Chapter Six #3
Vale took his time, kissing down Cyril’s neck, feeling his pulse jump under his lips.
He wanted to worship every inch of his boyfriend so that Cyril would feel cherished and loved and wanted.
Vale wanted to drive away every fear and every doubt Cyril might have and to give him something to think of if he ever ended up too close to crossing the Threshold.
“Vale,” Cyril breathed out. “Don’t tease.”
“I’m not teasing,” Vale murmured against his collarbone. “I’m just reminding you how much I love you.”
He worked his way down Cyril’s chest, pressing kisses to every bit of skin he could reach. Cyril’s hands were in his hair now, holding on like Vale was the only solid thing in his world.
Maybe he was, and he was okay with it.
Vale hooked his fingers in the waistband of Cyril’s sleep pants. “Can I?”
“Please.”
Vale pulled them off along with Cyril’s underwear, then stripped off his own remaining clothes.
For a moment, they just looked at each other in the dim light.
They’d seen each other like this hundreds of times, but tonight felt different, more intimate somehow.
It was like they were seeing each other for the first time in days.
“You’re beautiful,” Vale said softly.
Cyril’s laugh was watery. “You’re supposed to say that to me before you get me naked. It’s useless now.”
“I don’t say it to get you naked. I say it because I mean it.” Vale kissed him again, slower this time, pouring everything he felt into it and hoping Cyril would understand. Vale wasn’t always the greatest with words, so he had to find other ways to show he cared.
He reached for the bedside drawer, fumbling for the lube. Cyril helped, their fingers tangling together, and it should’ve been awkward, but it wasn’t because it was them. Like always, they figured things out together.
Vale took his time preparing Cyril, watching his face for every reaction, good or bad. Cyril was soft under him, making soft sounds that Vale loved and wanted more of.
“Ready?” he asked, fingers still moving inside his man.
“More than ready. Please.”
Vale pulled out his fingers and positioned himself, pushing in slowly. Cyril’s breath hitched, and his hands came up to grip Vale’s shoulders. Vale stopped moving, letting Cyril adjust and pressing kisses to his jaw, his cheeks, anywhere he could reach in the meantime.
“Okay?” he murmured.
“So okay.” Cyril wrapped his legs around Vale’s waist, pulling him deeper. “Move. Please.”
Vale did, setting a slow, deep rhythm. Cyril’s hands stroked over Vale’s back and his shoulders like he was memorizing every muscle and every scar. Vale did the same, one hand sliding down to grip Cyril’s hip, the other beside his head so he could watch his face.
“I love you,” Vale said, because he needed Cyril to hear it. He wanted Cyril to be sure of it whenever things turned bad.
And they would. They always did.
“I love you, too.” Cyril pulled him down into a messy kiss. “So much. Vale, I—”
He broke off with a gasp when Vale hit just the right angle. Vale did it again, and again, watching Cyril fall apart beneath him. It was beautiful. He was beautiful, and he was Vale’s.
Vale could feel his own orgasm building, but he held back, reaching between them to wrap his hand around Cyril. Cyril cried out, hips thrusting up into Vale’s touch.
“That’s it,” Vale murmured. “Let go. I’ve got you.” He always would.
Cyril did, body tensing and then melting as he came. Vale followed seconds later, burying his face in Cyril’s neck as pleasure washed over him.
They stayed like that for a long moment, breathing hard, stuck together in the most perfect way. Finally, Vale carefully pulled out and rolled to the side, immediately pulling Cyril close again because even one second away from him felt too long right now.
Cyril curled into him, head on his chest, one leg thrown over Vale’s hip. Vale ran his fingers through Cyril’s hair, feeling more settled than he had in days, even though the danger was still out there, lurking.
“Thank you,” Cyril whispered.
“For what?”
“For not giving up on me. For fighting for us even when I was struggling.”
Vale pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I’ll always fight for us.”
Cyril was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Even if I cross over? Even if the Threshold changes me?”
“Even then.” Vale meant it with everything in him. “I don’t care what you become, Cyril. You’re mine, and I’m yours. That’s not going to change.”
He felt more than heard Cyril’s soft sob. He held him tighter, letting him cry and release all the fear and stress he’d been holding. When Cyril finally settled down, Vale wiped away his tears with gentle fingers.
“We’re going to be okay,” Vale said. “Whatever happens with Meridian and whatever you learn about the Threshold, we’re going to get through it. Together.”
Cyril nodded against his chest. “Together,” he repeated.
They fell asleep tangled together, holding on tight to each other. Oscar eventually joined them, curling up at the foot of the bed like he always did. Vale’s last thought before sleep claimed him was that this was worth fighting for. It was worth everything.
Tomorrow they’d continue looking for answers and face whatever the Threshold meant. But tonight, they had this. They had each other.
And that was enough.