. He really shouldn't. He should not fall for someone as unhinged as Caelen.
But he'd never been in control of his heart, and his heart wanted.
Daniel kissed Caelen deeper, harder. His hand fisted in Caelen's shirt, holding tightly, as Caelen wrapped an arm around his waist. Their bodies pressed closer, heat building between them, until Daniel could feel Caelen hard against him. He rolled his hips forward, seeking friction, and Caelen's fingers tightened at his nape.
"I need you," he breathed, voice rough. "Need to have you, claim you. Make you mine."
"Yes," Daniel gasped into his mouth.
He didn't care that this wasn't real. Didn't care about anything beyond Caelen's body against his and the desperate need clawing at him to get closer still. To give everything he had and everything he was to this man. It was insanity, but Daniel had never cared to be sane in love.
"I can be gentle," Caelen said. "But you don't want that, do you?" Caelen's fingers wandered up and twisted in his hair. "I've seen your dirty fantasies. You want to be consumed, to be owned."
Daniel moaned, unable to deny it as arousal shot through him at those words.
Caelen tugged sharply on Daniel's hair. "Tell me, pet, am I right about what you want?"
"Fuck," Daniel gasped. He was so hard it hurt. His dick strained against the front of his pants as he ground himself against Caelen. "Want you to take me. Own me, possess me. Want you to fill me up and mark me. Want you to fuck me so hard I can feel you tomorrow. Want your cock in my ass. Your teeth on my skin. Want you?—"
He broke off with a gasp as Caelen grabbed him, spun him, shoved him back into the snow. The impact should have hurt, but in the way of dreams—or magic—it didn't. Daniel didn't even feel cold, only the heat of Caelen on top of him.
Caelen's hands slid under Daniel's shirt and he yanked it off over his head, tossing it aside carelessly. His mouth found Daniel's collarbones, teeth scraping against the bone, tongue tasting his skin, making Daniel moan and arch up against him.
"So responsive," Caelen murmured. "Maybe a little too responsive. Won't you hold still for me, pet?"
Caelen took Daniel's hands and stretched them over his head, freezing his wrists in place with ice magic that somehow held tight without biting his skin.
Caelen smiled down at him. "Better." He trailed one hand down Daniel's chest, fingers brushing over one nipple. "Look how pretty you are like this. My beautiful, perfect pet."
Daniel squirmed under him, trying to get more friction against his aching cock, which was straining in the confines of his jeans. But Caelen had positioned himself carefully above him, not giving Daniel any leverage.
Caelen chuckled lowly, a wicked glint to his eye as he traced one finger along the outline of Daniel's cock. "Do you want something?"
"Fuck." Daniel tried to buck his hips up, but Caelen pushed him back down.
"I'm not convinced." Caelen leaned down, nipping at Daniel's throat. His tongue flicked out, tasting the skin there as his hand slipped lower again, teasing the edge of Daniel's jeans.
"Please," Daniel begged shamelessly. "Please, please, touch me, kiss me, please, anything, I need..."
Caelen laughed, low and dark, as his hand closed around Daniel's cock through his jeans. "Anything?"
"Yes," Daniel said desperately, hips pushing forward, seeking friction.
A rough moan spilled from his lips as Caelen massaged him through the fabric of his jeans, just enough to add a sharp edge to his need.
He tried to push into the touch, but Caelen shifted, redistributing his weight to make that impossible.
"Please," Daniel whispered. "Please."
"You beg so beautifully," Caelen said, leaning down to kiss him. The press of his mouth sent sparks racing through Daniel's body. He arched his back to get closer, moans muffled by Caelen's mouth, and then Caelen pulled back.
Daniel whimpered. His jeans were getting way too tight for his cock. "Caelen, fuck. Please ."
Caelen looked at him for a long moment, features too serious. "I'm not going to rush this." Caelen ran his hand along the side of Daniel's face, fingers trailing over the curve of his jaw. "We're going to savor this." He brushed another kiss over Daniel's lips. "This is the only night I'll get to spend with you, pet. I won't manage this again." Caelen's fingers curled under the waistband of Daniel's jeans. "So let me look at you for a little while longer. Let me enjoy you."
