Chapter 6
SIX
They waited out his recovery and the Rift anniversary on an outparcel of Monte Corvo, on the banks of the vineyard’s reservoir, close to water and far from any people or structures. If the phoenix got away from him, minimal damage would ensue before Kai could work his magic.
But Kai hadn’t needed to, and for the first time since that fateful night, Jason woke feeling like himself. A little warmer than usual, his senses more attuned than they had been before, but he didn’t feel any aches and pains, and he felt in control of his mind and body.
He only remembered bits and pieces of the past few days—his head in Kai’s lap on the harrowing drive out of YB in a vintage Camaro; witches, Adam, and the green-haired woman named Mary fussing over him; corvids circling overhead and coyotes roaming the fields around them; Kai snuggled against his side.
Kai wasn’t by his side now, but Jason could feel him close. Eking open his eyes, he squinted against the daylight, adjusting to the bright Talahalusi sunshine before opening them fully.
And gasping at the sight above him. Against the clear blue sky, a snow-white raven soared.
Kai, more beautiful than Jason had imagined.
His wings spread wide, his spade-shaped tail feathers fluttering with the breeze, his blue-green eyes shining bright.
There was freedom and peace in the way he glided and joy in the way he barrel-rolled with the two black ravens flying with him.
Playing. Jason laughed out loud, the joy contagious.
This was what he had wanted for his friend.
For the man he’d spent years falling in love with, who had bound his soul to Jason’s for good.
His laughter drew Kai’s attention. The white raven circled once more with the others, then broke off and flew in Jason’s direction, diving low before leveling out and gliding over him.
Close enough for Jason to skate his fingertips over Kai’s soft underside as he flew over.
He sailed into the nearby trees, and by the time Jason flipped onto his side to look in that direction, Kai emerged in human form sans clothes.
Jason whistled low as he looked his fill. Kai wasn’t a large man—average height, lean muscles, unruly dark curls—but he moved with a confident, attractive grace that put everything about him in perfect proportion. Freedom in the way he walked, same as the way he flew.
“Don’t know when I’m going to get used to that,” Kai said as he folded onto the ground beside him.
“Me ogling you?”
“No, you’ve been doing that for years.” He placed his hand just above Jason’s chest. “The waves of heat radiating off you.”
He rotated onto his back and lifted the end of the blanket covering him. “Get under here with me, and I’ll share.”
Kai didn’t hesitate to slide in beside him, the length of him fitted against Jason’s side, arm over his belly, head on his shoulder. It was the way they’d occasionally snuggled when the heat went out in their crappy apartment, the way they snuggled nonstop the past few days.
No lack of heat now, but a delightful lack of clothing. He skated his fingertips up and down Kai’s spine, relishing the closeness, the softness of his skin, all of it more than it had ever been before. “You look so happy up there, in the air.”
“I am.”
“It’s safe here?”
He nodded. “They reinforced the boundaries after a recent breach.”
“When’s the last time you flew?”
“When I first flew down to YB. It feels like a lifetime ago.”
He trailed a hand over Kai’s shoulder blades, imagining the wings there. “But it feels good now?”
Kai’s smile tickled his skin. “Better than I remember. How about you?”
“Good today. The phoenix isn’t trying to claw in or out of me for a change. I feel like me, mostly.”
“Any—” He stopped, voice a momentary wobble, but at Jason’s squeeze, started again. “Any regrets?”
He glanced down, meeting the cautious blue-green ones staring up at him.
“Only that I haven’t kissed you yet.” He hauled Kai closer and up but stopped short of claiming Kai’s mouth.
“But only if you still want me. I love you, but I don’t want you to ever feel trapped, like I made this decision for—”
He brushed his lips across Jason’s, so gentle Jason’s words died on a shiver. “I love you too, and I’ve always wanted you. I will always want you.” Then not gentle at all as he crushed their mouths together, freedom flowing between them, both of them taking what they’d wanted for so long.
Kai kissing him deep and thorough, then yanking the blanket under Jason to roll him on top.
Jason taking the cue and trailing kisses down Kai’s neck, over his chest, throwing off the blanket and taking Kai’s stiff cock in his mouth, sucking and fondling until Kai was writhing beneath him, at the edge, his fingers curled in Jason’s hair, his pants and moans filling his ears.
Crawling back up the beautiful, quaking length of him, rolling onto his side and bringing Kai with him, front to front so Jason could wrap his hand around both their cocks, stroking long and slow, building their pleasure together.
Kai’s hand covering his, ramping up the pace, their hips rocking in time, the heat flowing between them, balanced and in check even as their careened toward their climax.
Their kisses growing wild, and their I love yous colliding with the peace they’d finally found together, the freedom, their future on the other side of the storm.
Mac & Paris, up next!
Want to know what sweet Paris and grumpy Mac were up to before Kai interrupted? Carry on to Paris and the Reaper!