Chapter 14 #2
Thano didn't believe him. It had been several hours, and humans ate often. Eli needed to eat. He was almost convinced. "You'll eat. I'm the boss."
Eli sighed. "I'll make some oatmeal then." He pushed a hand against the mattress to get up, but Thano leaned closer and placed his lips on Eli's.
Eli huffed but wrapped an arm around his middle and pulled him closer until he almost was underneath him. "What are you doing?" His words caressed Thano's lips.
"I know I should feed you, but I'd like to undress you instead."
Eli's eyes widened. "Undress me? There are people outside."
"They'll stay outside." Thano nipped at his lip, careful not to use his fangs. "And you'll be quiet."
"I'll be quiet?"
Thano slid a hand down and in under the hem of his shirt. Eli's skin was warm underneath his fingers. "Shifters have good hearing."
Jerking, Eli tried to increase the distance between them, but Thano held on. His fingertips wandered up Eli's spine, caressing each bump.
"Thano." Eli's whisper made him grin.
"Yes?"
"Perhaps you should let me up so we can go help the others build a chicken coop." He met Thano's gaze. "If I'm staying."
"Oh, honey, you're mine. You'll not be going anywhere."
* * * *
Eli wasn't sure what to make of Thano's words. "Yours, huh?" He kept his voice low. How well did shifters hear?
"Yes, all mine, and I'm not sharing." Thano's hand moved slowly over his skin.
He pulled at the fabric of his shirt, and soon he was tugging at it as if he wanted Eli to remove it altogether.
It was stupid, but Eli did. Had they been in Last Hope, he'd never have dared to be in bed with Thano in broad daylight.
He might be able to turn invisible, but you could never tell who was watching.
Here though...what would happen if they were caught?
Thano fiddled with the bow tie, undid it, and threw it on the floor, then he got out of the suit jacket without moving out from underneath Eli. He attacked the buttons of his shirt with deft fingers.
Eli watched him, heat building inside. He'd never been with a man in daylight. It was too dangerous. Quick trysts in dark alleyways, but he'd stopped taking those kinds of risks many years ago.
"Thano." He wasn't prepared for the reverence in his voice. Thano must've heard it too, because he slowed his motions and looked at Eli.
Eli shook his head in reply, not sure what he wanted to say.
A small smile stretched Thano's lips as he pulled the shirt off.
Then he held out his arms. Eli lowered himself on top of him.
The warmth of his skin against his had him shivering.
Dipping his head, he kissed Thano's collarbone and up his throat.
Goosebumps spread over Thano's arms which made Eli smile.
Thano curled a leg around his hip, pressing his hardness against Eli's.
"We shouldn't do this." Eli spoke against Thano's skin.
"Yes, we should. We should do it all day, every day."
Eli huffed but fastened his lips to Thano's throat and sucked gently. Thano pressed against him again. Then he pushed at Eli and undid his pants. "Come on. Get naked with me."
Eli glanced at the window. He couldn't see the people he suspected were on the lawn below, but..."There are people outside."
"So be fast."
"Are you insane?"
"Not yet, but I think I'll get there soon unless you remove your clothing and claim me."
Claim? What did it mean? Not bite, right? "How do I claim you?"
Thano raised his hips and pushed his pants down before attacking the button in Eli's jeans. "Fuck me."
A shudder went through Eli. It had been years, many years. "Are you sure it's a--"
"Come on, Eli." He pushed at Eli's jeans, baring his ass before turning toward the bedside table and pulling the drawer out. Eli watched as Thano grabbed a small bottle of oil.
"You have..." His voice died away.
Thano looked at him. "Vampires have needs too."
And did he have those needs sated by someone? "Do you have a...lover?" Did he bring the people he fed from here? If said lover was supernatural, Eli wasn't sure this was a good idea. He didn't want to get his throat ripped out.
Thano made a sound of disbelief. "I'm not well-liked by my kin. A shifter would never be with a vampire. And we don't bring humans to The Moonlight Ranch."
"You don't?" He was here, as was Romeo.
Thano made a face. "Until last year, we didn't allow humans to come to The Moonlight Ranch." He uncapped the bottle and poured oil into his palm. Next, he wrapped the slick hand around Eli's length, earning him a moan.
After a few pumps, he poured more oil into his hand and kicked his legs a little to get his pants farther down.
Eli pushed up on his knees and tugged them free of first one foot, then the other.
He removed Thano's socks too. When he looked up again, Thano had two fingers moving in and out of his ass, and Eli all but swallowed his tongue. "Thano."
Thano put a foot on Eli's chest and arched his back. Eli's gaze zeroed in on his fingers. They moved in a steady rhythm, glistening with oil as they disappeared into his hole only to then come back out.