Page 50 of Stitches
Then to some up the middle of Levi’s back.
Then carefully around the curve of each shoulder where Levi’s arms connected to his torso.
By the end, Levi was flush against Ashmedai, with deep, shuddery gasps leaving him. Ashmedai had started to pant too, awed by the indigo in Levi’s cheeks and the parting of his equally dark lips. Sprinkles started to fall on them from the coming storm, and Levi’s eyes were bright with excitement.
“What can you see?” Ashmedai asked.
“I-I don’t know how,” Levi said in wonder, “but I think it’s Emerald.”
All Ashmedai wanted was to keep giving Levi pleasure, because he knew the truth of the daydreams was not something to smile about.
He stroked with his hand, still beneath the tunic, down Levi’s back until he reached another edge of fabric. Ashmedai didn’t know where all Levi had stitches below the waist, but most of what remained had to be there.
Boldly, Ashmedai dipped his fingers into Levi’s trousers, following the gentle curve of his backside to a line of stitches that connected Levi’s left leg. He followed that line, first along the outer thigh up Levi’s hip, and then…inward.
Levi’s eyelids fluttered, and if he still saw Emerald behind them, that didn’t seem to matter, for all he moaned was, “Ash.”
Before Ashmedai’s hand could fully reach between Levi’s legs, Levi convulsed with an arch upward and proceeded to sag in such a telling way that the sated look in his eyes wouldn’t have been needed to know what happened.
Ashmedai was tempted to reach between Levi’s legs anyway. He wanted to touch him, to feel what he had helped cause and spur Levi toward even more passion.
A spark of blinding lightning heralded an almost instant and deafening crack of thunder. The rain started in earnest, and Levi laughed.
“I guess the moth crabs were being prudent when they sought the rocks.” Levi held out a hand toward the falling rain. “I kind of like it.”
He was marvelous, peerless, a true vision of ignorant beauty, as if believing he was in the eye of the storm, even though his hair was plastered to his face and thunder and lightning raged all around him.
“Levi….” Ashmedai said, his words nearly lost to the wind picking up speed, “I lied to you.”
“What?” Levi let his cupped hand fall. “Lied about what?”
Ashmedai withdrew from Levi. “Your daydreams are more than I admitted. Braxton made you from parts of people—real living people. You are not a construct. Your dreams are memories. From this part of you.” He hesitated to reach for Levi’s cheek but allowed himself that much, feeling bolstered when Levi leaned into his touch. “Your mind persists.
“When I confronted Brax, he said that telling you the truth might cause more harm than good, and I foolishly listened. He swears all the people were lost causes, swears he will never do such a thing again, but… I should have told you as soon as I knew. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I feared losing you. It was selfish.”
Levi had yet to deny Ashmedai, but when he lifted a hand to take hold of Ashmedai’s wrist, surely he would tear the hand from his face.
Instead, he held it there.
“You asked me what I wanted, if I would choose another life.”
“I should have—”
“You were trying to protect me, and in the end, you still told me the truth.” Levi drew Ashmedai’s hand from his face, but not to brush it aside. He brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Thank you.”
The swell of love Ashmedai felt was more than he would ever believe he deserved.
He crushed Levi to him. “Are you all right, knowing this?” Ashmedai asked, wet lips brushing Levi’s equally damp ear.
“I don’t know. I’m a bit of a mess though… elsewhere.” If the chill of the storm hadn’t been causing Levi to shiver, Ashmedai might have missed his renewed blush.
“Oh.” Ashmedai pulled back, having forgotten what his shadow-touch had caused. “I should help you clean up. And we need to get out of the storm. Would you like to see my castle, Levi?” Hehadn’t invited someone to the castle, other than Dreya, who had more so invited herself, in longer than he could remember.
Levi’s eyes glittered through the rain like beacons leading home. He gave an emphatic nod, and Ashmedai whisked Levi into his arms and toward a large enough shadow for them both, diving inside with Levi clinging to him.
Chapter 7
Levi
