She leaned in and softly kissed the corner of his mouth. “You’re mine,” she whispered. “And I’m so, so glad.”
Somewhere behind them, a voice murmured: “I don’t know what they have, but I want ten of it.”
—
They took the long way home.
Down the side street where the vines whispered secrets. Past the bakery where the loaves rose with suspicious intelligence. Through the square where the cobblestones changed pattern when no one was looking.
As they approached Greymarket Towers, the city shifted. Leaves shivered on trees with no breeze. Somewhere behind them, a lamp flickered in approval. A street vendor bowed without realizing it. The air thickened with familiarity and acceptance.
The front doors of the apartment building opened before them with a whisper. The lobby was unusually quiet. A sconce blinked twice, and the floor glimmered faintly with welcome. One of the elevators gave a low rumble of recognition but wisely did not ding.
They took the stairs, walked down the hallway and entered her apartment without a word.
Nell set her bag down. Kicked off her shoes. Exhaled like she hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath since the cafe.
Sig stood in the frame of the living room, watching her with a reverent stillness. His wings had relaxed. His hands were loose at his sides. But his eyes still glowed faintly.
She turned. “You know,” she said, her voice soft, "I don’t need you to fight my battles for me."
He dipped his head.
A slow smile spread across her face. “But, gods, that was so hot.”
A low chuff escaped Sig’s chest. His wings fluttered, pleased and bashful all at once.
Nell stepped toward him and pressed a hand gently to his chest. The other slid down, her fingers curling around the curve of his hip. With a gentle nudge, she pulled. He yielded, following her lead, until she backed him up against the couch and he folded down in fluid grace.
Nell dropped to her knees before him. The carpet was rough. Her dress bunched awkwardly. She didn’t care. His breath caught as she looked up.
“Let me thank you properly,” she murmured, her eyes flashing with promise and her mouth curling into something wicked.
His claws gripped the cushions on either side of him, tension humming through his arms. “Nell,” he whispered. “You do not have to—”
“I know.” Her fingers found the fastenings of his trousers. “But I want to.”
She slowly undid the strange, intricate closures. His breath hitched as she worked. He lifted his hips in silent offering, obedience cloaked in devotion, and she peeled the fabric down to his knees, exposing him to the air and the heat of her intent. She kissed his stomach delicately. Then lower. Then lower still.
Her mouth met the seam of his slit. Her tongue teased, coaxing along the trembling edges.
A groan rose in Sig’s throat and he emerged slowly, thick and flushed, heavy with need. Not remotely human. Perfectly monstrous andhers.
She licked the underside of his cock with slow deliberation. Her lips followed, mouthing the head, savoring the taste, the texture, the sheer impossibility of him.
Sig’s head dropped back. His breath caught on a ragged exhale, and one clawed hand lifted to hover over her head and then pulled back, as if aching to touch but seemingly not trusting his control.
Nell opened her mouth wider and sank down, inch by inch, until the whole of him filled her mouth, her throat, her breath. She moaned around him and his hips bucked against the vibration.
She pulled back. Sucked harder. His knees spasmed, wings twitching against the couch like they were straining to take to the air. He made a raw, unearthly nose filled with chitters and clicks.
“Beloved,” he rasped, voice breaking, “please—please—do not stop—”
She looked up, met his eyes, and winked. Her tongue flicked as she moved forward and swallowed him even deeper, throat open, lips sealed tightly around his length. Her hands gripped his thighs with iron devotion, anchoring him while her mouth destroyed him.
“You undo me,” he gasped, the words barely a whisper, torn from some ancient place inside him.
She hummed around him in answer.