19. Talon
Chapter 19
Talon
The humans were cowering on the patio, clinging to their children and each other.
“Stay here, don’t move,” Talon said hastily before turning and rushing back inside the open door.
Alex was beautiful, moving with fluid, practiced grace. He swung the sword like it was an extension of himself. He yielded so completely to Talon when they were alone that Talon almost forgot his human was also a powerful warrior. His face was a mask of furious determination as he backed the demon against the wall.
“Your family died screaming,” the mozgoran growled. It was a sloppy attempt at wrong-footing Alex—one Talon knew he wouldn’t fall for. He was too focused. He’d hungered for this for too long.
“Now so will you,” Alex said with conviction, dodging a swipe and plunging his blade into the demon’s chest.
The demon roared, its body convulsing. Black blood spewed from its lips, and Alex side-stepped it with a mask of disgust. It fell to the floor, and Alex let the sword go with it, stumbling away. His chest was heaving, his shirt damp with sweat. At his feet, the mozgoran’s body began to break down and decay. It would be nothing but dust in a few minutes.
Talon was there in an instant, gently turning him around, his hands roaming him for injury and ending on his face, cradling reverently. “Alex?”
He turned his head but couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the body. “I did it,” he said blankly.
“You did.”
There was a brief, shocked silence, and then he gasped, the air rasping loudly into his lungs. “I did it. I finally did it.” He flung his arms around Talon’s neck and sobbed, his body quaking with emotion.
Talon didn’t know what to do, so he just held him and let him cry. He smoothed his hands up and down Alex’s back, murmuring reassurances in his ear, and rocked them from side to side, more certain than ever that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for this human.
“You did wonderfully,” he said in Alex’s ear. “I knew you would, little bird. You’re so good, so incredible. I’m so proud of you.” He peppered kisses down Alex’s neck, and trembling arms tightened around the back of his neck, curling up over his head to hold them together.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” Alex’s voice was muffled against his shoulder. “Thank you, Talon, thank you .”
Talon drew him up for a soft, deep kiss, his thumbs brushing the tears from Alex’s cheeks. When they parted, Alex’s eyes remained closed, and he sniffled, wiping his face with one and curling the other around the side of Talon’s neck, like he needed it to ground himself. There was a wet spot on Talon’s shirt collar, and he longed to pull Alex against him again. But the night wasn’t over yet.
“I’ll deal with the evidence,” Talon offered. The sooner they dealt with this part, the sooner he could take him home. “You deal with the family, and I’ll meet you at the car.”
Alex nodded.
The body was already dust wrapped in dirty clothing. Talon carefully bundled it all up, keeping as much of the dust inside the fabric as he could. He heard Alex opening the back door as he strode toward the front. The front door was beyond repair, and cool night air billowed into the foyer. Outside, the night was quiet. The rest of the neighborhood was none the wiser of what had happened here, but they would be soon. The humans would call the authorities and an ambulance, and by the time they arrived, he and Alex would be long gone.
He found a garbage bin parked around the corner of the house and dumped the clothes inside unceremoniously.
“So long, asshole,” he muttered, closing the lid with a snap.
At the car, he leaned against the driver’s side, watching the house intently and waiting for Alex to emerge. He lit a cigarette while he waited, the burn of the smoke familiar and soothing. He’d almost smoked it to the filter when his human finally emerged through the broken front door, sheathing his sword on his back and striding confidently across the street toward him.
He flicked his cigarette away and drew Alex between his legs. “Are you okay?”
There was a blankness to Alex’s eyes that concerned him, but he automatically wrapped his arms around Talon, which was reassuring.
“I think so. I might be in shock.”
Talon’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“Being in shock?”
Talon nodded.
Some of the blankness in his expression faded as he focused on his answer. “It means I… haven’t really come to terms with it yet. I’m emotionally frozen until my brain figures out how to process what happened.”
Humans were so fragile. He trailed his fingers up and down the side of Alex’s neck, soothing. “Anything I can do?”