Daniel swallowed heavily. "No."
Caelen raised his brows.
"Don't talk like that."
Caelen gave Daniel a sad smile. "I don't want you to have any illusions about this. I don't want you to come looking for me in the morning. It isn't safe for you." His thumb stroked Daniel's cheek. "I used to think I could control the dark god, but he only chose to let me think that while it served him. He will draw more and more power from the clueless people of this world. He will use you and abuse you, and I won't be able to protect you. I can give you this dream. Don't ask for more."
Daniel's lips opened to protest, but Caelen silenced him with a finger across his lips and a small shake of his head.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," he said softly and then kissed Daniel again, deeply, stealing all words from him.
Daniel's mind reeled, torn between desire and fear and confusion and need. But then Caelen's hand slipped into his pants, closing around him, stroking firmly, and Daniel's thoughts scattered.
It wasn't fair for Caelen to play him like this; to make Daniel crave him so much and then pull back. To tell Daniel to stay away and to touch him like he wanted to keep him forever, all at once. But maybe it wasn't fair of Daniel either, to expect anything more of a man possessed.
Caelen's grip tightened as his strokes grew faster. Daniel writhed under him. His hands strained uselessly against the magical restraints. He needed to grab onto something. He needed...
Caelen released his hold on Daniel's cock just long enough to yank his jeans the rest of the way off and toss them to the side. Then his hand returned and, he resumed stroking Daniel. The slide was slick now, eased with Daniel's own pre-come. Caelen leaned forward again, kissing Daniel's neck. His teeth grazed the sensitive spots, drawing a ragged gasp from Daniel's lips, but he couldn't arch into the touch, couldn't move as much as he wanted to as pleasure built higher and higher inside him.
His balls tightened, drawing up close to his body, orgasm imminent. "Fuck! Caelen!"
And just before he tipped over the edge, Caelen pulled back. His hand left Daniel's cock completely to trail lightly over his inner thigh. Daniel cried out in frustration. He was so damn close, and Caelen wasn't letting him come. It was torture—perfect, sweet agony, leaving him panting and gasping for more.
When he'd caught his breath enough, Daniel opened his eyes just to see that Caelen was now just as naked as he was.
The sight stole Daniel's remaining breath.
Caelen knelt beside him, pale skin gleaming in the moonlight, his thick cock standing erect against his stomach.
"Like what you see?" he asked, a wicked smirk curling one side of his lips. Before Daniel could reply, though—not sure what he would even have said—Caelen's hand closed once again around his cock and stroked roughly, sending shockwaves of pleasure rippling through him. Caelen's other hand slid lower, teasing over Daniel's balls, and then further still, fingertips brushing against Daniel's hole.
Daniel moaned loudly at the sensation of that light touch combined with the delicious friction of his cock in Caelen's hand. "Oh god."
His eyes squeezed shut again. The dual sensations were almost too much.
"Look at me," Caelen demanded, and Daniel forced himself back to the present moment, opening his eyes, gazing into the green eyes above him as Caelen worked his length. "You want to be mine?" Caelen asked. "Completely and utterly mine?"
"Yes," Daniel managed to get out. "Yours. All yours."
The corner of Caelen's lips twitched, as if pleased by that answer, but he didn't stop working his hand over Daniel's cock. Daniel's breaths came shorter. He was getting close again.
"Good," Caelen told him. "Because I want to own every piece of you." He leaned down to kiss Daniel, hard and claiming, and Daniel moaned into his mouth, chasing the contact as Caelen pulled back again too soon. The next moment, a piece of cloth fell over his eyes, blocking out everything. A blindfold. He sucked in a sharp breath as the fabric tightened behind his ears. Where had Caelen even conjured that from? Magic dreamland probably. Whatever. It didn't matter. Not with Caelen's hands on his body. He shivered, but not from the cold.
Then something else touched his lips—Caelen's finger.
