Page 81 of Fairies Never Fall

Lysander hums. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

He lays his head back down on my chest. The gentle, sweet scent of his hair tickles my nose.

“Let’s watch another one,” he says. “I want to know what happens to Carson.”

I press play, curling my hand into his hair. He sighs and shifts closer.

Maybe this is what it’s supposed to be like to have a boyfriend.

This time I do fall asleep, and when I wake up, my fever’s broken. The show’s paused and Lysander is a solid weight on my chest, out cold. Carefully, I slide out from under him.

I feel lighter, like it’s not just the fever that’s lifted.

When I get back to the living room Lysander is stretching awake, his adorable teal velour tracksuit with gold accents totally out of place on my crappy old couch. His wings spread as he yawns.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he says, blinking at me. “Your hair is wet.”

“I showered.” My own stink was getting to me. I also texted Fitzie to warn him for when he comes home — I can’t exactly put off introducing him and Lysander anymore. “I was digging through old boxes the other day and found something for you.”

I hold out the stuffed toy awkwardly. I’d actually hunted through five boxes before I finally turned it up, but Lysander doesn’t need to know that.

Lysander is nonplussed. “A rabbit?”

“It’s my sleeping bunny. I didn’t sleep too well when I was a kid, so my mom got this for me. She told me he had a magic spell on him.” I chuckle. Now that I know magic is real it’s kind of funny. “Obviously he’s just a normal bunny, but for whatever reason, it worked. It’s not the same as having a human teddy bear, but on nights I’m not around maybe it’ll help.”

Lysander takes the rabbit delicately, a tiny smile curling his lips. “What’s his name?”

“Ezzy.” I grin sheepishly. “I wasn’t a very imaginative little dude.”

“Ezzy. I like it.” He strokes the soft patch between Ezzy’s ears where the velvet has worn away.

“Take care of him.” I crouch in front of Lysander and gently take Ezzy out of his hand, putting the bunny on the side table. “Now cover his eyes, cause I’m gonna apply theotherremedy for your insomnia.”

I grasp the hem of his top. Lysander quickly puts Ezzy on the table, his eyes gleaming. Before I pull it off him, I turn the stuffed bunny around to face the other way.

Poor Ezzy has already seen what happens when a boy becomes a teenager, but there’s no reason to put him through it again.

Lysander’s skin pebbles under my tongue. His blue-green nipples tighten into sweet buds as I taste him, and he gasps.

“I thought you were sick,” he protests.

“I’m feelingmuchbetter,” I murmur into his chest.

“Oh.” His hand curls on the back of my neck. “I might need a demonstration to be convinced.”

I suck a kiss into the skin right next to his nipple, feeling it furl against my mouth. His amulet winks at me, a dark blue gem on a silver chain. He shudders as I tease all around his nipples, relishing how his breathing gets heavier and a blue flush seeps down his collar. My lips trail down his slim chest and I mouth at his soft, concave belly.

“Hands behind your back.”

He twists, clasping his hands behind him on the couch obediently. I don’t have rope at home so we’ll have to get creative. I loop the scarf I found around his wrists and tie it snug, not so tight he can’t get out, but enough to make him feel restrained.

His eyes widen. “You…”

“Is this okay?” I pause.

He nods mutely.

“Tell me.”

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