Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
Taron was still complaining about Zephyr dropping him when they headed outside.
Peri would feel bad, especially since Wash hadn’t bothered to put him down, and he’d gotten a free ride to where the rest of the group was gathering, but the smirk on Zephyr’s face made him think this was just how they interacted.
Taron complained, Zephyr teased him, and Tony made it all better.
He could already see the human giving them both an exasperating smile filled with affection as he came to soothe Taron’s ruffled feathers.
“We’re on a team today,” Peri informed Wash, hugging his neck a little. “I made sure couples could stay together this time.”
“Thank the goddess,” Wash grumbled. “I would’ve feigned injury if you weren’t on my team for whatever insanity Taron had planned.”
Since Peri had checked his injury that morning and it was almost fully healed already, he probably wouldn’t have gotten away with that, but he didn’t say it out loud. His grumpy demon was just doing his usual grumbling. He’d have fun eventually.
“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Taron called their group to attention, standing on top of a picnic table with Zephyr hovering beside him, one hand on Taron’s leg to steady him.
Taron didn’t complain about the protectiveness, his focus on the group as they gathered around.
“As we all know, this is our last afternoon here. The work week waits for no one, and we’ve got plenty of ideas to tackle when we go back.
I know you’re all sad about that, and I wish we could stay here longer and continue to have fun with each other—” The group chuckled, and Taron winked at them.
“—But don’t worry. I’ve planned something epic as a final bonding event for us. ”
“Am I getting heavy?” Peri whispered into Wash’s ear. His grip hadn’t faltered in the slightest, but Peri hadn’t expected to stay on his back during the whole speech.
“Not possible,” Wash smirked.
Peri rewarded his sweetness with a kiss on his cheek, getting more comfortable on Wash’s back.
If it bothered his wings, Wash didn’t say anything, but to his knowledge, demon wings weren’t sensitive like fairy wings were.
He’d lost track by now of the number of times Wash had lain on his back during sex with Peri on top of him. He never mentioned it bothering him.
Taron’s laughter drew him back to the conversation, and he watched as his friend put his hands up in surrender, his innocent grin failing to miss its mark entirely. “Relax, relax. I promise, none of the legs of this race are dangerous.”
“Alistair saw the plans,” Elijah pointed out from somewhere on the right. Peri couldn’t see him with all the giant supes in the way. “He approved them. I trust his judgment.”
“So do I,” Ozen agreed and Brennus nodded.
They might not be willing to trust Taron, which seemed a little unfair to Peri, but they trusted Alistair.
Peri was curious as to why, but he couldn’t ask Wash.
Alistair was Elijah’s anchor, and Peri still hadn’t figured out a way to get Wash to talk more openly about his brother.
All eyes swung to Alistair, who dipped his chin once. “It’s fine. Think relay race with obstacles.”
“Obstacles?” Wash muttered under his breath, shooting Peri a suspicious look. “What kind of obstacles?”
Since Peri knew Wash was just as protective as Alistair, he felt it was better to be honest and explain.
“For anyone with wings, there are moving hoops to fly through, controlled by spells from one of the staff members. I told Taron I couldn’t fly as high as Maverick or you can, so he made two legs, one with higher hoops and one with lower ones. ”
He felt Wash stiffen beneath him, and when he released Peri’s legs, Peri slipped off his back, coming around the front to look at him. “Hey… What’s wrong?”
“I don’t… I don’t like flying in front of other people.”
Peri frowned, cocking his head. He’d never mentioned that before. “Why not?”
Wash’s expression darkened, and he looked away, a muscle ticking in his jaw. He looked like he didn't want to explain, which hurt Peri a little. They were boyfriends. They should be able to tell each other anything.
“Do you not trust me?” He couldn’t help the wobble in his voice, even though he tried to hide it. He didn’t want Wash to feel obligated to explain if he really didn’t want to.
Thankfully, Wash didn’t get angry about it, drawing Peri into his arms and resting his head on Peri’s. His voice was low, a grumbling whisper so he wouldn’t be overheard by the crowd who was still listening to Taron’s spiel about the race and what they could expect.
“I do trust you, baby. I just don’t like making you sad.”
Which meant the reason Wash didn’t want to fly would make Peri sad.
He wanted to look up, to reassure his boyfriend that he could keep a rein on his emotions, but maybe it was better if he didn’t.
He’d be able to mask his tears better hiding his face if Wash was right and it really did make him sad.
“I’ll be okay,” he urged reassuringly. “Tell me so I can tell you you’re wrong and the best and the hottest demon in all the realms.”
Wash snorted, which eased some of his tension, and hugged Peri a little closer.
He didn't answer right away, and Peri didn’t rush him, half listening as Taron started going over team assignments and who chose the teams. Tony did, with a little help from Dorian, to make sure they were split up evenly with enough supes with wings in each group to make it fair.
