Chapter 20
Twenty
Zamir
"Keoni said all that?" Khush asked, and I nodded.
We'd stayed at the Sanctuary until everything reverted back in the evening. Zephyr had done it on his own, and while I hadn't seen him before I left, I didn't doubt that he'd exhausted himself.
Everyone had a lot of work to do—some areas needed to be repaired, and some people had lost some of their things—so I'd promised I'd visit Khush and Dustin to give them an update.
It'd been too late by the time we got out last night, so we'd waited until after breakfast today to come visit them.
"I wish we were there," Dustin said, then amended, "I mean, not really because—" He waved at his belly, and I smiled. I couldn't wait to meet their child. I'd never been around babies, but I imagined they were as—if not more—cute as the many fur babies I'd taken care of.
"Trust me. Everyone was glad you weren't. You're much safer here, for now."
Dustin nodded, though I knew he wasn't happy about it. He'd only been a part of the family for about ten months, but that didn't matter in the least. He adored everyone, and everyone adored him. That was who he was.
"How are you two doing?" he asked, his brows dancing as he glanced from me to Nolan.
I turned my gaze to my mate, and my lips curved in a smile instantly.
"Awww," Dustin said, and a blush raced up my cheeks as I looked at him. "You two are so sweet."
I shook my head, and quickly changed the subject to Nolan's pets before Dustin could embarrass me further.
We talked about that for a while, then about the baby, who was due to arrive in this world in a few short weeks.
"I hope things will be fixed before that. I want to have the baby in the Sanctuary," Dustin murmured, and Khush squeezed his arm.
"I hope so too."
I hoped Keoni's words—harsh as they were—would have some effect on Zephyr. He needed help, and he needed to accept the help freely being offered to him.
I didn't know what was stopping him, but I knew it wasn't because Zephyr thought he was better than us. He'd never given me that impression, and I didn't want to think badly of him.
No, this was about something else.
We left Khush and Dustin's a little before lunch, and made our way back to Nolan's place.
"You okay?" he asked as we walked inside, and I hummed, then turned to him.
"I want to stop thinking about Zephyr, about the Sanctuary. Just for today. Can we do that?"
Nolan pulled me close, his palm soft against my cheek, and he rested his forehead against mine, his skin warm and smooth.
"Of course. What would you like to do?"
"I want..." I murmured, trying to think of something fun. "I want to try befriending the Murder Triplets."
Nolan chuckled, his green eyes sparkled, and I realized with a slow, floaty feeling in my chest that I was falling in love with him.
I beamed at him, and he smirked, then shook his head as he pulled back. "You're that excited about befriending my chickens?"
I nodded, wanting to keep the realization to myself for the moment.
"I think the first step would be to stop calling them the Murder Triplets," he teased, and I snorted.
"I suppose you're right. Wait. What are their names again?" I asked as the chickens pattered over, their heads bobbing in an eerie sync as they gazed at me.
Nolan chuckled. "Taco, Nugget, and Roast," he said as he pointed to each of them, though the only way I could tell them apart was by the different colored t-shirts they wore.
"So... food, food, and food?" I joked, and he rolled his eyes at me.
"And you wonder why they want to murder you."
"I do! Because you gave them those names and I did nothing. Why do they hate me?"
I sat on the floor, and stared at the middle bird, Nugget. She was always in the lead, so I figured she was the boss.
"Please be my friend," I said, and she clucked. She took a step toward me, and I went still, curious to see what she'd do.
She hopped another step, then another until her small body pressed against my knee. She eyed me, then hopped up on my leg, fluttering her wings as she found her balance.
"Whoa," I murmured, carefully holding out a finger. She pecked at it, her beak hard but not too sharp. Her tongue tickled my finger, and I bit back a chuckle.
She pulled back, clucked, and fluttered back to the floor. Then the three pattered away as if they'd gotten what they came for, and I glanced up at Nolan.
"What just happened?"
"I think they decided not to murder you," Nolan said with a laugh, and I shook my head. He offered his hand, and I took it, laughing when he pulled me up in a quick motion that slammed me into his chest.
Nolan slid his arm around my waist, his smile soft as he gazed at me, and I grinned up at him.
"I think I deserve a reward for winning them over."
"Oh yeah?" Nolan leaned closer, his green eyes sparkling as he brushed his lips over mine, then pulled back.
I nodded. "A big reward," I murmured, cupping his cock, and heat filled his eyes.
His hand tightened around mine as he stepped back, and then he pulled me into his bedroom.
He slammed the door shut, then pressed me against it, his lips hovering inches from mine as he slid a leg between mine and pressed his hard length against my hip.
"Is this what you want?" he asked as he dipped his head and brushed his lips over my neck, his teeth scraping against the skin. Without looking, I could tell he was tracing the streak of red that colored my skin.
I moaned, arching my neck as I offered myself to him, and he made a satisfied sound as he bit down. It wasn't hard enough to pierce my skin, but the pain sent a bolt of pleasure rocking through me.
