Page 58 of Sharpen Your Claws

William’s thumb brushed his tip, teasing him. “Tell me more.”

“I want you to fuck me. I want to make you scream my name and beg for more. I want to be owned by you entirely. I want to be your last of everything.”

He kissed Nicholas hard, reaping the air from his body and soul. Their hands picked up a pace that left them panting. He yanked at Nicholas’ shirt and the fae rid himself of it. Their naked skin pressed together, the heat of their joining making Nicholas shudder.

William slipped out of Nicholas’ lap to get on his knees. “I want to taste you,” he purred, tempting as the devil.

He would give William anything he wanted if that wasn’t obvious enough already. He stood, trousers falling to his ankles. William’s eyes drank him in, a teasing tongue darting out to wet his perfect lips. He curled his fingers in William’s hair, groaning when that delectable mouth reminded him of all it could do.

With a hand around his arousal, William pleasured himself while Nicholas’ cock hit the back of his throat. He fit perfectly, like they never separated, never forgot the feel of each other. He tested the boundary, rolling his hips faster and faster.

Their moans became one, a cacophony of pleasure echoing in the forest. William’s hand worked faster, his head dripping. He stopped to give the poor man a breath, William’s tongue darting out to drink from his tip before he returned to the ecstasy of his throat.

“Fuck, your mouth is incredible,” he groaned, relishing in the lust reflecting in William’s eyes. He admired his own work, knowing he drove Nicholas wild, that a few more moments of bliss would end it all.

Then William moaned, his hips jerking as his orgasm spilled over his fingers. Nicholas shuddered, feeling William’s moans against his cock. He didn’t stop, driving Nicholas further toward an orgasm that nearly sent him to his knees. William swallowed every drop, departing afterward with a lewd pop. He wiped the saliva from William’s lips, savoring the view of him on his knees.

“I don’t know how you expect me to get us out of here when you keep looking at me like you want me to take you,” he said, shivering when William pressed a kiss to his hip.

“Think of it this way, we aren’t fucking on the forest floor, so get us out of here and you can have me however you like,” William replied, smiling far too sweetly after such a carnal act.

He tugged on William’s hair, urging the man to stand before he caught his lips, tasting himself on William’s tongue. “You know the best ways to motivate me.”

William chuckled, sounding more like himself.

They didn’t separate, taking a longer moment to bask in one another. William traced his jawline. Then he settled his hands on Nicholas’ cheeks to look into his eyes, really look. Nicholas’ heart soared because there was no fear or concern, only pure admiration.

“In this light, your eyes are beautiful,” William said. Nicholas kissed him and would have continued to do so if he didn’t settle a finger on Nicholas’ mouth. “We should get out of here first.”

He knew that, but William distracted him so easily. When they separated, he admired William dressing, missing the sight of his flushed skin. But he enjoyed how William did the same, appreciating his body as he dressed. Then William held out his hand, and he took hold, intertwining their fingers.

“If you feel lightheaded or panicked, tell me,” he said.

“I will.”

They walked together through the shrouded forest. He brought William’s hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle because he wanted to. William said nothing, but he smiled even after the third time Nicholas repeated the action. He could have done that forever, merely walking hand in hand, enjoying being utterly alone.

Then the woods shrieked like a dying animal. The scream sent them into each other’s arms. Wind whipped so fiercely the trees bent. Leaves circled them, creating a vortex of darkness. The One Who Waits found them.

20

Charmaine

Charmaineheardnothing,theneverything, a concussive cacophony that couldn’t be deciphered or ignored. When she thought herself dead, she took a breath and saw the sky, a deep, endless blue and twinkling starlight. Grass caught between her fingers, damp as her pallid skin. She wheezed, her lungs recalling their natural function. Then her muscles obeyed her desire to move. She rolled onto her hands and knees, vision first blurred, then coming into focus.

Evera finally looked like she belonged, an otherworldly beauty among glorious creation. She stood in an open field searching around a peculiar horizon. Charmaine couldn’t grasp what she saw. There were spires taller than trees, curled at the end, but they weren’t made of stone. Flowers blossomed along their stalks, their shades iridescent, catching the sunlight so it shimmered silver. Thorns pierced the tender flesh, sharp as claws and longer than her forearm. The strange plants surrounded them, although they were spaced out almost perfectly.

“Is everyone alright?” Henry sounded far away, then his hand fell on her shoulder. He squinted, struggling to adjust the same as her.

“I’m alive,” she answered.

“That was the most unpleasant passing I’ve ever done and a less than spectacular landing.” Henry forced a laugh. “Will you be alright?”

“Yeah. I’m woozy, that’s all.”

Henry glanced about, brows furrowed. “Where are William and Nicholas? Did they make it through the shimmer?”

He fumbled for the crystal he had used to follow them in his bag. She stumbled onto her feet. She swayed, feeling as if she had too much to drink, upset stomach and all. Nicholas and William weren’t with them. She checked in every direction, including up, because who knew, the flowers could have a mind of their own. Nicholas spoke of Faerie like tales from a storybook where nothing made sense.

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