Chapter 22 Dex
DEX
Dex arrived at Ollie’s with a large pizza, nerves eating away at him.
“Yes, you have food. Thank god.” Ollie pulled Dex inside like he couldn’t be happier.
“Bad hangover?” Dex asked, trying to relax.
“No, I don’t get them now that I’m bonded to Dante. But I’ve done nothing but game all day and seriously need to refuel.”
Ollie flopped onto the couch, and Dex set the pizza on the coffee table. Ollie didn’t hesitate to dig in.
“Dante’s not here?” Dex had expected him and Harper, but no one was around.
“He went home half an hour ago. We wanted to give Harper and Ash the day in the big house, but Harper will be home soon.”
“The big house?”
“Dante and Ash’s place. It’s this massive mansion in the nature reserve. Dante’s gaming room his unreal. We’ll have to show you.”
A mansion in a nature reserve seemed contradictory, but Dex didn’t ask. Even if Luc didn’t have an evil lair, it seemed strange, lair-like living situations might be a demon thing.
“I’d be down to check it out. I still haven’t made it online with you and Dante. Text me next time and I’ll hop on.”
“Deal.” Ollie grinned around a huge bite of pizza.
Dex’s stomach was too twisted to eat. “I need to talk to you.”
“Sure.” Ollie wiped his mouth on one of the many napkins Dex had brought, and sat up straighter.
Fuck, he had to say it. No more fluffing around. “I’ve been seeing Luc.”
There was a beat of silence, and Dex’s chest tightened.
Ollie grabbed his hand. “That’s okay, Dex. You don’t have to say it like you’re admitting something you shouldn’t be doing.”
“I know. And I’m not as conflicted as I was, but it’s still weird to talk about with you. I know I’m Luc’s mate. Is that why you’re okay with it? Why you said to call him?” Dex didn’t want Ollie feeling obligated to forgive Luc because of him.
Ollie didn’t seem upset, but he hesitated, and Dex’s doubts rose. “That’s not why I said to call.”
“Then why?” Dex was desperate to know.
Ollie turned serious. “Luc being your mate showed me a different side of him. Luc wouldn’t be fated to you if he were all bad.
Being your mate means there has to be something in him to forgive.
It’s fated. No one destined for you could be unforgivably evil.
You proved that Luc is…or has the potential to be good.
And he proved it by telling me he’d let you go to the afterlife.
There’s more to Luc than I know, even if what I know is terrible, and in the end, it’s fated for the good to come out on top. ”
Dex’s head spun with the force of Ollie’s determination. “You’re putting a ton of trust in fate.”
Ollie shrugged, matter-of-fact rather than dismissive. “I’m all in. Fate gave me Dante. It showed me that I can face my own shit and have the life and relationship I always wanted. Besides, I want this for you. I want you forever, Dex. You’re meant to be a part of our group.”
“Ollie, it’s not that simple.” Dex hoped it would all work out, but there was no guarantee. Luc could do everything in his power, and the Eternal Realm could still decide that mates were banned and force Dex to choose.
Ollie scowled. “I know. But Luc promised me he’d try to fix it. I told him to, and he listened to me. That’s why I’m going to forgive him. He’s giving me you, and you’re worth facing anything, no matter how hard.”
Dex’s chest tightened. “Fuck. I’d never ask you to forgive him.”
“No, you wouldn’t, but I can still do it for you if I want to.” Ollie grabbed another piece of pizza like that was the end of it. “Why don’t you tell me about Luc. Why do you like him? He must not be awful if he’s got your attention.”
Dex laughed. Not awful was practically a glowing endorsement under the circumstances.
He grabbed a slice of pizza, planning to tell Ollie how sweet Luc was. How he offered to help store his parents’ belongings. But what came out was, “Has Dante ever bitten you?”
Ollie choked on his bite of pizza, and Dex thumped his back until he stopped coughing and cleared his throat.
