32. Finally, cuddles
32
Finally, cuddles
Talon
N idori had built a little nest on the bedside table and settled down to sleep. She was out in seconds, tiny squeaks of snores rising from her bed. Small cracks of sunlight filtered through tiny holes in the door, but apart from that, it was well-sheltered in here.
Kaine pulled off his shirt and climbed into the bed. I started pulling out my bedroll from my pack.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Kaine asked as I spread it out on the floor.
“Trying to sleep.”
“We have a bed, Talon. Unless you prefer to sleep on the hard floor. Alone.” He patted the mattress beside him. A warm feeling fluttered in my chest. He wanted me there?
“Oh,” I said, the bedroll hanging limply in my arms. “I don’t think—”
“Talon, come here this instant,” he said. It was a welcome invite, but I eyed the bed doubtfully. I’d never shared a bed with anyone before. I took up a lot of space. He crossed his arms, and I walked over.
“Shirt off,” he said. “Or no deal. ”
I rolled my eyes but complied, sitting down next to him and pulling off my shirt. I glanced down at him—he was settling under the cover. I shifted backwards, trying to figure out how to lie without taking over the whole bed.
I cautiously lay down next to him, folding my wings tight. There actually did seem to be enough room. He pulled me closer, and I flinched as his freezing feet touched my legs.
“You’re so cold!” I protested.
“Nonsense.” He surprised me by arranging my arms around him, as if we did this every night. Warmth fluttered in my chest as I breathed in his crisp scent and felt his head nuzzle into my neck. I couldn’t believe, a week ago, I hadn’t known he even existed; right now, it felt like I’d known him forever.
His skin was soft, smooth, and definitely cool, no matter what he said. Being pressed against him this close summoned memories of the other times we’d touched. The way our bodies had tangled together. My blood was heating at the thought. His fingers were resting on my chest, gently moving in a rhythmic pattern.
For a moment, it was just us. No impending death. No unhappy ending. I clung to that moment, desperate to remain in it.
“Everything must feel cold to you,” Kaine said after a moment, looking up at me. His long lashes framed his pale blue eyes, and I stared, getting lost for a moment before I realised I should respond.
“Yup. I think I can count on my hands the number of times I’ve actually felt warm. But you”—I poked his chest, narrowing my eyes— “are particularly frigid.”
“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows. “In that case, I better stop torturing you.” He turned over, moving away.
I pulled him back with a growl before I could stop myself .
“Oh, you do like it?” he said, feigning surprise. His smirk gave him away, though.
In response, I leaned forward and kissed him, drawing him closer to me. I took his lower lip, sucking on it gently before he shifted. The kiss became more intense, passionate, our mouths parting, and I felt his sharp fangs brush my tongue. I opened my mouth more, and our tongues glided together, mine aching to unsheathe. My hands found his body, tracing down the side of his torso, soaking in every sculpted line and perfect muscle. My cock throbbed, fully hardening and demanding more.
He broke off, glancing down, his long lashes brushing his cheeks. His gaze lingered on my neck.
“Do you…want some of my blood again?” I asked, my heart speeding up.
“I’ve been wondering how long you’d go before inviting me back,” he murmured. “Can’t get enough?”
“I don’t think I could ever get enough of you,” I said automatically. The words sent a jolt of fear through me as they left my lips.
“All right. But first, you have to do as you’re told.” He rolled onto his back, pulling me over so I was kneeling over him, caging him with my arms. I could feel his erection pressing against me and shifted my hips eagerly. “I saw something in you today,” he said, eyes flashing with desire. “When you fought…it was like you were unleashed. Untethered.”
I felt torn. The rage I slipped into when I killed wasn’t something I felt I should be proud of. Yet hearing that Kaine liked it sent a dangerous thrill through me.
“Spread out your wings as much as you can,” he commanded.
I slowly unfurled them, stretching them out as far as I could in the small room. I felt massive, looming over him like this. He gazed at me appreciatively, his hands trailing down my torso, my abs, teasing around my shaft. My breathing was heavy as I awaited his direction. He looked so perfect, tangled in the sheets below me. His lips were slightly pink from our kiss, his hair messy and his shirt half off.
“Bend down to me, Talon,” he said, and I obeyed, lowering myself over him, elbows placed on either side of his head. My hair fell around my face as I gazed into his pale eyes. His mouth opened in a delighted smile, his tongue trailing along the sharp points of his elongated canines. I swallowed, my mouth dry.
“Now, stay still,” he whispered, and pulled me down, brushing his lips along my neck. My cock jerked, straining towards him.
Here I was. His, even for a moment. A dangerous thought fluttered into my head. I could make this permanent. All it would take was a simple question.
Can you help me?
I recoiled from the thought. That path would lead to death.