"Open for me."
Daniel obeyed immediately, and Caelen pressed the digit inside. Daniel swirled his tongue around it eagerly as Caelen thrust in and out of him, mimicking exactly what Daniel hoped would follow. His hips canted upwards of their own accord, desperate, seeking friction, but finding nothing.
After a few moments, though, the finger left him again. Daniel whined, but the next instant something else touched his lips—thicker, heavier, salty and musky on his tongue: Caelen's cock. Without thinking, he opened wide, letting Caelen slip into his mouth, filling him. Caelen groaned as the head of his cock brushed against the back of Daniel's throat. Daniel's own erection jumped in sympathy.
Fuck, Caelen was big. Daniel could barely fit him in, and he had to work not to choke, but he loved every fucking second of it, loved being filled with Caelen's cock, being used, being claimed. He couldn't do much more than open his jaw and let Caelen take his pleasure from him.
"You're enjoying this so much, aren't you," Caelen said, voice low and husky, sending a jolt through Daniel's system straight to his groin. "You looked into my head. I've looked into yours. I know your dirty, filthy secrets." His hips rolled, thrusting deeper, and Daniel choked a little before managing to relax again. "I know the kind of things you want me to do to you." His hand tangled in Daniel's hair, tugging gently at first. Daniel moaned around him, and Caelen's grip tightened.
Caelen thrust harder, fucking Daniel's face now. Daniel's hands curled into fists as he fought against the ice holding them in place—not because he wanted Caelen to release him or because he was hurting but simply to feel its resistance as he struggled. It made his thoughts grow fuzzy, made everything fade except the feeling of Caelen's cock in his throat, the tightness in his balls, and the ache in his own neglected dick where it lay heavy and leaking on his stomach, untouched now, and even that was good, was right.
Caelen groaned above him, fingers gripping Daniel harder, and Daniel felt him twitch against his tongue. Daniel wanted him to come like this. Wanted Caelen to shoot down his throat so bad he could barely stand it. But Caelen pulled out instead. Daniel tried to follow after, but couldn't with his hands bound. He heard a low chuckle from somewhere above him, and then a warm hand closed around his cock again as lips crashed into Daniel's, swallowing his moan.
The kiss was rough and heated, and when it was finished, Caelen's voice sounded rougher still, deeper and darker when he whispered in Daniel's ear. "You want me inside you?"
Daniel nodded vigorously, unable to form proper sentences. "Please, please."
He felt the brush of Caelen's lips against his ear as he spoke. "I'm going to take you apart." His hand tightened on Daniel's cock as he said it, pulling a loud groan from Daniel's lips. Then he shifted, straddling Daniel again, knees planted on either side of his hips. The next moment, something slick touched Daniel's entrance, circling the ring of muscle there before pushing inside.
Caelen's index finger, Daniel realized belatedly. He relaxed into the intrusion easily, moaning as the digit pushed further in, stroking inside of him and lighting up nerves that yearned for touch, for attention. Caelen didn't waste time, though. After just a few pumps, he added a second finger, scissoring them apart, stretching Daniel open for his taking.
Daniel's breath grew shallow as he rocked into that touch, needing more, wanting everything. Caelen's fingers curled inside him, finding his prostate, rubbing over it in firm, rhythmic pulses that made Daniel cry out, his vision whiting out for a split second.
"You won't last like this." Caelen's voice cut through the haze of his mind. "Now, that won't do."
The ice that bound Daniel's wrists disappeared, and he felt himself being turned onto his stomach. He didn't fight it, letting his body move however and wherever Caelen directed it.
"Ass up," Caelen commanded, and Daniel obeyed.
He got on all fours, head bowed, presenting his ass for Caelen to do whatever he liked to him. He didn't care. As long as it was Caelen.
Caelen placed a palm between Daniel's shoulder blades and pressed him flat into the snowy ground. He didn't have to tell Daniel to 'stay' for Daniel to understand the command. His cock throbbed where it hung beneath him, achingly hard, but he knew better than to touch. His need was Caelen's to take care of, Caelen's to sharpen and stoke and use against him.