“Fuck yeah, he’s bitten me.” Ollie’s growing smile turned feral. “I’m guessing Luc showed you how good it feels?”
Dex nodded, trying to hide his own smile and failing.
Ollie leaned closer. “Have you ever bitten back?”
Dex’s mind ground to a halt. It had never occurred to him. “Should I?”
“Definitely. It’s incredible.”
Dex’s face flamed. Biting Luc was intriguing, but he preferred to be at Luc’s mercy.
Being bitten appealed because he had no control.
It freed him, and that wouldn’t be the case if he bit Luc.
Dex didn’t want to do something so domineering.
Unless Luc ordered him to. If Luc made Dex bite him, if it was something he wanted and demanded, then Dex could see himself trying it.
He cleared his throat. “I’ll keep it in mind. But it’s more than sex between us.”
Dex told Ollie all the important things, leaving nothing out, and every soft piece of Luc he shared seemed to bridge the gap that had been growing between him and Ollie.
He found himself talking about his parents, Luc’s support, and how bad the last year had been, and the headspace he’d gotten stuck in.
Ollie grabbed Dex’s hand. “I didn’t know things had been so hard for you.”
Dex pulled away. “That’s because I hid it.”
“Why?”
Shit, Ollie sounded hurt, and Dex couldn’t meet his eyes. “I didn’t want to burden you.”
Ollie made a small, sad sound. “It wouldn’t have.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean that as a guilt trip. Holding back was a me problem. I didn’t want to face how bad things were, and telling you meant I had to stop denying it to myself.”
Ollie seemed to understand. “I’m glad you told someone. And that you’re moving out soon. I want to help any way I can, Dex.”
“I know.” He pulled Ollie into a hug. “You’ve helped me so much. Asking for more was too hard.”
“Then I’m especially glad you have a mate.”
Dex hugged him tighter. “Even Lucifer?”
Ollie pulled back, biting his lip. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. He’ll help you and do anything for you the way Dante would for me. Now, let’s game. I can’t think anymore today. I may not be hung over but I didn’t get a lot of sleep.”
Dex laughed and grabbed a controller. Sounded good to him.
That night in bed, Dex’s phone vibrated as he settled in to sleep. He flicked the light on and checked the message.
Luc:
How was your evening?
Dex:
Exactly what I needed.
Luc:
Good. I wanted to check in after everything that happened today.
Dex:
With Valac?
Luc:
That, and us being mates.
Aww. Luc looked after him like no one else ever had. Dex smiled goofily to himself and called Luc.
He answered on the first ring.
“What is it?” Concern filled Luc’s voice.
“Nothing bad. I couldn’t be bothered typing.”
Luc laughed. “I thought young people didn’t like talking on the phone.”
“Oh my god, could you sound any older?”
“Probably.”
“True. And you’re right. I’d never call Ollie, but this seemed like an important conversation. And I like your voice.”
“You like my voice?” Luc sounded smug. “Good to know. So, how are you?”
“I feel better than before I asked if we were mates.”
“So do I. It’s a relief to have it all out in the open, but I wanted to see if anything had changed now that you’ve had more time to think.”
Changed how? Dex felt more settled. Less doomed. Less overwhelmed. “Nothing’s changed. I’m good. Better than good. Happy. I even talked to Ollie about it, which I’d been avoiding. He said you’ll take care of me.”
Luc sucked in a breath. “He did?”
“Yeah. Why? Is he wrong?” Dex teased.
“Of course not. Ollie is a very unique human being. I don’t know if anyone else would see things the way he does.”
“Right? He’s the best.”
Luc chuckled softly. “He is.” There was a pause. “Since all is well, I have a few more things I’d like to check in on.”
Dex snuggled further into his blankets. Being cared for soothed him down to his soul. “Like what?”
“How does our hunt seem now that it’s been a little longer?”
Dex’s body heated. “Like the best night of my life. I want to do it again.”
Luc rumbled. “Me too. There are so many potential hunting grounds to play in.”
Dex moaned softly.