I held myself above him as his teeth pierced my skin, claiming me. Taking me. His nails dug into my back, but I held steady. He bit deeper and arched towards me, pulling me down, and I had to latch on to the wall with my wing to not crush him. I groaned from the intensity of the bite. Every muscle I had was trembling from the effort, but he’d told me to stay still. Pleasure was building within me as I held fast against his grip, and he drank deeply.
He shifted, his hand stroking my hair before he pulled off, sinking back down into the bed and looking at me as he let out a sigh. His breathing was heavy, blood smeared on his lips. His eyes were glazed, a faraway half smile resting on his lips. I had done that.
It ached, how gorgeous he looked beneath me. His lean frame, the smoothness of his skin, the prominent muscles around his shoulders, accented by his slender collarbones. My neck throbbed, but I didn’t want to heal it. It was a mark that he had been there.
His eyes focused again, sliding back to look at me.
He rested a hand on my chest, pushing me up and then down to the floor. He stepped off the bed and came with me, kneeling in front of me, his hands trailing up my wings. I reached out, touching him, feeling the strong muscles in his back shifting as he moved. I traced my finger down his spine and he shivered. He reached up, taking my horn and forcing my head back. Fuck, I loved it when he did that. He leaned closer and traced his lips along the bite mark on my neck, licking the last few drops.
“Are you mine, Talon?” he whispered next to my ear. A shiver ran through me.
“Completely,” I breathed. It was the truth right now, at least.
Forever , I wanted to say, but those words couldn’t leave my lips. They would be a beautiful lie, a promise I longed for but couldn’t deliver.
“Good,” he said, rising so he was above me.
He trailed his finger up my wing, lingering on the talon on the top. His fingertip pressed into the sharp point, drawing a drop of blood.
I was trying to be patient, be perfect as I waited for him, but my tail gave me away, lashing behind me as I gazed up at him. I needed to touch him. I leaned closer, lips brushing against his abs, trailing down, kissing and nipping his skin. He let out a moan of pleasure, and I went to continue, but he stopped me.
“Take them off,” Kaine said, guiding my hands to his pants. I reverently slid them down, revealing his hard, slim length. It was flushed a darker colour than his surrounding skin, and I unsheathed my tongue as I took in the prominent veins winding up the shaft, and the tip already wet with pre-cum .
I gazed up at him, and his hand caressed my face, a nail digging into my skin. My breathing was shaky, and my tail lashed again, the sight of his naked body sending more blood to my erection, to the point it was almost painful. My tongue was pounding, split already, and I wanted to taste him. He had different plans, though.
“I want…to watch you. On your knees, touching yourself. Now,” he said. He didn’t have to ask twice. My dick was in my hand, the friction pure bliss to my swollen skin.
He watched me, biting his lip. My cheeks were burning under his gaze, but his arrogant posture, his narrowed eyes, were just turning me on even more.
“Mmm. You’re so perfect for me, Talon. So desperate.”
I wasn't going to last long if he kept looking at me like that. He walked away and sat down on the bed, leaning on his elbow. I moaned as he started touching himself as well, hooded eyes watching me. His manner was almost lazy, relaxed, just taking me in. I couldn’t take my eyes off his hand working his shaft. The tip let out another bead of wetness, and just the sight of that enraptured me, tipping me over the edge. The pleasure that had been building inside me burst forth, and I moaned as it took me over, searing through my body and gripping my mind.
“Good boy,” drawled Kaine as I panted, letting the orgasm work its way through me. When I had finished, he beckoned me towards him. “Come here. Kneel in front of me.”
I came, settling in front, where he lounged on the bed. He sat forward, grabbing my hair and pulling me against him. His cock brushed against my chest as his hands continued to work the silky hardness. I gazed up at him, my hands reaching around and caressing his thighs, his ass .
“You could be mine, Talon,” he said, his hand twisting my hair as he climaxed. His cum spilled onto my chest, marking me. I clutched him close.
He held me for a second more, our eyes locked. We were both panting, and I tried to move away, but he didn’t let me go.
“You’re not tempted?” he asked, thumb stroking my cheek. I opened my mouth to form the obvious answer, no, but we both knew that was a lie.
“You don’t really want me,” I said, breaking his gaze. This was just a game he liked to play. As if he actually wanted me to stay with them.
I was a failure. I’d had one job my whole life, and I’d failed at it- not from lack of trying but because it wasn’t possible for me to do it. I’d even abandoned Hulm, the only other person who had cared about me. I had nothing to offer.
He gripped my chin, gazing at me. “I do.”
Unable to take the intensity of his gaze, I pulled away. He let me go, and I didn’t look at him as I went to clean up.
I stared at myself in the grungy mirror in the tiny bathroom. Blue-in-black eyes stared back. I splashed some water on my face. What was wrong with me? Why was I even considering knowingly handing away my freedom to Kaine? Sure, the thought was hot. But there was more to it than that. He wanted me. Nidori wanted me. But that wasn’t a reason to sell my soul. Perhaps…they both needed me.
