Page 33 of The Death God
“More than we do.” If they were gonna make people believe they’d moved here because Gregory had taken a human lover the coven wouldn’t accept, they needed to appear as if they’d been together for several months.
“Why is it important?”
Gregory gave a light shrug, careful not to jostle Thanatos. “It might not be, but we don’t want any conflict with the Quin pack, and if we have a believable reason to be here, they’ll hopefully leave us be.”
Thanatos nodded and angled his head until he was hiding his face in the crook of Gregory’s neck. It had heat lick at his core, but he did nothing but caress Thanatos’ back.
When long minutes had gone by without anyone speaking, Gregory considered pushing for more. Skin contact or maybe a kiss. Then Thanatos’ fingers twitched on his chest as if asleep, and Gregory remained as he was. He would not risk ruining a nap.
About a minute later, Thanatos twitched again and breathed deeper than before. Gregory flattened his hand against his back and closed his eyes. He wasn’t tired, but he could as easily study the inside of his eyelids as he could the ceiling.
Chapter 12
Thanatos couldn’t move. Someone was pinning him in place. The white walls surrounding him were reflecting the harsh overhead light. The beige linoleum floor was splattered with blood. His blood.
The ragged breaths sounding in his ear had him scrambling to get away, but fighting never helped, it only prolonged the agony.
“Thanatos.”
Rough hands held him in a bruising grip, forcing the edge of the table in front of them into his hip.
“Sweetheart, it’s time to wake up.”
A hand larger than his grabbed his wrist in a painful hold. Immobilized him.
“Thanatos!”
The force of the voice made him snap his eyes open. A silent scream stuck in his throat.
“Are you with me?” Gregory’s eyes were filled with concern.
He nodded.
Then Gregory kissed his forehead and guided him back down onto his chest and went about massaging his neck. Thanatos stared at the wall across from him. Not white.
“Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
The fingers manipulating his tense muscles never faulted, and after some time he groaned and went lax against Gregory. The chuckle was like a caress, but Thanatos ignored it and closed his eyes. He was warm, and his limbs were heavy. Soon he was drifting again.
The next time Thanatos came to, it was to confident hands stroking over his back and down over his ass. He tensed, but no one in the house of horrors had ever touched him with such care.
“Gregory?” It came out in a whisper.
“Sleeping beauty.” There was amusement in his voice.
“What time is it?” He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Gregory’s chest, realizing he’d turned to his side at some point during Thanatos’ nap.
“I don’t know, but I’m getting hungry.” The words were spoken into his hair, and part of Thanatos wanted to melt against him again. It would be within the bounds of the fake boyfriend role, would it not?
He allowed an arm to slide over Gregory’s waist and curl up over his back. For a moment, the hands on his body stilled, and Thanatos almost pulled away. Then Gregory crooned and stroked him again.
“What would you like to eat?”
He shrugged. “I’ll make something.”
“Or you can let me make something for once.” Those clever fingers wandered up to his neck again and hot and cold skidded along Thanatos’ spine.
