Chapter 35
Jackson: Are you on your way home from work, hunny bun?
Hakeem: Yeah. Did you need me to pick something up from the store?
J: No, my love. Just letting you know Princess is spending the day with Wendy. I will see you at home. Do you remember your safe words? ;)
H: What? I mean yes but, Jackson? What are you planning?
J: Looooove youuuuuu!
Jackson sends a photo of a romance novel Hakeem had left on the dinner table earlier that day. His beloved boyfriend has been in a mood since their Eddie had to stay behind for his Lycan training. It’s only right that he brings his spirits up.
H: Jackson? Qalbi, what is going on???
Jackson smirks, browsing his closet for a silk robe to lounge in whilst waiting for Hakeem.
Pouring himself a glass of red wine, swirling the burgundy liquid, appreciating the notes dancing on his nose when he inhales.
He leans on the railing of the terrace, the setting sun framing the horizon in warm colors.
A tendril of shadow brings the aforementioned book to him, a worn bookmark marking Hakeem’s spot. Flipping through some of the older pages, sure to leave the bookmark untouched, he lands on a specific scene that raises his brow.
“Well,” he sips from the wine, a drop of dark red liquid dripping onto his lip from his fangs.
Jackson licks his lips, eyes darkening with lust as they skim the printed words.
“I could do that.” He looks over his shoulder to the shadows swirling at his back.
“Shall we cheer our sweet little Hakeem up?”
Shadows curl around his arm, their presence a comfort instead of a bane after all these decades.
He chuckles darkly, eyes tracking a frantic silhouette walking into the building from the sidewalk, a flurry of texts ignored on his phone.
“Do be careful, little bunny.” The lights in the apartment flicker.
“You never know what goes bump in the night.” Jackson vanishes from sight when the door cracks open.
* * *
“Jackson?” Hakeem peeks his head into the apartment, eyes squinting to scan the dark corners.
The only light comes from the setting sun, long shadows cast from the furniture.
“Hello?” Without Princess Bandit home the penthouse apartment is eerily quiet.
He steps inside, leaving the door open to let the lights from the hallway fill the space.
Hakeem yelps when the door slams behind him, turning to see a dark mist melt into the floor.
Fixing his glasses, he huffs, flicking the light switch beside the door.
When nothing happens he flicks it again, then once more for good measure.
A warm breath brushes his ear, the hairs on the neck standing.
“You smell delicious, my love,” chuckles Jackson darkly.
Hakeem spins to face his boyfriend, only to find no one. A piece of folded paper floats down, appearing from thin air. He unfolds the paper, reading the message inscribed in perfect cursive penmanship.
“Do you want to play, little rabbit?”
Hakeem sighs, smiling softly. He kisses the paper, whispering to the shadows. “Yes, qalbi. I’d love to.” The words change on the page.
“Remember, your safe word is starlight. Don’t let me catch you.”
Hakeem’s brows furrow, “Catch me?” Heat rushes to his cheeks, eyes darting to the romance novel on the table. “He wouldn’t.”
A whimper slips free when slender fingers wrap around his throat, another dragging manicured nails up his torso. Jackson kisses behind his ear, “Run.”
Jackson’s laughter echoes through the apartment, Hakeem sprinting up the stairs.
He risks a peek over the second floor railing, gasping when he spies two glowing green eyes staring at him through a swarm of shadows.
Black mist creeps up the stairs, so he bolts to Eddie’s room, slamming the door behind him.
As hard as Hakeem’s heart is beating, back of his head pressed to the door, his cock thickens behind his zipper at the idea of what Jackson will do when he catches him. He’s been reading far too many dark romances.
Can’t make it too easy on him now.
Hakeem draws the wand Jackson gifted him, drawing from the magic lingering in the air of the apartment. It’s a relatively new technique, but with how powerful Jackson’s magic is, it lets Hakeem draw in mana for emergencies. He points the wand to the door and crafts the spell with ancients words
“Seal it shut, hide the key. Until dawn, forbidden entry. Qufl!”
Silver chains wrap around the door intersecting around a glowing key hole.
Hakeem catches himself with a hand on the wall, wiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm.
Even with drawing on the remnants of Jackson’s mana in the air, that lock spell still drained Hakeem’s supply.
Before he can rest, he rushes to turn on the lights on the bedroom, ensuite, and walk-in closet.
