Page 15 of Close Quarter
Mercury's balls.His heart pounded.
Complete.
Two edges tothatblade.
Companionship.Love?
No. He could not afford love. That cursed emotion had nearly destroyed him once. Killed everyone he had ever cared for instead. Never again. Fae loved too deeply, for far too long.
Silas knew he hadn't schooled his expression when Rhys's smile faltered into horror.
"I shouldn't have said anything." He made to rise.
"Rhys. It's not what you think." Sunset. Ice in his bones. Time was running out. Damn all the gods and their children to darkness. "Please, just...give me a moment."
Hurt in those eyes, but Rhys remained in his chair.
Words would not come to Silas, at least not in any language that Rhys would understand. He placed his hands on the table and stared at his fingers. He had known English for centuries, used it more than any other language. But deep matters?
They always brought him home.
He found the words and translated. "I would like you to be happy, Rhys. I am finding I want to see that you are."
Rhys had settled now; surprise replaced the hurt.
"This is highly unusual behavior for me,” Silas said.
"What, seducing mortals?" Rhys said. "I thought that was the sort of thing fae did?"
He had to chuckle at that. "Et tu?" He shook his head. "True, I suppose. Yes. But I don't take them to dinner."
"Or go down on them."
Damn that quirky grin of his. Silas still wanted to see those lips around his cock. Or anywhere else on his body. "Also true."
Rhys shifted in his seat. "So do I invite you back to my cabin, or should we go to yours?" He looked expectant.
Ah, this would be another delicate moment, but one for which he was better prepared. Silas stood and rounded the table once more. This time he held out his hand.
Rhys hesitated but took it.
Such warmth. Such energy. Silas wanted to swim in it. He tugged Rhys to his feet and pulled the other man against him. Silas found Rhys's sweet mouth with his own and cupped Rhys's ass, pulled him tight against his body. The gentle tugging of Rhys slipping his fingers into Silas's hair sent a shiver down Silas's spine.
Silas was painfully hard and knew Rhys felt his length grinding against him. After a minute he broke the kiss and relaxed his grip. He spoke low into Rhys's ear. "Do you know how much I want you?"
"Yes." A breathless reply. "Much more than five inches."
Silas nipped his earlobe. "I would love to take you back to my cabin and have you feel every inch slide into you."
Rhys stiffened. He pulled back. "But you can't." Frustration in his voice.
Silas understood that all too well, felt it as keenly. "I am of the field and forest and meadow.
A boat in the middle of the ocean is--quite literally--out of my element."
Understanding flickered in those green eyes.
"You didn't choose to take this trip."
