Chapter 15
“Songbird.”
Nix swatted away at the annoying sound buzzing in his ears. There was background noise too, cursing and thumps. He grumbled and tried to fall back asleep, his entire body feeling like it was caught beneath quicksand. “Who let the waif in?”
“What was that?” there was a chuckle and the person speaking to him twisted a lock of his hair around a finger and tugged hard enough Nix felt the sting. “That’s just West and June. They’re pissed off.”
West and June?
He shoved at the heavy body draped over him, only managing to wiggle free a few inches before that persistent form settled back over him, pinning him onto the cool surface beneath his upper body and his cheek—
Nix’s eyes popped open.
It took him a moment to adjust, processing slowly that he was in the kitchen at the Roost, bent over the counter with—He hissed when that large cock buried inside of him moved and it all came back to him.
He and Lake had slept together.
No, there was no way that could be called something as basic as mere sleeping. It couldn’t even really be called sex.
The Imperial had fucked him ragged, to the point he’d passed out.
Again.
“The next person who knocks me out on their cock is getting it bitten off,” he growled, but that only earned him a laugh from Lake, who was wrapped around him from behind, and a playful nip at the lobe of his right ear. “Cut it out. And stop moving. It hurts.”
“I made sure to apply more lube,” Lake reassured him. “You’ve only been out for twenty minutes or so.”
“Have you been…” He couldn’t even bring himself to say it. Nix closed his eyes again and inhaled. “What is all that noise?”
“I told you. West and Yejun got home a little while ago and found all the presents we left. They’re understandably not as happy about it as we were creating them.”
“Presents?” Good Light. “Shit.”
He meant the come.
Everywhere.
All over everything.
“Seriously?!” a yell came from the floor above them, loud enough to rumble down the stairs despite West’s room being far from the stairwell. “My keyboards?! Is nothing sacred in this house?!”
Nix tried to straighten again only for Lake to stand his ground.
“What are you doing?” the Imperial asked.
“Going to clean.”
“No, you aren’t.” He kissed the back of Nix’s shoulder and flicked his hips. “Leave it. I already contacted a cleaning crew. They’ll be here in five hours and will take care of everything.”
“We are so not making other people clean up all of that .”
“I suppose you could tell West and Yejun to do it, but I’m not sure they’ll be pleased.”
Nix was fairly certain they’d both tell him to go screw himself—or, better yet, they’d probably take that as an invitation to add to the punishment Lake started and go a couple of rounds themselves. Judging by the way Nix’s body ached all over, there was no way he’d last that.
“If you’re going to come again, do it quick and get out of me.” He needed a shower. Or several. Better yet, he needed to soak in one of the fancy baths West ran for him. The ones with several bath bombs and silky bath liquids or whatever they were called. “I’m tired.”
“I’m not.”
“Lake.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t see this coming, Songbird. I warned you. I was always upfront about my intentions once I got you into bed.”
“This,” he slapped the surface of the counter, “is not a bed.”
“We could return to one,” Lake offered. “We’ve done it in every single bed available in the Roost. Was there one you preferred?”
“I’m rephrasing my earlier threat,” Nix stated. “If you don’t let me off your cock right now, the next time it’s brought anywhere near my mouth, I’m biting it off.”
“You wouldn’t. You enjoy it too much.”
“I have two others I can ride whenever I feel like it, if you recall.” Nix felt Lake go still behind him, and for a second he feared he’d taken things too far. Angering the man currently pinning him to a table wasn’t exactly a smart move.
But then Lake sighed and actually listened, easing himself out of Nix’s body. “All right, Songbird. Have it your way.”
A gush of fluid instantly ran out of him, painting his thighs in sticky spunk that had Nix cringing. Some of it plopped to the floor, splattering on his feet and ankles and his cheeks flushed at the embarrassment. He forgot all about it, however, when he tried to straighten and ended up swaying and almost losing his balance.
Lake caught him up and lifted him into his arms, the smug look he gave him making Nix bristle.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself,” he grumbled. “Just take me to the bathroom before this gets all over the place.”
“Too late for that.” Lake winked at him but turned for the stairs.
“Wait, let’s just use the bathroom down here.”
“No chance.”
“Seriously, it’s leaking everywhere!” Nix could feel it and he wasn’t a fan.
“I know. I want it to.”
He blew out a breath. “I hate you.”
“That’s not what you were saying an hour ago. Or two hours ago. Or—”
“Shut up, I get it.”
“It’s a good thing I can make you scream. You shouldn’t sound so put out by it.”
“Say that to me when it’s your throat that feels like someone’s rubbed sandpaper down it.”
