Chapter Seven
Moonbeams shone brightly through the trees, giving the forest an almost strobe light effect as he ran through the woods, using his vampire speed.
Stone had no idea what he fled. He only knew he couldn’t stop moving.
The scent of blood and tiny hearts beating assailed his senses.
He was hungry in a way he hadn’t been since he was a fledgling.
If he stopped moving, he would do something terrible. Stone didn’t want to harm anyone else.
Sunshine suddenly parted the trees. The moon was all but forgotten.
His pace slowed. Stone didn’t have the same energy in the daylight.
In the light, nothing looked the same. His anxiety vanished.
The only blood he smelled was the sweetest of drinks.
The only heartbeat beat for him. Standing ankle-deep in a creek, Lysander kicked through the water.
His glow outshone the sun. The smile he wore was all Stone saw.
“I knew you’d come.” Stone had no idea why he said that. But as the words had left his lips, Stone realized exactly how true they were.
Eyes, a mixture of blue and green, turned his way. Lysander’s smile didn’t dim. “Hey, gorgeous. I’ll always come for you.”
Stone smiled at the innuendo. “Well, I mean, you should. I work hard to make you happy.”
Lysander’s eyes sparkled with happiness. He bit his bottom lip as his gaze swept down Stone’s body. “Hard indeed.”
Yeah, there was likely no hiding his erection. Lysander didn’t even have to touch him to bring him to life.
Lysander’s expression changed. His bottom lip shot out. “Too bad this is only a dream. You won’t feel my touch for real here.”
Stone looked around. He supposed he had known that. Everything had a dream-like quality. Nothing looked solid or real, except Lysander. He saw every inch of him.
“We should definitely wake up so I can show my appreciation for having you as my better half.”
“Sorry, can’t.”
Lysander made the claim nonchalantly, as if Stone should have noticed by now that he couldn’t wake. He fought harder to get back to the real Lysander.
“I am the real Lysander. We’re connected with each other’s minds, remember, and Frost knocked me out too.”
Stone moved closer to the water’s edge. “Too? What do you mean? Why would he do that?”
Lysander climbed onto a large rock and jumped toward Stone.
Stone automatically caught him. Suddenly, Stone didn’t care so much about the whys. Lysander felt very real in his arms. “On second thought, what’s the rush? As long as we’re together, right?”
Lysander brightened. “Exactly.” His smile slipped away. He wrapped his arms around Stone’s neck, as if scared he would get away. “What do you remember?”
Stone sifted through his memories, trying to recall the last thing he had done. His chest warmed. “I was spending time with Celina.”
Lysander nodded. “And then?”
Stone shook his head. “Then nothing. I kissed her wee hand and—” Stone froze. He didn’t need to relive the moment, but he knew he would sound mad. “I think she healed me.”
Lysander looked taken aback. “You went into a seizure. I’m not sure that can be considered healing.”
“I don’t know anything about that, but I suddenly recalled everything: who possessed me and what Stygian had done while wearing my skin.” Sadness swept through him. “It’s not good.”
Lysander didn’t hesitate. “It wasn’t you, and you don’t need to worry about any of that. Stellar contained him and is taking care of that. You’re free, and no one blames you for the things he did. It wasn’t you.”
Stone found himself smiling again. “I know. Celina told me.”
To his surprise, Lysander didn’t look happy about his confession. His gaze slid away. Stone got a blast of unhappiness that nearly took him to his knees. It wasn’t his.
Stone didn’t want any more dark times. Unfortunately, he obviously failed his mate. “Talk to me. I need my life back, Lysander. Please don’t make me worry if I’m doing something wrong. I can’t take anything else.”
Lysander shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t meet Stone’s stare. “I can feel how much you love Celina.”
A nervous chuckle escaped Stone. “Surely you don’t think you have to compete with a baby. That’s—”
“No,” Lysander said in a rush, as if horrified by even the suggestion. “I can’t give you that. You won’t have that life with me.”
