Chapter 9 #2
“But it is happening.” Noah rolled his hips as if fucking him, enjoying the feel of Pan’s cock against his.
A little lube would make this more fun, but he doubted a vampire palace had lube lying around.
No condoms either, and given Pan’s history, that was probably something they should talk about…
or did it not matter because he was a god? Did gods not get sick?
Did selkies get sick?
Pan’s hands smoothed over Noah’s ribs and cupped his hips. “Perhaps I should be more specific, I like to watch.”
“Watch?”
Pan flipped him onto his back and kneeled over him. “I like to be able to see my lovers and watch what they are doing.” His hand traced over Noah’s belly down to his dick. “And I really do enjoy watching you writhe in pleasure…” He traced the length and swept his fingers over the head.
Noah’s pulse quickened. “I enjoy that too, but I want more.” He couldn’t say that he wanted more than magic when he barely knew him, even though it was the truth. Maybe he only wanted him because of the magic.
Or because Pan wanted him…it wouldn’t be the first time he’d dated someone he was only half interested in because the other guy wanted him.
“What more do you want?”
Noah blinked, dragging himself back to the naked man—god—leaning over him. “I want you to writhe in pleasure.” He used Pan’s words.
Pan leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
“I have had centuries of that, of other people ensuring I was sated multiple times…don’t tell anyone, but it does get a little tiresome sometimes.
If I’d known it was so much fun to torture someone until they begged for mercy, I’d have done it a long time ago. ”
Noah felt his eyebrows rise. “Should I be concerned?”
“What? No. I’m not that kind of god. You may not have noticed, but I do not enjoy getting my hands dirty.”
His hand was currently wrapped around Noah’s dick and teasing drops of precum from the slit. Noah glanced between them. “Only sticky?”
Pan grinned, his teeth catching in the light. “Perhaps you should lick them clean for me.” He offered his fingers to Noah.
Noah opened his mouth and sucked both fingers, tasting himself. Pan watched him, which was less unnerving now he knew that it wasn’t to judge, but because he enjoyed watching.
He traced the wet fingers down Noah’s chest and rocked back on his heels before wrapping his hand around both cocks. “That is what you wanted?”
“Yes…or some lube.”
Pan worked his hand over the shafts and tilted his head. “Oil?”
Noah nodded, resisting the urge to thrust into Pan’s hand.
“And what would you do with that?”
“Um…” his cheeks heated. “Do you like being fucked?”
“I do…do you?”
“Sometimes.” It really depended on who he was with, and not usually with someone on the first night. The movement of his hand was making it very hard to think. His hips lifted, needing more of the hot, delicious friction.
“I could ride you like this, keep you on edge.”
“Like you aren’t doing that already.” A shiver of pleasure ran through him, which Pan cut off with a squeeze. Noah groaned loud enough that he was sure the person next door must have heard. “Have you heard of a quickie? Something fast for fun?”
“This is fun.” Pan’s eyes flashed gold. “Are you not enjoying it?”
His fingers clawed at the fur coat. He was enjoying everything, even though it was very different from anything he’d experienced before. “I am.”
But he craved release.
Pan released their dicks and dropped forward onto his hands. He thrust against him, found his lips, and thrust his tongue into his mouth.
Noah gasped, his back arching.
He didn’t care if Pan was grabbing bits of magic or sucking it out of him or whatever it was he did, but he sensed the otherness within him as magic unfurled, revealing the universe to him…if only he knew how to read it or reach for it.
Pan’s breath ghosted over his lips. “Join with me. Ask for a Strega.”
He wanted to say that he didn’t know how, but he felt Pan’s request reverberate through him and sensed the way it rippled through the very fabric of the universe.
“Fuck.” The word left his lips like a prayer as he came, head thrown back and every nerve ending sizzling.
Pan sighed as if the weight of responsibility had been lifted and lay on top of him. The edge of his horn pressed against Noah’s cheek in a way that would become uncomfortable soon…as would the mess now glueing them together.
“Perhaps I should let you worship me next time. I’d like to hear you beg me to ride your cock.”
Noah laughed. “Not everything is about magic and worship.”
“That is because you are not a god.”
“I don’t know what I am.”
“You are a selkie. That is how the drak read your aura.” Pan propped his head up on his hand. “Your magic is in the tides.”
“That really isn’t helpful.”
“You are thinking of the ocean, but that is only one kind of tide. The moon waxes and wanes, seasons wax and wane. Find the gap in the change, the moment before the direction shifts.”
“Why can I shift, but the werewolves and drak can’t?”
“I suspect it is because your shift is related to an external object. Selkies were seal hunters who were cursed by Sedna for failing to leave gifts after hunting. She’s lovely, but not a god to be crossed.”
“I feel as though that warning applies to all the gods.”
“It depends on the god. Most do not go around cursing and smiting, that takes rather a lot of effort. It’s much easier to let magic ensure your laces always unravel and that you always have food in your teeth or some other minor misery for the rest of your life. That way you never forget.”
Noah swallowed and wished he’d known what he was getting involved with, properly knew. “So one day you’re going to ensure I always have an ingrown hair or some other petty annoyance?”
“Do you plan on pissing me off?”
“No?” That wasn’t the kind of thing that got planned.
“Then don’t worry about it.” Pan pressed a kiss to his lips and rolled off him.
“But what if it’s a bad break-up?”
Pan paused halfway to the bathroom. “What do you mean?”
“When you get bored with me?”
“Why would I get bored with you?”
“When you get your magic back and no longer need me?” If he’d never been enough for his parents, how could he ever be enough for a god—even a god currently without magic.
He tilted his head. “You are the last selkie, some of my favorite people were selkies, and I like the idea of having a consort.”