Lake paused in the middle of the stairs. “Does it hurt that much?”
“Yes,” he said. “Can’t you hear how I sound right now? And that’s not the only thing. My ass is sore. Also, it feels like someone was fishing around my insides. My back—”
“Understood.” Lake started climbing the steps once more. “What will help?”
Nix settled more comfortably in his hold. “A bath and some hot tea.”
“I’ll take care of the first and I’ll text West about the latter.”
As if on cue, West’s cursing reached their ears the moment they turned down the hall.
“He must have spotted what we left for him on the bathroom mirror,” Lake smirked while Nix covered his face with a hand and groaned.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re royally sadistic? Or even just deranged? That one. Definitely that one.” Nix wondered how he’d even come up with something like that, let alone how Lake had actually found the stamina to follow through with it. They literally had done it at least once in every room in the Roost.
The only place they’d avoided had been the area with the couches and the coffee table. Lake had fucked him against the wall instead, facing away from the wooden monstrosity that was now considered Nix’s most hated piece in the entire house.
He hated that coffee table with a passion. Could barely even bring himself to look at it when he walked by.
“I’m not a royal, Songbird. I’m an Imperial,” Lake replied cockily.
Nix rolled his eyes.
The bedroom was every bit a mess as outside, but Lake shut the door behind them and went straight for the bathroom. He set Nix down on the closed toilet seat and turned to start the large clawfoot tub in the corner.
Doing so gave Nix a good view of his naked form, and his brow winged up when he caught sight of Lake’s back.
And the nail marks that trailed down it.
There were mild cuts on the backs of his thighs and over the curve of his muscular ass as well. Even a few hickies and love bites, some worse than others. Nix only recalled creating some of them, a bit shocked to see how aggressive he’d gotten in the throes of passion.
“You didn’t bite the right spot.” At some point, Lake had finished adjusting the bath and had turned and caught Nix staring. “Or hard enough.” He tilted his head, exposing the side of his neck. “Want to give it another try?”
Nix gulped and looked away.
“Don’t be so timid.” He moved back over to where Nix sat. “I’m offering my throat to you. You could make me bleed a thousand times over, and I’d welcome it every time.”
Nix scowled. “What’s gotten into you?”
Lake chuckled. “Actually, I’m the one who’s gotten into you. It’s greatly improved my mood. Don’t tell me I’m the only one who feels it?”
Okay. He’d bite. “Feels what?”
“Our connection.” Lake pressed a palm over Nix’s heart, the corner of his mouth tipping up. “I can feel how excited having me near makes you, even though we’ve done it dozens of times today.”
“That’s called nervousness.” He pushed his hand away, but the Imperial remained undeterred.
Lake pressed his lips to the top of Nix’s head gently. “Call it whatever you wish. It doesn’t matter. The only thing I care about is you and the fact that you’re finally mine.” His touch turned more demanding when he captured Nix’s chin and forced his gaze up so their eyes met. “You are mine, Phoenix Monroe. Say it.”
He licked his dry lips, but any resistance he may have summoned prior to last night had drained from him, much like his energy. If Lake needed to hear it so badly, what did it matter anyway? Nix could do that for him.
It wasn’t like it was a lie.
“Yeah,” he drawled, somehow managing to put a little bit of attitude in his words despite his thoughts, “I am. You have me.”
“And I can do with you as I please.”
His eyes narrowed slightly but when those fingers tightened on him he gave in. “Yeah. You can do whatever you want with me. I belong to you.”
Lake grinned, but Nix wasn’t done.
“But,” he continued, “if you want your things to last, you have to take care of them.”
The tub clicked behind him, indicating it was full, and Lake gave him a sardonic smile.
“Hey!” Nix found himself tossed over the Imperial’s shoulder faster than he could blink, carried over to the tub, and submerged in the hot water in a flash. “Good Light!” His body stung at the sudden contact and he swore, trying to climb back out.
Lake, he’d sat before him, pulled him back in, securing him in his lap. The asshole laughed as Nix’s struggles splashed water over the edge, catching Nix’s arms at his sides before he placed his mouth against the healed mark on Nix’s neck.
Nix stilled instantly.
“You were being a brat just now,” Lake whispered against that spot, causing Nix to shiver.
“It stings.” The water was too hot and his bruised and rubbed raw parts were too sensitive. “Did you put anything in it?”
“In it?” Lake frowned.
“In the bath. West always adds healing…stuff.”
“Healing stuff,” Lake repeated.
“I don’t know what it’s called,” he snapped.
Lake picked up his multi-slate from the bathroom floor where he must have set it and typed a message out to West. “There. I told him to bring some of that magic healing stuff and tea. Better?”