Alex shook his head. “Just drive. Get us away from here. I told the family that the man was a monster. They saw enough to believe me pretty easily. They’re calling an ambulance now for the guy.”
“We should get going, then.”
In the car, Alex rested his head on the window. Talon didn’t ask where he wanted to go, just drove. It didn’t matter, as long as Talon was allowed to stay by his side.
When they arrived in the parking lot across the street from Alex’s apartment building, he blinked up at it in surprise. He glanced over at Talon, who shrugged self-consciously.
“I thought you might prefer being somewhere more familiar.”
Alex’s expression lightened. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was something . He hurried from the car, meeting Talon on the driver’s side as he opened the door and hauling him out only to shove him up against it and kiss him bitingly hard. Talon growled into it, angling his head to slant them together better, slipping his tongue deep into Alex’s mouth.
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Alex said when they parted. Talon opened his mouth to refute that, but he went on. “You’re the only one who’s supported me, who’s let me do what I needed. You’ve never once tried to control me or stop me.” He laughed ruefully. “Who knew that kindness would be what tempted me away from the religion that raised me?”
Talon nipped his lower lip. “I told you, I’ll do whatever it takes to get you to stay.”
“You claim to be so selfish, but that sounds like the opposite.” His warm hands cradled Talon’s face.
“In this case, I suppose it’s both. I want you all to myself. Giving you what you want ensures you stay.” He hoped, anyway.
Alex’s gaze heated as it fell to Talon’s mouth. “And what if I tell you that I want you to come upstairs and fuck me so hard I forget everything else but you?”
A bolt of heat went through Talon. How did Alex already know exactly the right things to say? Talon came off the car, crushing their mouths together for a deep, drugging kiss, and then ducked his head to bite the curve of Alex’s sun-kissed neck. His surrender was immediate and absolute, a cry spilling from his lips as his body went lax in Talon’s arms. He carded his fingers into the back of Alex’s hair, keeping him arched.
He hadn’t quite broken the skin, but there would be time to taste every part of him upstairs, time to lay him out and savor him like a feast. He gentled his mouth, sucking and kissing the reddened marks. A primal part of him was pleased to know Alex would wear the shape of his teeth for days. If he could tattoo a piece of himself into Alex’s skin forever, he would.
“Come on,” he said, preening at Alex’s half-lidded gaze. “Let’s go upstairs before I bend you over the hood of the car.”
Alex glanced over his shoulder at the car as Talon dragged him toward the building. “I might be okay with that in the future, just FYI. Not in the middle of a parking lot where my neighbors could see, but yeah.”
Talon’s cock swelled at the thought. “Good to know.”
Upstairs, he crowded into Alex’s back while he fumbled to get the door open.
“The wards,” Talon reminded. “Invite me past the new wards.”
“Yes, yes,” Alex said, pushing the door open and gripping Talon’s wrists at his stomach. “Come in and don’t ever leave.”
Talon groaned. He never would.
As soon as they spilled inside, Talon had him up against the wall, burying his tongue between Alex’s lips and tugging a leg up around his waist. Alex moaned, clinging to his shoulders.
“Don’t tease me right now,” Alex pleaded. “Just fuck me, okay? I just want—I just want to feel something .”
“I’ll make you feel something,” Talon promised darkly. He hooked his hand under Alex’s other leg, and he instinctively wrapped his legs around him, just like Talon wanted. “Where’s your lube?” he asked as he carried Alex toward the bedroom.
“Uh, bathroom. In the cabinet.”
Talon did an about-face in the bedroom doorway and went into the bathroom instead. There was a large mirror over the sink, and a hanging cabinet above the toilet. Smearing their mouths together in a sloppy kiss, Alex opened the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of lube.
On their way back out, Talon paused by the sink. “I’ve got an idea.”
Alex pulled away to blink at him. “Oh?”
Talon set him on his feet with a wicked smile. “Yeah. Turn around. Hands on the sink.”
Alex obeyed, his face flushing when he met his own eyes in the mirror. Talon set the bottle on the counter beside him, kissing his neck as his hands slid beneath his shirt. Alex relaxed in increments, arching back into his touch with a breathy sigh.
