Chapter 15 #2
I want to laugh. I want to cry. Instead, I ask, “What the fuck is going on. Am I being rescheduled?”
She stares at me blankly, then says, “No.”
“Uh.” I swallow heavily.
“If you have any further questions, comments, or complaints, please use the number on the card.” She pulls a small business card out of her scrub pocket and sets it on the counter. “Have a good day, sir.”
And then she’s gone like she didn’t just save my fucking life. I probably could have kissed her, though I’m glad I didn’t.
I still feel like throwing up, but it’s with relief now. I don’t hesitate, tugging my clothes back on, leaving the robe in a heap on the table, and I bolt without taking the card.
I have questions, but not enough to get in touch with the fucking government. There’s one person who might have some answers, but I’m not making any calls until I’m safely back in my triplex, staring at my front door, knowing Cielo is right behind it.
Waiting for me.
Cielo’s still asleep in my bed when I get inside. I know he’s going to be up soon, and I want to surprise him with the good news, so I decide to wake him with a latte while I call Everest. If anyone knows anything, it’s going to be him.
I feel bad calling his phone so early in the morning, but I can’t wait. My head is still spinning from the near miss of having a strange Vyastil’s mouth on my dick.
I hold my breath while the espresso brews and the milk froths, listening to the line ring.
And ring.
And ring.
Fuck. He’s not going to pick up, is he? He’s not going to—
“Hey, oh my god. I was just going to call you. I have amazing news for you, dude.”
I stare down at the milk and blink wildly. “Does it have anything to do with why the clinic sent me home this morning?”
He laughs. “Fuck yeah! I’m so glad Eissa came through before you had to do the session. I had a feeling it was cutting it close.”
My stomach twists as I watch the caramel brown foam layer on top of the espresso shot. “You’re telling me. I was strapped down to the chair.”
“Shit,” Everest whispers. “I’m glad Eissa was able to step in.”
I realize I’ve never heard that name before. “Who’s that?”
“He works for the Vyastil government. He’s kind of Rathyn’s boss. I also think he might have raised him? I’m not totally sure. Their whole childhood thing is still kind of a mystery to me. But he’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, no shit. He got me out of today’s session, and they didn’t want me to reschedule.”
Everest laughs softly. “Yeah, I know. Eissa said he’s working on having you permanently removed from service.”
I set the pitcher down with a loud thunk and lean against the counter, relief pulsing through me. Permanently? I know it’s not a guarantee, but it sounds like a promise. It sounds like something worth a little hope. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, he got you taken off for the time being. But he wants to work on having you delisted. I figured you’d be cool with that.”
This time I really do almost cry. “Oh my god. Yes, I’m fucking cool with that.” I lower my voice. “Cielo was so upset about this. I don’t think he’s mad, but I felt terrible.”
“So, you told him?”
“Yeah, and his ears were all downturned, and he wouldn’t wrap his tail around me.”
“Oh, I fucking hate the ear thing. Brings me to my knees each time.”
“I know.” We’re silent a moment, and then I breathe, “Thank you so much. I’m going to give you a raise.”
He lets out a laugh. “You’re not paying me. But in all honesty, I think that toy was raise enough. If you come up with something else…” He clears his throat. “Yeah, that was fucking hot.”
“Oh, so Rathyn liked it?” It feels weird to be talking normally after my entire world just shifted, but the fact that I can—the fact that I don’t have to deal with the aftermath of another Vyastil touching me—it’s enough to calm me.
“He loved it. He won’t stop yapping about it.”
I let out a small laugh, realizing my eyes are leaking. I sniffle and swallow. “I’m glad. Let me see what I can do next, and you can be one of the first test subjects.”
“Right after Cielo, amiright?”
I huff a small laugh. “Yeah. You’re right.” I feel a sudden ache in my bones. An impending flare, but hopefully I can stave it off. I reach for the tin of tea and peer inside, but there’s only a small leaf left. “Oh, hey. Is there any chance you can bring me a bit more zitha? I’m almost out.”
“Shit. I am too. But I’ll be making a run to Erethar for that and a few other things this afternoon. I can pick some up for you.”
I sag. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“When can I drop it by?”
My brow furrows, then I turn to look at the little magnetic calendar on my fridge.
Thursday has a big circle on it and a birthday cake for Gia’s thirty-first. Shit.
In all the chaos, I fucking forgot that was happening.
It’ll be a whole family affair, but none of them have problems with the Vyastil, so it might be good to have Rathyn there to help make Cielo more comfortable.
