49. Lirion
The sun sat low on the horizon when they finally pulled off the road onto a large patch of level ground alongside some thick woods.
The villagers had been kind enough to load them up with more than enough food to get them through their travels without having to hunt for their meals.
Tents needed to be pitched and a fire made, but for Lirion, all of that had to wait.
The long, slow trek had been spent layering one healing cantrip after another onto Fenric to relieve the pain of countless pulled muscles and strained tendons. Was there a part of his body that hadn’t been injured in his race to reach Lirion?
Fenric had forced a shift. He’d never shared with anyone what he could shift into. They only knew what they’d actually seen, and merperson was very much not on the list, according to the rest of the group. That meant he’d forced his body to do the impossible so he could rescue Lirion.
Why? Why hadn’t he just left the rescuing to Rain? It made the most sense. At the most, he could have gone in as a shark to offer Rain some support and protection. But to nearly kill himself to save Lirion?
There was more to this. More to them. His incubus magic could catch little snatches of feelings from Fen—desperation, terror, relief, joy.
Complete, boundless joy. But Lirion’s own rampaging emotions were getting in the way when it came to Fen.
He was having trouble sorting out what he was feeling from what he could sense from Fen.
Words needed to be said. Right now.
The second Fenric’s boots touched the ground, Lirion grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the woods.
“We’ll be back in a minute,” he shouted over his shoulder, only to have an answering wolf whistle erupt from Rain.
“Will we?” Fen inquired, his voice full of teasing as he stumbled along behind Lirion, despite being fully healed. “Are you sure you’re not dragging me off into the woods to kill me?”
“Not even a little funny,” Lirion growled. He glared over at Fenric, and the man attempted to look ashamed.
“Sorry.”
“We need to talk.”
“That’s never a good thing,” Fen muttered under his breath as the woods closed in around them, blocking off all sound and sight of the rest of the group.
The sun was nearly set, but the thick woods were even darker, letting in only thin shafts of light between the leaves.
Despite being only a few yards away from the camp, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.
Lirion stopped and could only wordlessly stare at Fenric, taking in his disheveled hair and crooked grin.
The thin scars slashing across his face had become so familiar to Lirion now.
And yet, he didn’t know how to say what was in his heart.
How to convey everything he felt without making false promises or setting himself on the wrong foot with Fenric.
Even if he started off badly, he was determined to try.
He had to find the words to reach Fenric.
Fenric seemed to realize he was up to something as he paused, looking at him askance, head canted. “What? You’ve got a very intent look on your face.”
His patience with Lirion was humbling, honestly. So few people had ever treated Lirion with this kind of acceptance and patience. Knowing that gave him enough courage to pry his mouth open.
“Fen. I want…” Deep breath in. All right, say it. “I want to change our relationship.”
Fenric’s expression turned inscrutable, but he oriented himself so he could face Lirion head-on, still holding Lirion’s tense hand in his own. “Okay, I’m listening.”
He was, and that was as reassuring as it was nerve-racking.
Those eyes felt like they could see right through Lirion.
He wet his dry lips nervously and kept talking.
“I don’t understand human love. Not intrinsically, not at its root.
It’s unfathomable for my kind. But that being said, I want you.
I want to possess you. I want you to possess me.
I look at you, and my heart says you are mine.
I want us to belong to each other. Am I asking for too much? ”
He didn’t mean to voice the last question. Even though he wondered if this was indeed too much. It was certainly more than Fenric had initially signed up for.
To Lirion’s relief, Fenric’s mouth stretched in a dazzling smile. He seized Lirion’s face with both hands and kissed him fiercely before pulling back.
“Thank fuck,” he whispered, still beaming. “I worried about how to say that to you. I don’t get romantic love either, to be honest. Most of it is gushy and cringey and just, gah. I can’t do it. But what you said—belonging to each other. I want that. I want you to be mine. I want to be yours.”
It was dizzying how empowering those words were.
Lirion’s head swam, and the joy rushing through him was the headiest euphoria he’d ever experienced.