Jackson’s control over shadows has been improving, the brighter it is the better.
Hakeem sighs, lifting his glasses off his face for a second to rub his eyes, settling on Eddie’s bed.
He grabs a plush pillow from the middle, hugging it close and inhaling deeply.
The boys call Eddie daily after his training, about an hour from now, but it hasn’t been the same.
Hakeem’s heart pains at the thought of Eddie struggling through the harsh training it would take to control the Lycan.
Tears prick at the corners of his eyes, he buries his face against the pillow.
Hakeem jolts upright at a slow knock at the door.
“Daaar-ling,” sings Jackson, “come out, come out wherever you are.” Hakeem hugs the pillow closer, giggling mischievously at the charmed door, muffling his laughter behind the fabric.
“You never cease to amaze me, my love. A spell to keep me out, turning on all the lights to limit the amount of shadows in the room. You aren’t making this easy.
” Hakeem’s grin grows, heart warmed by Jackson’s kind words.
“However,” Hakeem’s brow furrows, “did you check for monsters under the bed?”
Hakeem freezes when he remembers; Eddie’s bed is on a four poster frame, with ample space underneath.
He scrambles for the wand just as three tendrils of darkness shoot out from underneath the bed, racing towards the light switches. Aiming the wand, he chants.
“Banish the darkness and break the dawn-”
Hakeem’s scream of surprise is muffled when a hand closes over his mouth the moment the lights go off.
He whimpers when shadows bind his hands behind his back, the wand falling to the bed.
Fangs trace the vein of his neck, the heat of a tongue licking over his pulse sends shivers up his spine. “Caught you, little rabbit.”
Jackson trails kisses along Hakeem’s jaw, his free hand cupping the growing bulge in his pants. Jackson presses forward, his erection rubbing against Hakeem’s ass through the fabric. “What shall I do with you now that you can’t escape me?”
Jackson idly unbuttons Hakeem’s shirt, scratching his nails through the hairs on his soft belly, pinching a nipple as he sucks at his throat. Hakeem whimpers in his hold. Jackson pushes Hakeem on his back, looming over him with glowing green eyes.
The loose fitting silk robe slides off Jackson’s slender shoulders, the muscles of his arms and chest barely visible in the fading light of the setting sun fluttering in through the room’s windows.
Jackson licks his lips as he studies the image of Hakeem lying beneath him.
Shirt open exposing his furry chest and belly, hands bound above his head, breath coming out in short, harsh pants, eyes glazed over with lust. “You look delicious, my love. All mine to do with as I please.”
“Yours,” gasps Hakeem, as he watches Jackson undo the button of his pants, lowering the zipper.
He lifts his hips just enough for Jackson to pull off his pants and boxers.
Jackson trails a finger along the vein of Hakeem’s hard cock, using his thumb to play with the leaking head.
“Jackson,” whines Hakeem, writhing under Jackson’s touch, struggling against the restraints.
The shadows usually melt in his touch, but seem to be enthusiastically cooperating with Jackson today.
Jackson silences Hakeem with a hungry kiss. “I told you not to let me catch you,” he murmurs against his lips. “So now,” Jackson nibbles Hakeem’s ear lobe, chuckling at the moan his boyfriend bites back, “I get to take my time with you.”
Shadows wrap around Hakeem’s mouth, cutting off any complaints.
He moans behind the gag as Jackson kisses along his torso, stopping to bite tenderly on one of his nipples, sucking it into his mouth, soothing the area with his tongue before moving on to the other.
“Can you show me your non-verbal cues, bun?” Asks Jackson against Hakeem’s heated flesh.
“Mmm-hmm.” Hakeem nods, rubbing his fingers together, silver sparks shining. Almost like starlight.
“Do you need to use it?” Jackson smirks when Hakeem shakes his head, eyes wide. “Good. Let’s continue.”
Shadows wrap around Hakeem’s thighs, forcing his knees apart, exposing him to Jackson.
A tendril hands Jackson a bottle of lube from the ensuite, he applies a healthy amount to his palm before wrapping his hand around Hakeem’s length.
“You know, my sweet little bunny,” Hakeem arches into Jackson’s touch when Jackson begins to stroke him firmly and slowly, playing with the bundle of nerves under the crown, “That novel you left on the table gave me a wonderful idea. A spicy retelling of Hades and Persephone, where he uses shadows to pleasure her. Now, that got me thinking.”