Noah got off the bed and walked toward him, needing to wipe his belly. At least he wasn’t covered in goo. “So you’re claiming me?”
“Is that offensive? Plenty would beg for the honor.”
Noah wasn’t sure what the honor was. “Usually, you ask someone first if you want to date them.” He brushed past and picked up the cloth, wetting it in the bucket. He really wanted to go home and have a proper shower. “Plus, we don’t know each other very well.”
Pan squeezed his ass cheek as his lips brushed his shoulder. “I know you enough. Besides, you are already acting in that role.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are at my side, assisting me in my duties.”
“So not dating but consorting?” He handed the cloth to Pan. “What happened to your last consort?”
Pan wiped his stomach and dick. “I would love some hot water, a proper bath. I need to find out if there is an elvish bath house in this town.”
“I can get you a hot bath, no elves, but stop dodging the question.”
“She died. It was centuries ago.”
“How did she die?” Was Pan responsible? What was Noah getting himself—no, what was he already involved in?
“She was old and tired. Mortals aren’t supposed to live as long as gods.
She asked me to release her, and I did even though it broke me.
” He tossed the cloth into the bucket. “Perhaps since I am only acting Lord, I only need an acting consort.” There was an edge in his voice as if the topic should be closed.
“I’m sorry I asked you to remember.” Noah put his arms around him, and Pan leaned against him.
“It has been a long time since I thought of her.” He smiled.
“That is the curse of being a god. I can shape reality…but I cannot hold onto those I care about. Sometimes it is easier not to care. To exist only in the moment, but without magic, that is impossible. I am stuck like everyone else. And I hate it.” He put his arms around Noah.
“I don’t think anyone likes our current reality.” He rested his cheek against Pan’s head, careful not to stab himself with a horn.
“I should be able to change it.” Frustration vibrated through Pan, and he tapped his foot on the stone floor.
“How many times have you changed the course of history?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t history when it was happening.”
One day, this would all be history. The thought was almost too much. What would the books say about the collapse? “We are making history now, even if it’s not with magic.”
“I suppose you are right.” The tension left Pan’s body, and he sighed against Noah’s chest. “This is nice.”
“Yeah.” He usually preferred guys who were his height, but he liked the way Pan fitted in his arms. The way he cared about Noah…and everyone. “Can I ask a question?”
“I do not see why not.” Pan glanced up at him.
“How old are you?”
“I don’t know. Does it matter?”
“The age gap is rather a lot.” Which was an understatement.
“I can extend your life when I have magic. It is not a problem.”
Unless magic never came back…would Pan then be mortal and age and die?
“I’m trying to get to know you.”
“Then you can do it in bed, where it is warmer.” Pan took his hand and pulled him toward the bed. “What do you really want to know?”
Everything, though that was impossible. “What is your earliest memory of this world?”
Pan flipped back the blankets. “I should be able to answer that, to find the memory in the magic…” He frowned and indicated for Noah to get in first. “I will have to get back to you as it will take me a while.”
“Oh.” Noah slid across the bed and Pan got in next ot him.
“Do you want to know what I did as a god in this world?”
“I guess that’s what I’m asking.” His cheeks heated. “And if we’re going to keep doing this, I should ask if…”
Pan looked at him, which didn’t help, as the heat spread from his cheeks, down his throat to his chest.
“Oh, this will be a good question if you are squirming just thinking it.” Pan moved closer, his hand sliding over Noah’s thigh, which made it harder to think.
“You’ve slept with a lot of people.”
“Mmm, you do not seem jealous.”
“Did magic stop you from catching anything…any illnesses?”
“Are you worried about satyr pox and soldier’s sores?” Pan pressed him against the pillow and leaned over him. “Do you have them?”
“No…I don’t know what they are, but sure, maybe that’s what you call some human sexually transmitted diseases, and I don’t have them either.” This was not going the way he’d imagined. He hated these conversations.
Pan lay half over him, staring down at him, looking slightly concerned. “I’ve never been sick, and Feryn would’ve said if he tasted something in my blood. What if I can catch the pox because I don’t have magic?”
“Don’t sleep with satyrs?” It probably wasn’t right to ask a god to only sleep with him.
“There are none here anyway. They were my other favorite people.” His smile slipped. “I hope they survived. Did that answer your question?”
No, it had raised a dozen more. “I only wanted to know if I should find some condoms.”
“Those hideous things made of sheep gut? Whatever for, it’s not as though either one of us is going to get pregnant.”
Noah pressed a kiss to his lips. “You really need to catch up to the present.”
“I am trying.”
“Very.” His mother had said that about him, and as the word left his lips, he realized that it was a mean joke. He pulled Pan closer and rolled onto his side, so their legs were tangled together. “You are trying, and we don’t need to worry as neither of us has satyr pox.”
“I am worried about other human diseases. Is typhus still a problem? What if I cut myself and die of lockjaw?”
“If there is enough magic in you for us to be drawn together, I think you’ll be fine.”
“That’s a good point.” Pan relaxed. “Would you like to hear a story from a time I do remember in this world?”
“Yeah. That would be nice.”
“You will owe me a story.”
“I have less to choose from.” It wouldn’t be that bad.
“You can tell me how you met Web and Liam.”
Noah groaned.
“Digging through the past is not always fun.” Pan propped himself up on one elbow. “I have no idea when this was. Though it was before Zeus decided to make a name for himself, or at least use that name. Obviously, he’d been popular before.”
“Obviously.” Noah rolled his eyes.
“Do not mock Zeus, he can be a real pain in the ass…he’s the reason I ended up tending a flock of goats in the middle of nowhere.”
“Why goats?”
“Because of my horns. He thought it was hilarious. But the joke was on him as I created a whole new following.” Pan smiled. “Stories need to be told from the beginning, so back to the bet…”