Delighted, he hauled Fenric back in, kissing him ardently.
Lirion swore he could feel it to the very bottom of his soul.
But a roar of cheers shattered the quiet moment. Clapping rushed out of the trees.
They broke apart, their heads snapping around to find the rest of the E.V.I.L. team peering at them from behind trees as they shouted and clapped their approval.
“About fucking time!” Rain bellowed.
“Do you mind!” Fen shouted as he tightened his arm around Lirion’s waist. “I want to sex my man up!”
Rain crossed his arms over his chest and spread his legs as if he were settling in. “We don’t mind at all. Go ahead.”
A low snarl rumbled in Fenric’s throat, and he released Lirion to stalk toward the pirate, but Lirion caught his arm before he could kill his friend.
Lirion chuckled, cuddling Fen close again. “Get out of here!”
The rest of the team wandered back toward the campsite, dragging a complaining pirate along with them.
Fenric leaned into him, capturing his lips in a demanding kiss that was a lot less sweet and a lot hornier. Yes, sex sounded like an excellent plan. He tangled his tongue with Fen’s while slipping his hand inside of his shirt, running his fingers over the hard muscles waiting for him.
“Gods, I can’t get enough of you,” Fen growled against his lips as they fought to remove clothes without having to end their kiss.
It didn’t quite work out. Lirion tripped over a rock or a log; he couldn’t tell.
His shirt was half over his head at the time.
A surprised yelp squeezed out of his throat as he started to fall over.
Fen caught him around the waist, but it was already too late.
They tumbled over together, landing in a soft patch of clover and buttercups.
He ripped away his shirt and was blessed with the sight of Fenric’s smiling face above his.
“Look at you. Falling for me all over again.”
“How could I not? Sexy, resourceful, willing to kill for me? What man wouldn’t fall for you?”
“You’re the only one smart enough.” Fenric kissed him again, leaving them both moaning.
Teasing words were forgotten. Clothes were tossed about the forest without a care for where they landed. Lirion barely had enough sense to grab the bottle of oil he carried with him because with Fen, he simply always needed it.
Hands caressed and fondled. Mouths moved over hot flesh, sucking and licking until Lirion was sure he would come out of his skin with need.
Sex had never been so good in his life. No one touched him or drove him to madness like Fenric did.
As the man’s excitement grew, his cool energy rose with him and swept through Lirion like a cleansing breeze sweeping away all of his worries and fears.
It was only when Fen’s thick, slick shaft slid inside of him that a modicum of sane thought returned to his brain. And then it was only enough to recognize a deep feeling of belonging. This was where he belonged—in these arms, wrapped up and filled by this amazing man.
“Yes, please,” he hissed, desperately grabbing at Fenric’s shoulders, pulling him in as close as he could. “More. Hurry. More.”
Fen took his mouth as he pushed deep inside, stretching and filling him so perfectly. “Got you,” Fen murmured into his mouth. “Never letting go. Mine. You’re mine.”
He thrust over and over again. Lirion lifted his hips, meeting each thrust. The scent of sex and clover danced around his nose. His fingers dug into Fen’s back and threaded through his hair. There was no getting close enough.
Lirion’s cock was trapped between them, rubbing against Fen’s stomach. Pleasure rose until he was left gasping for air. His orgasm broke over him, and he shouted, clinging to Fen. His lover followed a second later, crying out in ecstasy as hot semen flooded into Lirion’s tight channel.
With what seemed like the last of his strength, Fen gathered Lirion up and wrapped his arms around him, taking him with him as he rolled onto his back. Lirion nuzzled Fen’s neck, resting his head on his shoulder as they both panted.
“Mine,” Fen sighed softly into Lirion’s hair, bringing a smile to his lips. He loved the sound of that word, the sensation of Fen holding him, making him feel so fucking safe and wanted.
He nipped Fen’s neck and then licked across the spot. “And you are mine.”
“No one else?”
“Never.”
Fen was all he needed in the world.