Stone was confused as fuck. “Have what life?” He didn’t think he was dense or anything.
Lysander had him blocked, and he possessed the magic to hold Stone at bay.
He spoke in circles, and Stone didn’t know how to play this game.
He had never loved anyone with the burning intensity he felt for Lysander.
There was no one else out there for him.
If Lysander didn’t want a life with him, there would never be anyone again.
“Do you mean that?”
Stone blinked. Lysander made him feel dumb as hell. “Mean what?”
Lysander didn’t back down. “All the thoughts you’re having about loving me and there being no one else? I can’t see you giving up a carnal life, not even for me.”
He actually had Stone a little angry. It felt like Lysander doubted him in several ways and kept those feelings to himself. “I love you. That’s bigger than everything. You’re my partner for eternity. I don’t need anything else.”
“Not even a child of your own?”
The bark of laughter that burst from Stone almost came from his core, but he still apologized when Lysander’s closed expression didn’t change. It was obvious he felt the need to protect himself against this matter.
Stone forced himself to take the topic seriously for Lysander’s sake. “I’m sorry. You just caught me off guard. I’m not father material. I’m way too needy and selfish. A child deserves better than me refusing to spend my time with anyone other than you.”
“But I’ve seen you with Celina. There’s a parent inside you.”
Stone had to focus on not rolling his eyes.
“There absolutely is not. Now, a rich uncle who spoils kids and sends them right back home. I might be that guy, and that’s a big might.
Celina is special, and I can’t explain that.
But she’s also exactly where she needs to be: with the family who made her that way.
Not once in my life have I looked at another child and wanted any part of them.
That probably makes me sound like a bastard, but—”
“You’re too much of a free spirit,” Lysander finished for him. His smile had reappeared.
“I planned to say whore, but tomato, tomato.”
Before Stone saw it coming, Lysander grabbed his junk and massaged him through his jeans. It wasn’t exactly a gentle caress. “Those days are gone. You belong to me. This is real love. Don’t fuck it up.” Lysander’s hard expression and possessiveness was hot as hell.
Lust ricocheted through him. He hauled Lysander against him by his perfect globes.
Stone squeezed, massaging Lysander’s ass while using the momentum to rock against him.
“That’s a two-way street. I see the way everyone looks at you and how you use that to your advantage.
Utilize what you’ve got, but you best recall you’re mine and no one will ever love you the way I do. ”
“Not even an issue.” Lysander shot forward and covered Stone’s mouth with his. Nothing could have thrown ice water on the situation faster. The move reminded him that this was still just a dream. As the scenery surrounding them faded, he wondered if any of it had been real.
The moment Lysander’s eyes shot open, he rolled, covering Stone’s body, and magicked them home before Frost could appear and knock them out again.
He knew Stone still needed to stay in bed, but Lysander could keep him there.
At home. In their bed. They were past due for a honeymoon stage, where they shut out the world.
He wouldn’t tolerate any interruptions. Celina had not only healed Stone, but she had made sure he understood he still had his friends.
Lysander would try to wrap his head around the Celina stuff at a later time.
Literally nothing else mattered right now.
The moment Stone’s back hit the bed with Lysander’s body covering him, his eyes shot open. For a second, he looked like a trapped animal before he focused on Lysander. His muscles relaxed beneath Lysander’s hands. Stone’s features softened. “Hey, baby.”
Dear King, Lysander loved him. “Hey. Did you have a nice nap?”
A wicked smile stretched Stone’s lips. “I had a dream I didn’t want to end, but this is better.”
Lysander waggled his eyebrows. “Ah, it was that kind of dream.”
“You should know. You were there.”
Lysander laughed. He couldn’t help it. There had never been this much happiness in his life. It had nowhere to go. “Maybe.”
“I knew it!” Stone shouted the words, making Lysander’s ears ring with his enthusiasm. “How do you keep doing that? Connected in mind or not, I don’t think I could pull that off.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “At least I don’t think I can.”