Caelen's hands settled on either side of Daniel's hips, holding him in place as Caelen leaned over him, hot breath ghosting over the nape of Daniel's neck, making goose bumps rise all the way down his arms. Daniel shivered, anticipation coiling in his gut. Then Caelen kissed his neck, slow and languid, tongue swirling against the sensitive skin. Daniel's eyes fluttered closed, lost in the pleasure of that simple touch alone. It was a stark contrast from the rough handling just a few minutes ago, but this too, felt good. So fucking good. Caelen trailed soft kisses down Daniel's spine as he went, each one sending a fresh jolt of arousal through Daniel's core and making his neglected length bob heavily between his legs, dripping pre-come into the snow below.
By the time Caelen got near the base of Daniel's spine, Daniel was trembling with the need to be filled up and fucked hard.
"Please," Daniel gasped, barely aware he was speaking out loud. "Want you. Please."
Caelen hummed softly against Daniel's skin. Then he straightened up again, moving back behind Daniel, placing both hands on either side of Daniel's waist, steadying him. Daniel held perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe as something blunt, hot, and thick nudged his entrance.
Yes.
Daniel sucked in another deep breath. He was so ready for this.
Slowly, tortuously, Caelen pushed inside him. Daniel's mouth dropped open in pleasure as his body yielded to the pressure, letting Caelen sink in deeper and deeper until his hips were flush against Daniel's ass. It burned, but Daniel would never describe the feeling as painful. He loved it too much for that, that feeling of being stretched, being taken.
Caelen paused there for a few beats, and then one of his hands wrapped around Daniel's cock, giving it one firm stroke that sent Daniel keening with pleasure.
"You're mine now, pet," Caelen said roughly, and then his hand squeezed around the base of Daniel's cock again, growing cold with ice magic as it tightened, cutting off his climax.
Daniel cried out in surprise as the wave of pleasure crested, receding just as quickly as it had begun.
He was left shaking on the edge of ecstasy, gasping desperately for air and trying to process what had just happened. He'd been so close to coming and then it had just stopped and?—
Caelen's cock moved inside him again, drawing another cry from Daniel's lungs. He couldn't think anymore as Caelen started thrusting into him in earnest, pounding into Daniel hard and rough, driving his hips forward into the snow. Daniel clutched at the snow beneath them, desperate for an anchor as his arousal sharpened with each thrust.
Caelen's hands gripped his hips tighter as he slammed deeper into him, hitting all the best places. Pleasure sparked along all of Daniel's nerves, building higher than ever, but Caelen's grip on his cock kept him from tipping past the point of no return. He was trapped in a loop of ecstasy, riding that edge, unable to find release. Unable to come.
He moaned brokenly as Caelen continued thrusting, faster now. Each movement drove him closer to insanity. Each movement drew new sounds from Daniel's throat—moans, cries, whines; he didn't know what. His cheeks felt wet, and he wondered if he was crying.
It was too much. He wanted to scream, to beg.
He wanted to stay in this moment forever.
Caelen groaned, hips slamming into Daniel harder still as his rhythm faltered. His cock twitched deep inside Daniel, and then warmth spilled inside him, coating his walls with Caelen's seed. Daniel's whole body shuddered with the knowledge that Caelen had filled him up with that. Claiming him fully as his .
Caelen pulled out of Daniel and he whined at the loss as the emptiness set in. Blindly, he tried to reach for Caelen, but Caelen caught his hands and pushed them back down into the snow, pinning him there. "Shh. Just like this, pet."
And then something thicker pressed against him—something colder, rounder.
A butt plug.
Daniel whimpered as the thing stretched him again, keeping his cum trapped inside of him while he still ached for release.
He sobbed as Caelen let him go, struggling for breath. He felt untethered, like he was falling, floating.
Then Caelen's hands were on him again, gentle this time. Turning him onto his back again. Laying him out flat against the cool snow.
