Chapter 2
Chapter Two
It was morning when Nox awoke, his skin miraculously free of any rips and burns and his bones fully mended.
Nelson was snoring softly, deep furrows marred his brow and his jaw was clenched tight.
He’d fallen asleep worried and utterly wrung out and Nox’s conscience twinged as he recalled Smoak’s demand that he settle things once and for all.
He had a million reasons for dragging his feet but the best argument for action was staring Nox in the face.
Or, would be if Nelson was conscious. Nox didn’t want any more power and he didn’t want anything to change, but Dùbhghlas’s twisted grudge was taking a terrible toll on Nelson and their friends.
So far, they had been successful at thwarting Dùbhghlas’s schemes but Nox’s instincts warned that their luck would change.
They had yet to suffer a serious defeat or a significant loss and Nox was most afraid of that whenever he considered engaging with Dùbhghlas.
Unlike the warlock, no one on Nox’s team was expendable and he would be devastated if he lost any of his friends or family.
Nox would be nothing if he lost Nelson. Even with all the powers of a god, Nox was the most grateful to the fates for finally sending his perfect mate.
In the beginning, Nelson had been the key and the gateway that had awakened the god within Nox and united him with the Dagda1.
Now, Nelson was Nox’s connection to his human self and his spiritual anchor.
He kept Nox tethered to the mortal world and his mortal existence when the deity within wanted to cut loose and manifest into something bigger, more omnipresent.
Their love had made him a god and it was Nox’s greatest source of strength.
His soul burned brighter and truer with Nelson at his side, piercing the mystical haze and outshining the allure of godly power.
Nox would forgo it all for an eternity with Nelson—he had certainly tried—because being a god would always pale in comparison to the peace and joy their love had given him.
And their love was good for the world and had already brought so much happiness and light into their friends’ and neighbors’ lives.
Nelson’s selflessness and chivalry were constant reminders that small gestures often mattered far more than grand displays and that one good deed, no matter how small, could change someone’s life in the most profound ways.
He was quiet, loyal, and honest to a fault, but to Nox, Nelson was a supernova of hotness.
In the absence of any ego and masculine posturing, every soft, polite comment and respectful, protective gesture screamed Nelson’s innate decency and competence.
That was the pinnacle of sexiness to Nox and another reason why Nelson was his ideal man in every way.
He must have heard Nox’s thoughts or felt him growing aroused. Nelson’s right eye snapped open and tightened as he studied Nox before letting out a snort. “You need more rest.”
“I promise, I don’t,” Nox replied, then hushed Nelson when he groaned and tried to roll away. “I feel almost as right as rain. Nothing hurts and I have most of my strength back.” He licked along Nelson’s jaw and pecked at his lips. “I promise.”
“Good. Stay put and rest until it’s all back,” Nelson said but Nox wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
“I don’t think that more rest is the best medicine in this case…”
“Nox.” Nelson gave him a severely stern look, but unfortunately, it only got Nox hotter. “You were pulverized by a bunch of zombie giants yesterday. Arawn and Bryn think all of your ribs were broken.”
Nox hummed and nodded seriously. “Very true,” he said, raising a finger. “But notice that you said ‘were’ twice because that was in the past. That was yesterday and I’m fine now.”
“I’d say that something was still broken but you’ve always been a horny idiot,” Nelson said in a low, weary rumble as he rose and rolled Nox onto his back.
It was incredibly sexy and would have turned things up to a ten if Nox wasn’t already spreading his legs wide and preparing for the ride of his life.
“I’m sure there’s plenty left for you to break. Let’s give it a shot,” Nox said encouragingly but Nelson growled, kissing him hard.
“Knock it off or I’ll stop. I can’t stand seeing you hurt.”
“I know.” Nox clung to the kiss, closing his eyes and soothing as many of Nelson’s wounds as he could in return.
“I’m sorry I put you through all of that but I do feel a lot better.
My body and my abilities have recovered but my soul could still use a recharge.
Heal me, Nelson. Heal me with your love. ”
“Heal you?” Nelson rolled his eyes but there was a hint of a smile as he lowered his head and nibbled on Nox’s lips. “Promise we won’t get carried away. Let’s be gentle and take our time, all right?” he suggested but Nox winced.
“I was hoping for fast and nasty, followed by a fat stack of blueberry pancakes with lots of bacon. I am starving for everything.”
Nelson pushed out a suffering sigh, anointing Nox’s skin with kisses as he slid lower. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Yes!” There was no doubt that Nox’s body was about to get rocked and that the pancakes would be sublime.
Breakfast was Nox’s favorite meal so Nelson made it his mission to master staples like French toast, pancakes, bacon, omelettes, and eggs over easy for lazy weekend mornings. Those lazy mornings often started with slow, romantic sex, followed by a sensual shower.
Not this morning, though. Nox was going to make sure they needed a thorough shower when they were done.
He remembered that the house was full of guests and covered his face with a pillow when Nelson pushed Nox’s legs back, holding him open.