With a sigh, Wash admitted, “I was teased when I was younger for being small. ‘Hugo the imp’ was a popular title for me. If they saw me flying, it only got worse. I stopped flying around other people just so I didn’t have to hear it anymore and get into another fight.”
He was right, that did make Peri sad, but it also made him unbelievably angry. He straightened, scowling. “Those jerks! Why are kids so mean? You’re perfect as you are! They were probably just jealous!”
Wash studied him for a long moment before finally asking, “You really believe that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do!” Peri insisted, stomping his foot.
“I like you just how you are. You make me feel safe and protected without that little voice in the back of my head telling me that if I’m not careful, you could accidentally hurt me just by leaning on me or something.
You’re just the right size for me. Anyone who says any differently can say it to my face! ”
It didn’t happen often that he got so angry, he was a happy person in general, but when he did, he didn’t hide it.
Peri had always worn his emotions on his sleeve, and he wasn’t going to pretend he wasn’t mad that people mistreated his boyfriend.
He wished he had been there. He would have put those bullies in their place and–
His stomach flipped as Wash teleported them far enough away to be out of sight while they could still hear the group talking nearby.
Peri opened his mouth to ask what was going on when Wash’s lips crashed against his in a rough demanding kiss.
He squeaked in surprise, the sound melting into a moan as Wash dragged him closer, plastering them together so tightly, it was almost impossible to tell where Peri began and Wash ended.
Hands groped and tightened, breaths mingled.
It was the kind of kiss that Peri would dream about, filled with an emotion that wanted to burst out singing.
He held it back, because it felt too soon, but that didn’t mean he felt it any less.
He was in love with a grumpy demon, and if he had his way, they would have stayed like that forever.
Wash’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and Peri’s started ringing a second later.
Their absence had been noticed, and because Peri liked his ringtone too much to silence it, the group would find them soon.
Supes had excellent hearing and the VP of the interdimensions division was a werewolf.
Their hearing was better than anyone else’s.
The growl that came out of his boyfriend was demonic and didn’t help Peri get his libido under control. He was all riled up after a kiss like that, and knowing he wouldn’t be getting off any time soon made him whimper.
“I’m sorry,” Wash grumbled against his lips, kissing them softly in an apology. “I didn't mean to go that far.”
“How far did you mean for it to go?” he asked breathlessly.
A slow grin pulled at Wash’s lips. “Okay, maybe I did, but I’d fully planned on getting you off before we had to go back.”
Whining, Peri asked, “Do we have to go back?”
“Yes, you do!” Taron shouted far enough away that he wouldn’t immediately stumble onto their hiding spot but close enough that they only had seconds to get themselves back to rights. “This event is mandatory! Get your butts back here!”
Wash groaned, which made Peri snicker, but they eventually detangled themselves from each other and headed back to join the group. Wash refused to teleport, saying he wasn’t going to rush back to something he dreaded, and Peri didn’t complain. He needed a few minutes to cool off anyway.
Taron found them on the walk back, throwing an arm around Peri’s shoulders in a friendly way that made Peri beam at him. He always liked being physically affectionate with his friends. And Taron never held back, not even when Wash tried to jerk Peri away and glared at him.
“Hey!” Taron pointed a finger sternly at him. “He was my friend first. Don’t be selfish.”
Peri pursed his lips thoughtfully. Technically, that wasn’t true.
He hadn’t met Taron until he’d already had a solid crush on Wash and was looking for any kind of excuse to get close to him.
It wasn’t easy, Wash was a busy man, so he was glad that Taron had asked for help getting Wash to relax more.
It gave him permission to be more demanding of Wash’s attention.
The pout Taron shot him made him laugh, and he bobbed his head just so Taron wouldn’t be sad. “Friends share. That’s a rule.”
“I’m all about sharing,” Taron nodded. “I have to be. I have two mates. I had to learn to share my sweet Tony with Zephyr so I could keep them both.”
“A hard learned lesson,” Zephyr grunted, snatching Taron away once they stepped out of the tree line.
Wash had teleported them to one of the treasure hunt locations, so they hadn’t been that far away.
Taron didn’t argue with his mate, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips before he was bouncing back to join the rest.
“‘Hard’ is definitely a word I’d use to describe it!” Taron called back with a cackle, squealing when Zephyr took off after him. Peri snickered as the couple chased each other around until Taron went for Tony and was saved from Zephyr just by being in the human’s vicinity.
Once they rejoined the group, Taron spun to face Wash, his expression surprisingly serious when he said, “I understand if you’re not feeling up to flying after yesterday. You got hurt too. We figured Peri could just do the lower ones twice if you’d be more comfortable sitting it out.”
Wash shook his head, not taking the out Taron offered him. “I appreciate it, but I’m good. I’ll do my part.” He glanced at Peri, and Peri felt his heart skip when an affectionate smile ghosted across his face. “I’ve got a long weekend to earn.”