Talon tossed the shirt away, kissing his way across Alex’s flushed shoulders as his hands opened his jeans and pushed them down with his underwear. Alex squirmed.
“I want you completely naked for this,” Talon said, going to his knees to unlace Alex’s combat boots.
Alex blew out a breath as Talon pulled off his boots and socks and gently removed everything from his lower half. He kissed up the back of one thigh, flattening a hand in the middle of Alex’s back and urging him to bend at the waist.
He wasted no time. Alex wanted to fuck, and Talon would be glad to. He slicked up two fingers, working them inside his tight hole while his other stroked Alex’s cock in a slow and steady rhythm, just enough to keep him distracted. When he began rocking his hips in needy little thrusts, Talon stood, coating his hand in some more lube and slicking his cock with a groan.
“You want to forget everything else but me,” Talon repeated, a satisfied snarl in his voice. One hand wrapped around Alex’s throat as the other notched his cock at Alex’s entrance. “So look at me. Look at us .”
Alex was panting, flushed from his cheeks all the way down his chest. He arched, pressing his hips back so Talon’s cock popped inside his hole. They both groaned, and Talon absently bit the teeth-shaped bruise on Alex’s neck in light, teasing nips.
“Raise your knee,” he said, guiding one of Alex’s knees up onto the counter. “Open yourself up for me, that’s it.”
“Talon, fuck .”
“ Yes .” Talon drew out until only the head of his cock remained and pushed back in. Alex moaned loudly.
Talon fucked into him hard and fast, one arm snug around his waist and the other holding his throat in a firm, possessive grip. Every ragged moan and gasp vibrated against his palm, and Alex’s pretty blue eyes were locked on his in the mirror.
“Just us, only us, that’s it,” Talon said, and Alex reached back, tangling his fingers in Talon’s hair. The other held Talon’s arm around his waist for purchase.
“Just us,” Alex repeated desperately, and sparks of hot pleasure shot down Talon’s spine.
“That’s right. Touch yourself, little bird. I want to see you come like this, wrapped up in me.”
A litany of Talon’s name and broken pleas spilled from his lips as he stroked his cock. His body tightened like a strung bow, his back arching. A scream tore from him as cum splattered the sink, and a wicked, inhuman snarl left Talon at the sight. Alex’s hot body tightened around Talon’s cock, his hole pulsing with his orgasm, and Talon bit down as he followed Alex over the edge. Another weak cry left Alex as teeth punctured skin, and his sweet blood flooded Talon’s mouth.
His head swirled, his cock jerking weakly, and a low, blissful moan pitched from his chest. He could probably get off on the taste alone. Would like to try, one day.
Alex’s head was resting lazily on his shoulder, fingers combing idly through Talon’s hair while he lapped at the blood trickling sluggishly from the wound.
“I would apologize,” Talon started. His softening cock slipped from Alex’s hole, and Alex groaned weakly at the sensation.
“But you’re not sorry,” Alex finished.
“Not at all. Your blood tastes as good as your cum.” He raised his head and studied the bite. The impression of his teeth, smeared with crimson, had something hot and possessive flaring within him. “I hope it scars.”
“You’re so sweet,” Alex deadpanned. “Take me to bed. My foot is numb.”
Talon snickered, picking Alex up bridal-style and carrying him into the dark bedroom.
When he had Alex tucked under the blankets, he asked, “Would you like me to stay, or do you need some time alone for… processing?”
Alex tugged him down for a kiss. “Stay. This room doesn’t get much sunlight. It’ll be nice and dark tomorrow, if you want to sleep late.”
“That sounds nice,” Talon said as he rounded the bed. “The penthouse is enjoyable enough, but the windows do mean it gets more sun than I’d prefer.”
“Stay, then,” Alex said, scooting back to meet him as he sank under the blankets. “I’ll fetch breakfast in the morning. There’s a place up the block.”
Talon wrapped his arms around him. “Breakfast sounds good. Sleep now, little bird. All is well.”