Lysander lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “If you put your mind to it, I’m sure you could. But I’m a fairy. We can move freely through all realms. Everyone wants us.” He added the last bit using his most sexual tone.
Stone flipped.
Lysander found himself beneath a very hungry-looking vampire.
“But only one being matters now.” Stone shoved his hand beneath Lysander’s ass and squeezed.
He lowered his head and swiped his lips against Lysander’s mouth in a featherlight kiss.
Then Stone rolled out of the bed as if nothing had happened.
“I can feel your hunger. What would you like to eat? I’ll make you something. ”
A growl rose in Lysander’s throat. Stone drove him crazy, and he knew it.
With barely any effort, Lysander lunged.
He hauled Stone back into bed and straddled him.
“You’re right. I’m starving—for you.” He easily tore away Stone’s clothes with no shame.
Life would bend to him. No more interferences. “Give me that dick.”
The way Stone laughed at the demand might have driven him off into a pout any other time.
But Stone was right. Lysander needed to feed.
He needed real food too, but carnal energy was his top priority.
Still, he couldn’t let Stone get the upper hand.
“I thought you worried about my well-being. Maybe I’ll just—” Lysander made a move, as if he meant to leave the bed.
A scary sound burst from Stone as he attacked.
The wisps of the clothes they had left fell away in shreds with the slightest tugs from Stone.
Just like last time, Lysander barely had time to use his magic to prepare before Stone was inside him.
“I’m the only one who has what you need.
” Stone ripped into Lysander’s throat and drank.
The orgasm of all orgasms lit the room. No doubt he had probably blinded Stone with the way he glowed, but Stone didn’t stop making love to him, and that was what it was.
His explosion had blocked out everything except the way his body felt.
Now he recognized how Stone had gone from violence to tenderly rocking inside him while Lysander had been trying to hang on to his sanity.
Lysander’s chest burned with emotion. They felt connected. He wanted to say everything in his heart.
Tell me.
The soft demand brushed his mind like a butterfly kiss. Lysander didn’t play dumb. He knew what Stone sought. “I love you.”
The way Stone melted inside at Lysander’s words completely rocked Lysander. He saw and felt how deeply Stone needed to hear Lysander’s emotions spoken aloud. He ached for what only Lysander could give him.
“I love you too.”
It seemed Stone wasn’t the only one who needed those words.
When the soft declaration caressed his brain, another blazing quake had him whimpering and chanting Stone’s name.
This time, Stone was right there with him, but Lysander needed Stone to fly higher than ever.
He bit Stone’s shoulder. The waves that crashed through Stone nearly took out Lysander’s sanity.
Maybe they were brand new at this mate thing, but Lysander thought they were beautiful.
The sweetest kiss swiped his skin. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
Lysander drew a steadying breath through his nose. He kind of loved having Stone in his head, listening to his thoughts. That wasn’t something he had considered. But Lysander felt less alone in the world. Until Stone filled a hole in his life, Lysander hadn’t noticed how much had been missing.
“What should we do next?”
A loud laugh burst from Lysander at Stone’s question. He was deliriously happy. “We should probably get some real food in us. Don’t you think?”
With Stone draped over his body, he felt the way Stone shook when he laughed. “Are you telling me a fairy and a vampire can’t live on sex alone?”
“Well, I can,” Lysander taunted.
Stone snorted.
Lysander couldn’t stop smiling. “As much as I know you could survive on just my blood, you need your strength. I intend to be a harsh taskmaster, expecting to be serviced often.”
Stone rolled to his side, chuckling. “Damn. I’m glad I found you.”
Lysander held his stare. “Me too.”
They shared a smile.
Lysander already knew they would climb from this bed, and he would cook for Stone.
Afterward, Stone would try to seduce him while Lysander played hard to get before giving in.
It would be a short fight. When he thought about the future, that was all he saw.
Days, years, and centuries of love. Nothing had ever sounded better.