30. Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Hector
“Who do you think they were?”
Charon shifts behind me, his chest pressed to my spine as his arm loops tighter around my waist.
I tilt my head, studying the pictures on the wall next to us. The people in them smile brightly, as if they didn’t know the world was ending. One shows a couple swimming in the ocean, while another has them standing on the dock in fancy clothes.
“Family, maybe,” I muse, running my thumb over their faces. “They look happy. Or, at least, pretending to be. Guess that’s all any of us ever do.”
His lips press between my shoulder blades in silent agreement, and for a moment, I pretend that picture-perfect kind of life was never out of reach. That maybe, here in this lighthouse, it belonged to us all along.
Swallowing hard, I lean back when his fingertips graze my ribs. He just finished using the water I'd boiled to wash up while I got us some food. The trap door is shut, Nyx keeping watch from her perch on a shelf across the room. For the first time in years, I feel…safe. Fed.
I swing my gaze over to the empty jars on the floor. “Can't believe we had peaches. I haven’t had them since I was ten, and they weren’t even moldy.”
Charon huffs softly, nose bumping my ear. His hand anchors me in place, rubbing lazy circles that send goosebumps across my flesh.
“Never thought I'd feel full again, either,” I say, taking his hand to press it flat against my chest. “Not just in my stomach, but here , too.”
His thumb brushes my nipple in response, sending tingles down to my toes. When his other hand moves lower, sweeping the skin just under my naval, my cock twitches at the touch.
One day, Charon and I will be just like the people in the photos, our faces and story long lost to this world.
But not tonight. Not yet.
A slight moan leaves my throat when he kisses the back of my neck, his stiff length pressing into my back. He's been hard for hours, but he hasn't taken things further yet. I think he's waiting for permission.
So I give it to him.
Taking his wrist, I move his hand slowly beneath the hem of my pants, sucking in a breath when his fingers wrap around my cock. My hips buck as he strokes me slowly, his nose dragging up the side of my throat before his teeth sink into my skin.
“Yes.” A shudder works its way down my spine. “I'm yours. All yours.”
Charon growls low. I gasp softly when his other hand explores my nipple, tweaking it gently. Every nerve ending in my body lights up, straining for more.
His pelvis rolls forward, grinding against me in a steady rhythm, and I groan while precum leaks down my shaft. It’s not fast or rough like before. Just deliberately patient. We have all the time in the world to go slow.
Our eyes lock when I look at him over my shoulder, catching the awe shining in his gaze.
“I'm yours,” I say again, voice shaking. “And you're mine.”
He kisses me softly, his arm tightening around my chest to hold me still. The other moves with the rhythm of his strokes, jerking my cock until I'm a squirming mess, greedy for more.
And I do. I want more, just…maybe not like before.
What happened between us inside Zone T was beautiful and healing, but I love him just like this—touching me, making me feel alive.
Shoving my pants down, I free my length to give him more access. He cradles my sac tenderly, and I nearly come from the sensation alone.
“Charon.” Grabbing his wrist, I push his hand away before turning to face him. He shifts instinctively to make room, and my fingers fumble at the button of his trousers. “I need you to feel this, too. Let me touch you. Please. ”
He nods, desire etched on his features as his hands fall to his sides, giving me space and trust. My heart stutters when I lower his zipper before reaching in to pull out his length.
He’s flushed and leaking, his thick swollen tip making me salivate. My palm runs down the side, and his hips jerk, a soundless gasp leaving his throat. I study his face the entire time, searching for signs of discomfort, but there aren’t any. Only need.
I go slow at first, kissing a path down his chest until he’s panting. His head falls back against the wall when I reach his stomach.
“I want you to feel good,” I whisper, settling between his legs. “You deserve that. You deserve everything.”
He threads his fingers through my hair, guiding me to his cock without ever taking his eyes off mine. There’s something heartbreakingly beautiful in the way he watches me, like he still doesn’t understand how I could want him in this way.
I want him in every way possible, for the rest of my life.
His whole body arches once I take him into my mouth, his grip tightening in my hair.
I use my tongue to learn what he likes, what makes his breath hitch and his thighs tremble, what has his eyelids drooping in ecstasy.
I've never done this before, but the salty taste of his cum and the way he never drops his gaze are intoxicating.
Charon may be quiet, but his body sings for me.
When he finally comes, I swallow him down, shivering at the way he slides his palm to my throat to feel my muscles flex.
Something primal darkens in his expression, a deep growl vibrating his body.
As soon as his cock stops pulsing, he reaches down to haul me up onto his chest, causing me to brace my palms against the wall with a yelp .
“Charon, what are you—”
He dives for my cock instantly, wrapping large hands around my waist to scoot me toward his shoulders. A strangled cry leaves my lungs when he closes his lips around my aching shaft, sucking me all the way in until my sac hits his chin.
“Oh, fuck,” I breathe, tangling my fingers into his silky strands as I meet his darkened gaze. He tightens his grip on me, pushing me back only to yank me forward again, maneuvering my body so that I'm thrusting into his mouth.
It feels so good that my eyes nearly roll back, but I force them to stay on his face. Saliva slicks my dick, leaking from the corners of his lips when he takes me as deep as he can. Every muscle tenses, my stomach clenching at my impending release.
“C-Charon, I'm…I'm gonna…”
He picks up the pace, swallowing around my cock in a way that has me whimpering.
The moment his fingers slide between my crease, I come with a shout, throwing my head back as I unload into his throat.
He holds me through it, massaging the fleshy part of my ass with his palms while he drinks me down.
My arms and legs give out once I finish, and I slip from his mouth, dropping breathlessly to the mattress beside him. His strong arms gather me up as he buries his face in my hair, a contented sigh leaving his lips. It makes me chuckle into his shoulder.
“I…that was…” Shaking my head, I lift my gaze to his, finding that smile already aimed at me. My heart skips several beats. “Thank you. ”
His smile deepens, and he brushes his thumb along my jaw like he can’t believe I’m real. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that look on his face—the way he sees me.
But I hope it never stops.
Pressing a lazy kiss to the corner of his mouth, I hum when he chases it for another. Our lips meet softly as I melt into him completely, the world narrowing down to this one single perfect moment.
“You make me feel safe,” I admit, tucking my head beneath his chin. “I don't think I've ever had that before.”
Charon kisses the top of my head before resting his cheek there, our breaths syncing like we were made to fit together. Maybe we were. Someone, somewhere, designed Charon just for me, and I for him. I believe that with my whole heart. Two broken souls who went through hell to find each other.
In this cellar, the world is finally calm. Ocean waves lap against the cliff outside as Nyx rustles her wings. Charon’s heart beats steadily against my cheek, the quiet sound of his breath a perfect lullaby. It feels like we're right where we need to be.
“Don’t float away,” I murmur sleepily, pressing one last kiss to his collarbone before letting my eyes fall closed.
His arms stay wrapped around me the entire night.