Cupping his cheeks and kissing his tears away. Whispering soothing words against his skin. "Shhh, it's okay, pet. I've got you. You did so good for me. You did so very good." Another soft kiss to Daniel's lips, and Daniel chased after him, but Caelen didn't allow the contact to last long before pulling back again.
"You were perfect, love," Caelen murmured, stroking a hand down over one of Daniel's nipples. The sensation sent a shiver through Daniel. His cock ached, desperate, untouched, but somehow that felt far away now. Distant. Not important. Nothing mattered besides the feeling of Caelen's skin against his and the warmth in the other man's voice as he said, "You're so beautiful like this." Caelen traced his fingers lower. They circled around Daniel's navel, then trailed downwards, stopping just shy of Daniel's cock. "Do you think I should reward you?" Caelen's voice dropped, low, husky. "Would you like that? Do you deserve it?"
Daniel whimpered again, so far beyond words now, so far beyond deciding what he wanted for himself.
Caelen's hand closed around him, and with only a few firm tugs, he brought him right to the edge of climax, brought his need back into focus. Then he stopped and Daniel cried out in despair as that pleasure faded once again, leaving nothing but a raw, burning need for more, for everything, for Caelen to keep going this time and not stop, never stop.
Until Caelen leaned down and took Daniel in his mouth, tongue swirling around the head, licking away the droplets of pre-come, and the world dissolved. Daniel screamed his release. His entire body seized as his vision went white, pleasure exploding through him like a bomb, shattering into thousands of tiny fragments. He felt his body convulsing, ass squeezing around the butt plug, cock shooting its load straight into Caelen's waiting mouth. Waves of bliss crashed over him, dragging him under, drowning him as Caelen swallowed around his shaft, his hand massaging Daniel's balls, milking every drop out of him until he was completely spent.
When the world came back into focus again, it took Daniel several seconds to remember to breathe, to remember who and where he was. He reached up to take off the blindfold, but Caelen's hand closed around his wrist gently, stopping him. "Don't," came the soft command. "Be mine for a moment longer."
Daniel let his hand sink. He didn't want to face reality yet either. If it were up to him, he would be Caelen's pet forever.
Caelen's fingers intertwined with his, holding tightly. "Thank you, pet." Caelen whispered the words into Daniel's ear. He pressed a soft kiss to his temple and Daniel sighed.
This was nice.
Too nice.
If only it could always be so.
"I don't want to wake up." He meant it. "The others were talking about using the Barrier Keepers' magic on you to turn you human, like that would get rid of Morthul."
Caelen laughed quietly against his cheek. "There is no getting rid of him. The sooner you accept that, the safer you will be."
A shiver traveled down Daniel's spine. He wanted so badly to deny those words, to say there was a solution, but how? What could possibly defeat the dark god that had possessed Caelen?
Caelen seemed to sense his thoughts, because he squeezed his hand.
"You cannot save me, Daniel," Caelen whispered. "Don't try. I've made my choices."
"But I haven't," Daniel protested. "It's my choice not to give up on you. I can't give up. I know he hurts you. I've felt your pain. I can't..." Daniel struggled with the words.
"Listen to me," Caelen said sharply. "Nothing hurts me as much as watching Morthul use my body to abuse you. Do you understand?"
The words hit hard, but Daniel wasn't going to be defeated so easily. "You can fight him. You did it tonight. You can do it again."
"And at the book store, I lost, and I will lose again." He said it as if he had made his peace with his reality. "Kill me if you must. I don't care any longer." His thumb brushed the inside of Daniel's wrist. "I already got what I wanted tonight."
Daniel shook his head fiercely, refusing to accept Caelen's words. "I want more. More than one night."
Caelen pressed another kiss to his lips. It was a soft kiss, but it had an edge to it. A finality that made Daniel's heart clench painfully in his chest. He tasted salt on Caelen's lips.
Was that his own tears he tasted or…?
"Caelen..." Daniel reached up to pull his blindfold off, but Caelen caught Daniel's wrists again. He whispered in the space between their mouths.
"Goodbye, Daniel."