He settled back against Lake’s chest, refusing to answer.
“Don’t be stubborn, Songbird.”
“You like it when I’m stubborn.”
He laughed. “True. Mostly because I like the thought of being able to reprimand you for it later.”
“Later,” Nix emphasized, “being the most important word in that sentence.”
“Yes.” Lake’s hand dipped between his thighs, and he clicked his tongue when Nix made a sound of protest. “Relax. I’ll keep my word. No more fucking for now.”
He turned his head to look at him. “For now is a very broad statement. Narrow it down.”
“I don’t think I will.” Lake’s palm stroked lightly against the soft inner flesh of Nix’s thighs before trailing higher. He brushed against the underside of Nix’s balls, down his taint, and then settled at his abused entrance. “I’m going to insert my fingers and clean you out.”
Nix scrunched up his nose. “So that we’re soaking in your spunk? Pass.”
“It’s dripping out anyway,” he reminded. “Tell you what, I’ll let you shower after as well. Deal?”
“What’s with you and making deals every two seconds all of sudden?” Nix lifted his ass slightly despite his protests, wincing when one of those thick fingers prodded his rim. “Careful.”
“I got you, baby.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Why? Does Yejun own the term or something? West calls you Nixie or babe. June calls you Firebird or baby. I—”
“Songbird,” Nix filled in. “I’m your Songbird.”
Lake considered it. “How about mate then? Can I call you that?”
He thought about it and ended up nodding once.
That single finger slipped in deeper. “You’re drawing lines between us in that head of yours, is there a reason for it?”
“The three of you aren’t the same person,” Nix reminded. “Even if you grew up together and it sometimes might feel that way to you. You aren’t. You didn’t exactly give me a lot of time to adjust here, either. It’s easier for me this way. Easier to learn your similarities and differences.”
“Give me an example.” Lake added another finger and Nix realized what he was doing. Trying to keep him distracted to help ease the discomfort.
“An example would be West always thinks about how to heal any injuries he gives me ahead of time.” Nix sighed, decided to go easy on the Imperial since he was so obviously trying his best. “But that’s because he’s used to inflicting pain on his bed partners. He’s had practice with aftercare. You…not so much.”
Lake hummed in agreement. “I had a tendency to take my pleasure and go, that’s true. And June? What sets him from the rest?”
“Yejun…” Nix arched into the touch when Lake inserted a third finger and started to curl them within him.
“Focus, Songbird,” Lake suggested. “Unless you want me to change my mind and take you again after all.”
“Yejun is protective.”
“I’m protective.”
“You’re possessive,” he corrected. “They aren’t the same. Yejun has no thoughts for himself when he sees someone he cares for get hurt. That’s why he’s so reactive and acts without thinking of the consequences. He lacks foresight because he gets overwhelmed by the need to defend and protect what’s his.”
“June doesn’t have very much that he can call his own,” Lake said. “His family is controlling, overbearing even. It’s good that he ended up loving art, because his path was chosen for him even before his birth. There are already half a dozen people lined up to become his potential husband or wife.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. Yejun never intended to marry someone his parents picked for him. That’s part of the reason he wants me to become emperor so badly. We can tell them to fuck off without fear of repercussions.”
“Why can’t he just do that now?” As a Demon, his schooling was already taken care of, so it wasn’t like he needed them financially. Even if that wasn’t the case, Yejun made money selling his art. He’d shown Nix a receipt for a piece once and it was more than Nix’s parents made in six months combined. “What’s holding him back?”
“Me.”
Nix frowned.
“West and Yejun know that if they do anything to piss off the Order, of which Yejun’s mother is a member, it’ll reflect poorly on me as a candidate for the throne. The three of us have always attempted to keep the peace because of that. It’s why we still go to those stupid birthday dinners Demitrious throws, despite West and the rest of us hating the old man’s guts.”
Speaking of the party…
Nix had been trying to find the right time to ask about the topic at dinner, but the time hadn’t come. Now, he cleared his throat and pretended to find interest in playing with the bathwater, causally asking, “What did Hendrix mean when he said all that stuff about your parents?”
Lake’s fingers stilled inside of him, but he recovered quickly. “They enjoyed the Night of the Nightshade same as every other member, that’s all.”
“Really?” If that was it, Hendrix would surely have chosen a different topic to try poking at Lake. “It sounded like more than that.”
He was quiet for a while, seemingly giving all his attention to cleaning Nix out. When his silence was met with patience, he eventually gave in. “The Night of the Nightshade is traditionally a day meant for taboos. Nothing is off the table. My parents, like many other couples, used the night to…explore.”