I snorted at the arrogance of the thought. But really…the thought of them alone together worried me. Both of them had been trapped for hundreds of years and were just figuring out what being free meant. Nidori was far too trusting, and Kaine was far too untrusting. I think they maybe did need me.
That didn’t mean I should sell my soul, though .
I left, taking the wet towels we had used for cleaning and quietly entering the main room again. I paused as Nidori stirred, turning to look at me. Her eyes were rimmed red, and she sniffed.
“Can’t sleep?” I asked, softening as I looked at her. She shook her head.
I put my laundry down, washed my hands, and scooped her up. “Come with me, bee,” I said, and she giggled sadly, leaning her head on my chest.
I returned to bed and placed her on my pillow. Kaine turned sleepily and reached up, stroking her hair.
I climbed in and pulled up the blanket, settling my head next to her. She pressed a tiny kiss to Kaine’s forehead and climbed up past my shoulder, settling into the soft folds of my wing.
“Don’t squish me,” she said, poking her head out. Kaine lifted his head, looking concerned.
“Don’t worry, Nidori. It’d be pretty uncomfortable for me to squish my wing like that. You’re safe there.”
“Good,” she grumbled. “Because I’d definitely come back as a ghost to make you suffer.”
I chuckled, laying my head down on the pillow.
-
I woke as the light was dimming and the sun was close to setting. Kaine’s arm was wrapped over my chest possessively, as if now that he’d claimed me, he didn’t want to let me go. I could feel Nidori curled up where she’d fallen asleep, tucked into my wing.
I lay there, not wanting to disturb either of them, happiness washing over me as I soaked in their presence, their closeness.
Eventually, Nidori stirred, poking her head out and giving a big stretch. “I’m never going to sleep in a nest again,” she announced. “It’ll have to be your wing from now on. ”
“Sure,” I said. “Though, if you get a big form, you might have some trouble fitting.”
She sat up straight, looking worried. “We have to test this. Kaine’s a normal size, right?”
“Yes, but—” I started. Nidori had already hopped over to Kaine and was shaking his shoulder.
“Hmm?” he said, lifting his head.
“Kaine, this is important,” she hissed. He blinked, rubbing his eyes. “I need to see if you will fit in Talon’s wing.”
“Of course,” he mumbled, dragging himself upright. He yawned. “What an excellent reason to wake me up.”
“I don’t think—” I started, but Nidori fluttered over and started trying to pull my wing open. “Nidori, really? We can do this later.”
“Kaine, he’s not cooperating,” she said, pulling hard. I sighed, and Kaine sat up, a grin slowly blooming on his face.
“I can help with that.” Kaine whispered something in Nidori’s ear. She nodded.
“Guys. I’m not doing this right now,” I said, trying to get up.
Kaine grabbed me and pulled me back down to the bed. I twisted, about to put my full strength into standing when Nidori zoomed to my stomach and started tickling me.
Shit. I was very ticklish and collapsed into a heap, trying to twist away, but she moved to the side, darting in and out of reach.
“Not. Fair,” I wheezed as Kaine wrenched my wing open and slid between two of my long metacarpals.
“Ha,” he said, settling in triumphantly. “Plenty of room, Nidori.”
I managed to bat Nidori away and tried to shake him off, but he clung on, weighing down my wing.
“It’s nice here,” he said, jamming himself further inside .
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I said flatly, giving up and sitting down.
“Good.” Nidori landed on the bed. “Then, it’s decided. I’ll be sleeping there, no matter what.”
“No,” I said. “There’s no way I’d be able to sleep like that.”
Kaine climbed out, and I snapped my wing back, closing it with a click.
“I’m sure he’ll come round,” he said, giving Nidori a wink.
“I can sleep on one side, and you can go on the other!” she said brightly.
“Um, I’m right here, guys,” I said.
“Hush, darling, the adults are talking,” said Kaine, and Nidori burst into fits of giggles.
I stood, ready for breakfast. And to get some space from these two.
Nidori followed soon after.
“Look!” Kaine called. “Wine!” He walked out of the back room triumphantly, clutching a bottle in each hand.
“We’re about to leave,” I pointed out.
“We’ll have to take it with us.”
“Will you be carrying it?” I asked.
He laughed. “What are all those muscles for, if we don’t make use of them?” he asked, coming over and squeezing my bicep. He bit his lower lip and squeezed again.
“I’m not a pack mule,” I grumbled.
“Look, we’ll drink them in the morning. Then, you only have to carry them overnight.”
“So, it’s true.” Nidori wrinkled her nose. “You really do enjoy drinking rotten fruit.”
“The term you’re looking for is fermented , dear.”
He undid my pack, slipping the bottles inside.