“Patience, Dex. We’ll get to it.”
“Okay.” He’d gladly wait, even if immediate gratification tempted him.
“That brings me to the other thing I’d like to check. Have you been good for me?” Luc’s tone was heavy with meaning.
“Yes,” Dex said urgently. “I haven’t come or touched myself even though I thought about it in the shower.”
“Good boy.”
Dex shivered, his cock stirring. “What would happen if I wasn’t good?”
Luc’s voice dropped low, his words hard as steel. “I’d be very disappointed.”
Dex’s stomach lurched. “You wouldn’t spank me?” His breath hitched as he imagined it, and the sinking sensation disappeared.
“Not when it sounds like you’re eager for it. If you want to be spanked because you’ll enjoy it, we can do that, but not as a punishment.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t want to punish you for disobeying me, Dex.” Luc’s hard tone became tinged with something more urgent. “I won’t spank you unless it’s strictly for fun. Serious corporal punishment leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Fuck, Dex hadn’t even considered that, but it should have been obvious. Punishing Dex could trigger all the things in Luc’s past he was trying to move away from, and might make him feel bad about himself and what they were doing.
Luc continued, “Don’t mistake me, I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t obey. Controlling your orgasms pleases me deeply, and I expect you to please me.”
“I will,” Dex promised. “I want to please you.”
All Dex needed was to be sure that Luc cared if he got off by himself or not. If the command was empty, what was the point? But showing he cared didn’t have to be through punishment.
“I know you want to please me,” Luc said, as tender as he had been stern. “You already have. But if you fail, I’ll let you know that I expect better, and you’ll have to try harder. If you do, I’d rather reward you for being good. Does that work for you?”
“That works. I wasn’t planning on disappointing you, but I wondered what would happen.” Dex hated the idea of disappointing Luc, enough to make him want to obey. More than avoiding punishment would have.
“Of course you wondered. If we’re going to continue on like this, dealing with disobedience has to be addressed. I just thought we’d ease into it.”
“I’m feeling very eased.”
Luc laughed. “In that case, I’d like you to touch yourself until you’re as close to coming as you can stand, then stop.”
Dex sucked in a breath. “Right now?”
“Yes. Unless playing over the phone is unappealing.”
Unappealing. Luc was funny sometimes. “It’s not.”
Luc purred down the line. “Get some lube and make it feel good. Don’t try to be quiet.”
Dex shoved off his boxer briefs and grabbed the bottle of lube from under his bed. “I’m hard and I haven’t even touched myself yet.”
“Mm. So desperate.”
He really was. Dex dribbled lube on his cock and fisted it, sighing in relief. He had to be careful or he’d fuck this up. He stroked slowly, teasing his cockhead. When he was sure he wouldn’t blow, he quickened his pace, his breathing growing heavy.
“I can hear each slick stroke,” Luc purred in his ear.
It couldn’t be that loud through the phone. “Is that demon hearing?”
“It is, dirty boy. If I were there, I’d smell your arousal building, hear your little heart fluttering. All for me.”
Dex moaned and dropped his hand.
“So close already?” Luc teased.
“I told you I like your voice.”
“You did indeed. Can you give me a little more? I was starting to enjoy myself.”
Dex bit his lip and gripped his cock. The first stroke had his head falling back, and he moaned. “I’m too close.”
“Then wipe yourself clean and put your underwear back on. The ones I bought for you.”
“Okay.”
Dex did as he was told, bringing the phone with him to the bathroom. The damp cloth was unpleasant against his cock, but not enough that his erection deflated. He washed his hands and hurried back across the hall.
“I’m all clean,” he announced as he put the black boxer briefs on.
“Good boy. Are you still hard?”
“Yeah.” Dex covered his hot face with his arm.
“Don’t do anything naughty. I’m going to get myself off in the shower. You have a good night. Sleep well.”
Dex whined. “I will. Thank you. Good night, Luc.”
When the phone disconnected, Luc’s presence stayed with him.