Page 71 of Forget Me Not

Cal’s skin was warm to the touch despite his nakedness, maybe from Ray’s heat or maybe Cal was flushed. He tightened his arms around Ray’s shoulders, bringing him in closer, keeping him there as though Ray might pull away and Cal didn’t want that. Ray hadn’t considered it. Cal’s tears were salty-sweet, his mouth had traces of more blue, fizzy soda. He let Ray breathe and then drew him down for another long, slow kiss, everything about him pliant and accepting, if Ray ignored Cal’s fierce hold on him.

He didn’t. But he didn’t mind it, either. All the stories about fairies, the glamours, the temptations, yet all Cal did was allow himself to be kissed, encourage Ray to kiss him, and keep himself securely in Ray’s arms.

After a while, the side of Cal’s neck called to Ray, but Ray was careful with the kisses he left there.Surpriseandwarmthbegan to curl up through Cal’s scent, but he moved after Ray tried to kiss behind his ear.

“Fuck. Hold still,” Cal ordered breathlessly, and wriggled until he was sitting up, and then again until his knees were on either side of Ray and he was kneeling over Ray’s lap. Ray had to hold onto Cal’s waist to keep Cal from falling backward, but Cal barely seemed to notice. He put his arms right back around Ray’s shoulders and slid his hands through Ray’s hair. Then he leaned forward, eyes closed, head tipped to one side. “Now, again.”

Ray placed a hand between Cal’s wings and ran his nose along the sweetness of Cal’s neck before he began to kiss it again. The fluttering of the wings stirred the air, tickled the back of Ray’s hand. Cal tasted of sugar but also of sweat, savory enough to be interesting. He hummed and shivered and lifted his chin for more, and gasped when Ray nibbled, still gentle, on his earlobe.

“Tease,” Cal scolded him lightly, but didn’t push forward. He carded Ray’s hair where he could reach it and seemed more than aware that Ray was inhaling his arousal now. He hummed again, as if agreeing with words Ray hadn’t spoken, and turned his head in the other direction, inviting attention to the other side of his pretty neck. “Am I very bitable?” he asked, knowing and breathless, and gasped again when Ray pressed between his wings. “It’s all right if you think so,” he cooed a moment later, not soothing, closer to laughter. “You’ve told me I am many times.”

Ray huffed. “You are.” But he liked brushing his lips over Cal’s skin, which smelled of Ray’s soap and then Callalily, the occasional fairy tear. Ray used his tongue on a spill of them, wet sparkles along Cal’s shoulder, and exhaled to feel Cal shudder.

Cal tangled a hand in Ray’s undershirt, dragging it off his shoulder.

Ray raised his head.

Cal blinked at him, maybe looking at Ray’s colors, at the aura around Ray more than the shape of Ray in the dark.

“Do you not want me to touch you?” There was no hint of a waver in Cal’s voice. He even frowned before leaning in until the tip of his nose bumped into the tip of Ray’s. “You were attacked. I understand if some things are overwhelming, or feel weird, or maybe it feels weird to be overwhelmed, or…”

“You think too much.” Ray didn’t pull back.

“Yes. It’s a problem,” Cal returned. “And that isn’t answering my question.”

Ray growled at him, a short growl that ended when he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Cal’s eyebrows flew up but he didn’t speak. He waswaiting.

Ray growled again, frustrated.

“Growl and pounce is fine, you know,” Cal assured him. “Because I can tell what you want, and you only do it because you can always tell,” he bumped Ray’s nose again, “that I want it too. But anything else, you have to tell me. In words. Sorry but it’s necessary.”

“It…” Ray shut his eyes, although Cal’s scent had already enveloped him. “It’s different if you want me.” Cal obviously wanted him. His desire filled Ray’s senses. Ray exhaled roughly and tried again. “I just want to know you.”

“Ah.“ Cal’s sigh was long and meaningful. “All that strength, but Callalily has the upper hand here.”

“No. I…”

“Ray.” Cal turned his head so he could nuzzle Ray’s cheek. “You have to be controlled, always, and they took that from you. You must feel… it all must be a lot. I should have thought of that. Me touching you would stress you out, not relax you right now? Is that it? Okay. Where should I put my hands?”

Ray wondered what in the hell his colors were doing for Cal to get all of that.

“I liked them in my hair,” he answered at last, and got several gentle scratches and pets that he should have objected to, but Cal slumped against him, and he smelled pleased, and he was partially aroused so objecting felt silly.

“Anything else you want?” Cal asked, a whisper against Ray’s ear. “Or just more of this?”

Ray slid his hands over Cal’s waist, then down to cup his ass and bring him even closer. “What about what you want?” he rumbled, leaving his hands on Cal’s perfect backside.

“Hmm?” Cal seemed distracted. “Oh, anything is….” His wings went still and then he took a deep breath. “Actually.” He hid his face against the side of Ray’s neck. “I’m feeling rather… I don’t think I want you to bite me right now. Not like… that. Not to hurt. I don’t want to hurt anymore today.”

A noise tore out of Ray’s throat. Stroking Cal’s skin was not enough to take thebruised/woundedtang from his scent. Ray brought Cal’s head up, then dragged his nose through Cal’s hair and across his furrowed brow before brushing his lips over the same places.

“You taste good,” Ray informed him, hoping that would please. “I thought so earlier, although I didn’t get enough. All of you, even the tears, although I don’t like seeing them.”

“Weres and trolls and dragons telling people they taste good, each one meaning something else entirely,” Cal muttered.

“You’ve slept with a troll?” Ray wondered immediately.

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