His tongue washed over Nox’s hole, possessive and relentless as Nelson feasted.
As with everything, Nelson was dedicated to perfection and pleasing Nox.
For Nelson, sex wasn’t about penetration and physical release.
Not in the traditional sense. He found fulfillment in the intense connection they shared when they were intimate and he didn’t crave any kind of physical climax.
Nelson would be content to wallow in the tenderness of a long, clinging kiss and the intertwining of their fingers as they whispered in the dark.
The soft warmth of their bare chests pressed together was bliss for Nelson.
That was how Nelson had healed the worst of Nox’s wounds and it was their sacred secret.
Nelson’s soul tuned into Nox’s when they connected in that deeper, quieter way and it repaired his battered spirit.
Nox felt new and lighter whenever they got off without touching each other.
The climax grew from the center of his being and while Nox was invariably left feeling satisfied, it didn’t always result in a sticky mess.
Those moments were pure magick and Nox would never take them for granted. But it was time to please his inner demon. “Three fingers, please.”
“It’s going to be one of those mornings,” Nelson murmured to himself, then set about scrambling Nox’s brain by sliding two, and then three fingers into his ass.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Soft, pastel shapes reflected off the chandelier and glowed against the ceiling and the walls as Nox lolled in the warmth of the morning sun.
Surrounded by crystals and wreathed in the scent of sacred oils and herbs, he bathed in the loving, healing magick around him as Nelson practiced a more primitive and earthier magick to restore Nox’s body and spirit.
His magick was tailored specifically to Nox’s needs, the knowledge imparted from a god and mastered on a celestial plane.
In dreams and visions, Nelson learned how to whip Nox into a frenzy with the twisting of his fingers as they reached deep, deep, deeper, and curled.
And Nox’s toes curled as his prostate was firmly stroked, making him see stars and hear harps.
“Now, Nelson!” he pleaded, desperate to feel Nelson filling the empty space within and driving out the last of his fears and insecurities.
With Nelson, Nox felt whole and strong and like he could be a god and do good, godly things.
He didn’t think about consequences and failure and he forgot about what had been lost and how he had been betrayed.
Joy and lust drenched Nox’s senses as Nelson withdrew his fingers and ordered Nox to roll over onto his knees. He was filled with slick, thick heat, swift and hard and causing Nox to scream into his pillow. A firm hand pinned Nox’s chest to the bed as Nelson set a fast, clapping pace.
Nox held on tight to the edge of the mattress and the headboard.
“More!” he howled but it was muffled by the pillow, thankfully.
His eyes crossed when his hips were grabbed and pulled back, his ass locked against Nelson’s pelvis.
Nelson rolled his hips, bucking hard and lifting Nox’s knees off the bed.
The pressure in Nox’s ass and throbbing in his core was incredible; he could barely breathe and his heart was hammering in his ears.
“Good?” Nelson asked, his breath huffing against Nox’s shoulder blade before it was licked.
All Nox could do was nod and hold up his left thumb.
He’d moan something obscene if he removed his face from the pillow.
“Good,” Nelson said as he leaned back and gave Nox’s ass a tender knead. “Now, hold on.”
That was all the warning he had before Nelson let go, slamming into Nox at a rapid, teeth-rattling, bone-jarring pace.
It was glorious and Nox was insensate as he sobbed Nelson’s name and pieces of an ancient Gaelic poem.
He came with a dazzling burst of golden light, his soul ascending to the heavens as cum spilled from his cock.
A heartbeat later and Nelson was with him, his spirit tangling with Nox’s as their bodies twitched and writhed together on the bed. Wet heat flooded Nox’s core as Nelson covered the back of his neck and shoulders in kisses.
“Are you okay?” he asked, gently sliding out of Nox, then easing them onto their sides. He curled around Nox, kissing his hair and covering him with the quilt.
Nox hummed dreamily. “Couldn’t be better. My bones have melted and my muscles have turned into jelly.”
“Perfect. Will you stay here and rest while I see about those pancakes? I’ll bring them up on a tray.”
“Breakfast in bed?” Nox snorted and wiggled his shoulders, getting comfortable. “I get to sleep in and have pancakes in bed after getting my back completely blown out. It was almost worth getting my ass kicked.”
“That’s not funny.”
Nelson returned with a wet washcloth and cleaned Nox and the bed as well as he could before going down to make their breakfast. He returned half an hour later with fresh orange juice, coffee for Nox, a bowl of mixed berries, a stack of bacon, and two plates of perfect, fluffy, blueberry pancakes with warm maple syrup.
“I feel like a new man, Nelson. Thank you.”
Nelson bowed his head. “It was my pleasure. What would you like to do with the rest of the day?” He raised a wary brow and Nox heard him hold his breath.
“Enough resting. Time for a quick shower, and then, a team meeting in the study to discuss our next move.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. I’ll tell everyone to meet us there in an hour.”