“You mean, they slept with other people?” That’s basically what he’d gathered from Hendrix’s words, anyway.
“Yes.”
“Does that upset you?” Nix wasn’t sure why he’d been so hesitant to admit it.
“Doesn’t it upset you?” Lake countered.
“No? Why should it?”
“You aren’t worried that we might eventually try to do the same to you?”
Nix quirked a brow and turned in Lake’s lap as much as the space in the tub would allow. “Have I ever given the impression something like that would bother me?” He held up a hand before Lake could reply. “Let me reiterate. What makes you think I would ever stand by and allow that to happen in the first place? Yejun is one thing, because he’s always been a playboy and I’ve always known that. But you and West? I catch either of you fucking anyone aside from each other and I’ll make your life a living hell, got it?”
The truth was, Nix knew that would never happen. Lake was many things, but a cheater wasn’t one of them. Ever since they’d met, he’d been nothing but dedicated, even when that was something Nix hadn’t wanted.
“Fucking each other.” Lake clearly found that amusing. “You mean like the other day when you made Yejun and I fool around?”
“Whose mouth was better?” Nix asked, mostly joking. “I mean, I’ve been blown by him before, so I know he’s phenomenal, but I’m not too shabby, am I?”
He couldn’t hold a candle to June’s skills and he knew it.
“Just ask me what you actually want to ask me,” Lake said.
“Does it upset you that your parents slept around?” His reaction at the dinner made it seem like that was the case, but Nix wanted to know how deeply that ran. Having come from a family dynamic where something like that would never be tolerated, he could understand if it bugged Lake. Then again, on the other hand… “Isn’t that pretty normal for Essentials? Sex is a huge motivator, isn’t it?”
“People use it to make deals and barter, yes,” Lake began, “but my parents were a mated couple. It’s…different. Even some of the other members gossiped about them when it got out they sometimes slept with other partners. My mother especially had one in particular that she was rather fond of. There were rumors she was planning on leaving my father for him, in fact.”
“But she never did.”
“No.”
“So they were just shitty rumors.”
“…Maybe.” Lake rested his chin on Nix’s shoulder. “I saw her with him once, her other lover? She seemed…happy with him. It was strange and I was too young to really understand the implications. My parents died less than a year after that. They were still together at the time, but that doesn’t mean anything. Perhaps they wanted to part ways but couldn’t because of the mating mark.”
“Kind of weird that you gave me one then, don’t you think?” Nix couldn’t help but say, but Lake shook his head.
“Not at all. That’s the very reason I bit you. If my mother did fall for someone else but still couldn’t leave my father because of the mating rules, that meant even they were bound. They were the most powerful people on planet at the time of their deaths, only second to the Emperor herself. If they couldn’t break the bond, nothing you could ever try or do would allow you to escape from me.”
“That’s…” Nix searched for the right word to describe what he was feeling but came up short.
“I frightened you,” Lake surmised.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “You just have this tendency to come on really strong. Just when I think I’ve come to terms with my role here, you always seem to trip me up. No one has ever wanted me before, let alone this much.”
“Get used to it, Songbird.”
It wasn’t bad advice.
“I promise I’ll do my best to make you want to stay with me,” Lake told him then. “Once I’m emperor, anything you want, it’s yours.”
His conversation with Juri and Briant came to mind.
“Star Eye Holding,” Nix stated. “I want to work at Star Eye Holding. I want my own life, Lake. Don’t force me to give up any more than I already have.” He took a shaky breath and forced out, “Please.”
Lake held him closer. “That’s it?”
“I would hardly call freedom a small thing,” he scoffed.
“You’ll be my Royal Consort. I’ll have to assign a bodyguard and a personal driver.”
“That’s okay.” Nix had already prepared himself for that much. “I don’t want to risk my life. I just want to live it.”
“Do you want me to get you the job or—”
“No,” he said. “I want to graduate and apply like everyone else. Swear you won’t interfere, that you’ll let me work for as long as I want and wherever I want, and I promise I’ll never try to run away or try and break the mating contract.” Nix had no intentions of doing that anyway, but Lake didn’t have to know that. West had suggested using everything he could to get his way, even against the Demons. “Deal?”
“All right, Songbird,” Lake agreed. “You have a deal.”
Nix probably shouldn’t be starting anything, considering how sore his ass still was, but he couldn’t help it. Before he knew what he was doing, he’d shifted around in Lake’s lap and kissed the guy.
When he felt the tip of Lake’s cock bump against his entrance, he adjusted and sunk down on that hard member, moaning against the Imperial’s tongue.
Star Eye Holding and this for the rest of his life?
Yeah. He could do that.