Nolan pulled back, then dragged me to the bed. I climbed on gracelessly, my blood rushing through my veins as Nolan followed me. He pushed me into the mattress, covered my body, and claimed my lips in a heated kiss that branded me as his.
Nolan
Zamir was warm and pliant under me, his lips soft and wet against mine, and I pinned him to the bed as I devoured his mouth, swallowing all his little sounds before they could escape his mouth.
Desire raced through my veins like my fire, burning and heating me up from the inside.
The less-controlled part of me wanted to rip his shirt apart so I could touch his skin, but I held myself in check.
I pulled back slowly, and my fingers trembled as I forced my hands to slowly work his shirt over his head.
Zamir watched me with wide, needy eyes as he leaned up so I could remove his shirt, and I hummed as I threw the shirt away, my eyes drawn to the beautiful colors splashed over his chest.
Zamir sucked in a breath as I trailed my fingers over the red and orange wisps, and satisfaction filled me at the sight of them. Those were my marks on his skin, my life force inside him, giving him strength and vitality.
"So smug," Zamir murmured with a small smile, and I blinked. Ah, he could see my emotions. He hadn't used his powers much since he rediscovered them, and I hadn't asked. I'd assumed it was overwhelming after years of not using them.
"I like seeing my marks on you," I said with a shrug, and he grinned. Glancing down, he traced a long, red streak with his finger, his smile softening.
"I like them too."
I knew that was a big deal for him, that he hadn't liked any of the other marks on his skin, and that made me feel even better.
"Stop being so smug," he said with a laugh, and I smirked.
"Nope."
Zamir rolled his eyes, and he was about to say something when I removed my shirt, but he closed his mouth without uttering a word, his eyes wide and heated as they trailed over my bare chest.
He grabbed my shoulders and tugged me to him, and we kissed, soft and slow, hard and fast. He tugged at my lip rings, and made a delighted sound when I grunted. I retaliated by biting his lower lip, and sucked on it, only releasing it once it was plump and red.
"Fuck," Zamir murmured with a shake of his head, and I chuckled.
I sat up, and he whined in protest until I reached for his pants. He arched his hips, and I quickly pulled his pants and underwear off, then removed my own, throwing all the clothes over the side of the bed.
I grabbed a bottle of lube before moving between Zamir's legs, and his eyes slid from me to the lube, then darkened. I raised a brow at him, and he nodded quickly. I wasn't sure he understood exactly what I was asking, but he would in a minute.
After kissing him once more, I poured some lube on my fingers, then reached behind me as Zamir's eyes widened.
"What?" he mumbled, then shook his head. "Wait, stop!"
Shit, maybe I should've used my words.
I pulled my hand away from myself instantly, my fingers curling into a fist. "Sorry. I should've asked."
Zamir shook his head, then sat up. He moved back a little, and I swallowed hard. Had I completely turned him off?
Over the centuries, I'd been with quite a few people, and while I'd topped and bottomed—and enjoyed both—more often than not, they expected that because I was older and stronger, I must top. I'd assumed that wouldn't be the case here since we were mates, but maybe I was wrong?
Before I could apologize for making assumptions, Zamir took the bottle of lube from my hand. "Turn around," he said, voice soft, and I blinked, then did as he'd asked.
He pressed his palm between my shoulder blades, pushing gently, and I leaned forward, bracing myself on my hands and knees as I understood what he wanted.
His hands moved to my ass, and he parted my cheeks before I felt his tongue against my entrance.
I sucked in a sharp breath, and he bit my right ass cheek before the tip of his tongue pushed into me, wet and hot.
I groaned as I pressed my face into my shoulder, as he slid deeper inside me before pulling back.
Zamir fucked me with his tongue, and my fingers curled into the sheets as sparks of pleasure raced up and down my spine.
"Zamir," I warned, and a soft laugh escaped his lips, his breath washing over my wet, heated hole. His tongue slid out, and he licked over my hole one last time before the heat of him disappeared for a moment.
I hung there, panting softly, but it wasn't long before his slick finger pushed inside me with ease, and I groaned as I pushed back into his digit, fucking myself on it.
"More," I demanded, and Zamir chuckled but complied, adding another finger to my hole. I moaned as he stretched me, as his fingers moved in and out of me, and before long, I was ready for another finger.
It only took a couple of minutes before I decided I was ready for his cock, but instead of saying anything, I pulled myself off his fingers, then turned around. I pushed him until he was flat on his back, then straddled his hips as he watched me with wide, heated eyes.
I raised a brow at him, and he nodded quickly. I grabbed his length, and lowered myself on it, sucking in a breath as he breached me, as his thick cock spread me open and filled me.
"Fuck," Zamir gasped as he reached up to grab my hips, and I grunted, agreeing with him wholeheartedly as I bottomed out.
Zamir felt so fucking good inside me. His cock was hard and hot and fit just right. He fit like he belonged there, like we were made for this.