Hell, I haven’t even told him yet that we are having company.
“We’re having a birthday party the day after tomorrow for my cousin, if you and Rathyn want to come? My whole family will be there, so it might be a lot, but I’d love to have you.”
Everest giggles. “Oh my god, I don’t think he knows about birthday parties. This is going to be hilarious. Count us in.”
I grin. “Sounds good. Talk soon?”
“Yep. And have fun telling Cielo. He’s gonna be happy, and hopefully his ears do that cute little twitch I love.”
“I love it too. So much.” And I mean that in more ways than one.
Everest gives me a knowing hum and then the line goes dead. I drop the phone to the counter, allowing myself an intense moment of shaking apart.
I was relieved not to have to go through with it today, but to know I might not have to do this ever again? That I can save myself entirely for Cielo?
I feel a strange but familiar pulse in my temples, and I push it aside, reaching for the milk when suddenly, I’m profoundly aware of another presence in the room. My body stiffens, and just before I can turn, clawed fingers are on me.
They tear at my shirt as they ruck it up, and suddenly, those powerful hands are spinning me. Cielo’s in my space, a growl rumbling in the back of his throat. His tail slides up my back, then down my thighs, before wrapping around me as he dives in nose-first.
He inhales, his long tongue following the path, licking a wet stripe over me. He’s done this before, but it feels…different now. More intense.
Powerful.
Primal.
I swallow thickly, trying to find the words, but before I can make a sound, he rips himself back, and his eyes bore into mine.
“Dante,” he says. My name is so clear on his lips now.
I reach a hand up, but before I can touch him, he snags me by the wrist and shoves his nose against my palm, sniffing deeply.
“Dante,” he says again. This time, there’s a questioning note in his voice. “Dante.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. I dig my fingers into his sleep-tangled locks and pull him fully against me. “It’s okay. No one touched me.”
“Nnnnoo one?” he manages. He pulls back again, looking down into my face.
“One of Everest’s contacts got me released from service for now. And he’s trying to get me released permanently.”
Cielo’s eyes go wide. “Evvverrrst. Friennnn. Friennd,” he repeats again, clearer this time.
“Yes.” I go up onto my toes just as he dips down, and his lips—still frantic—find mine.
We kiss like that, tongues tangling for long minutes, our hands dragging over each other, sensation zipping across my skin. I moan, and he does the same, his fingers clenching onto me tightly, his claws drawing some blood.
I groan at the sensation and shift my hips forward, wanting more. Wanting all of him.
I can feel his cock against my own, and with trembling hands, I undo my pants, wanting to free myself so I can stroke us—together. The idea makes me slightly wild. I shuck my pants down as far as they can go, angry that they get stuck around my thighs.
“Help me out of them,” I breathe, and Cielo stares down at my bare cock jutting from between my legs. “Help me out of my pants. They’re stuck.”
“Stoooock,” he says and then falls to his knees, right before me.
The sight of him there makes me almost frantic with the need to come. Right across his face, his lips. But before I can, he shreds the pants from my legs and stands back up.
His lips are on mine once more, and I hold onto him, lifting myself up as far as I can, winding my leg around his. He picks me up easily, my ankles hooking behind his narrow waist.
Like this, our cocks are aligned, and I reach between our writhing bodies and bring them together.
His slick cock is perfect against my own, much bigger and ribbed, but it feels so fucking good against me.
Both my hands wrap around us as I stroke, the sensation making me groan and Cielo’s ears flutter.
“I want you to fuck me. Oh god,” I gasp as my arms start to move, my hands sliding up and down our shafts.
“Fuuuuuck,” Cielo says, that word almost a growl.
“Yes. Fuck me. Put this big dick right inside my hole. Oh my god.”
The thought of it, that ribbed cock tunneling in and out of me, makes me stroke faster, my orgasm quickly approaching.
When I fall over the edge, I say his name, a cry pulled from my lips. “Cielo, Cielo, oh god.”
Why does this feel so fucking good?
Suddenly, Cielo jerks and his head falls back, cum splattering across my legs, groin, and stomach. It’s always so much, drenching me.
What would that feel like inside of me?
I’d be leaking for days.
I hold onto him tightly, his mouth still pressed against my shoulder in a gentle suckle. I hope he marks me with something on my skin to show off later.
I sigh happily, feeling relieved and relaxed, my body still tingling from the aftershocks of it all.
And in the silence of our heavy breathing, our combined lust, I hear my name spoken in my mind as if he uttered it with his lips.
My Dante.